Page 56 of Final Vendetta

I’d first drawn this very symbol on her during one of our weekend escapes here. I still remembered the day vividly, as if it was only yesterday. How I’d held her just like this after making love to her, unable to stop touching her, tracing the symbol over and over.

The day I first noticed her tattoo was like a punch to the gut. I’d been convinced she’d forgotten me. That she didn’t care about me. I was content with my plan to use her to get close to Liam and the rest of the men who’d betrayed me, then toss her out like the garbage I thought she was.

This tattoo changed everything. It was proof that I hadn’t been entirely erased from her life. That she still loved me.

Now we both bore the same symbol as a testament of our love and devotion to each other.

“This might be my favorite way to wake up,” she murmured sleepily.

I couldn’t help but smile at her words as I propped myself up on one elbow to look down at her. “What? With a view of the ocean? Pretty sure you have that in California, too.”

She shifted to face me, pushing back a few tendrils of my dark hair. “No. Here. With you.”

I touched a soft kiss to her lips. “It’s mine, too.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” she added quickly. “I love the house in Del Mar. But out here…” She floated her gaze toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the eastern shoreline. “It’s less hectic. More peaceful.”

“Then let’s move here,” I suggested without a moment’s hesitation.

Her eyes widened. “Here?”

“Or anywhere else you want. I think after everything we’ve been through, we both deserve somewhere peaceful. I know the surfing is better on the west coast, and Melanie’s there, butthey’re both a quick flight away.” I grabbed her hand in mine, bringing it up to my lips. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Youmake me happy.” She inched closer and pressed a kiss to my mouth. “But I do like the idea of living here. Or at least closer to Mama and Lachlan now that I’m not running from ghosts anymore.”

She shifted her body, settling into my arms as I held her tight, both of us watching the sun slowly rise over the horizon, casting a warm glow over everything in sight.

Neither one of us said anything for quite a while. Instead, we basked in each other as we watched the sky change colors, everything about this moment perfect. This was what I wanted. A quiet life with her by my side. I just prayed it was still in the cards for us.

“What’s the plan for today?” she asked several minutes later.

“I’ve got a beautiful woman naked in my bed and the perfect view of the ocean. What else is there?”

“What else indeed,” she murmured as her lips found mine once more, her tongue swiping against mine.

“Actually, I booked you a spa appointment after lunch,” I said once she brought the kiss to an end. “Massage. Manicure. Pedicure. The works.”

She furrowed her brow. “But we came out here to spend time together. How can we spend time together if I’m at the spa all afternoon?”

“We have four more days to do absolutely nothing if you’d like. But I wanted to treat you to a bit of pampering today. Figured you deserved it after the past few weeks. Plus, it’ll give me time to arrange the little surprise I have planned for later on.”

Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. “A surprise?”

My smile grew, and I nodded.

“What is it?”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” I teased.

“That’s not fair,” she pouted, falling onto her back in mock frustration. “You know this is going to drive me crazy all day.”

“That’s the point. What good is surprising you if I can’t torture you about it beforehand?”

“We’ll see who’s torturing who.”

Before I could react, she straddled me and pinned my arms on either side of my head. Her hair cascaded around us as she leaned in close, our breaths intermingling.

“Come on, Gideon,” she whispered seductively. “Tell me. I’ll make it worth your while.” She trailed her tongue along my unshaven jawline before taking my earlobe between her teeth and nibbling.

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