Page 44 of Marrying a Spy

She lifted her hand up to his cheek and rested it there. He could see the emotions that were racing through her gaze. She cared about him. Him. He was imperfect. Stupid at times. And yet, Sophia loved him. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said. “That’s not a pain you should be carrying with you.” She held his gaze as if she hoped he would believe her.

His heart hammered. She wasn’t angry? Disappointed in his ability to keep someone close to him safe?

Love swelled in his chest. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her to him. She was the only thing he wanted to live for. And there was no way he was going to let her go again. She meant too much to him. She was his person.

She giggled as she rested her hands on his chest and then slid them up to his neck. She moved closer and looked up at him expectantly.

He focused his gaze as he studied her. “I’m scared,” he said. “If anything happened—”

Sophia shook her head as she pressed her finger to his lips. “Noah, stop. If that’s how you went into every situation, you’d never take risks.” She leaned closer to him, allowing him to take her in. Her smell, the feeling of her body against his—all of it consumed him. He couldn’t imagine living the rest of his life without her. She was his and he was hers.

He pressed his lips to hers. His heart raced as he pulled her closer. He wasn’t going to let her go this time. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up until they were eye to eye. They kissed and explored each other, as if they were testing to see if the other would break first.

There was no way he was going to let go. He’d finally got her back, and this time, she knew the truth. He wasn’t going anywhere.

When he felt he might blackout from the intensity of her kisses, she pulled back. He gently set her back down on the ground and studied her. There was a smile playing on her lips as she ran her gaze across his face.

“I love you,” he said. His body lightened as those words rolled off his tongue. He’d never spoken anything truer in his life. He loved Sophia with everything he had.

Her brow furrowed. He could see the fear that flashed in her gaze. It broke his heart that she was still worried he might leave her. There was no way. Not now.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Then he gently kissed her cheeks, nose, forehead, and found his way back to her lips. She let out a soft sigh, which caused his heart to soar.

“Promise me you’ll stay?” she asked, pulling back.

A small worry tugged at the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. “There is nothing that would pull me away from you. You are mine. You are my soulmate.” He pulled her close to him, reveling in the feeling of how perfectly her body fit against his own. “And in just a few short days, I’ll prove that to you.”

She rested her hands on his arms and then slid them up to his shoulders. Shivers raced across his body. He let out a deep growl as he bent forward and rested his forehead against hers.

“Marry me?” he asked, throwing out all his inhibitions and living in the moment.

Sophia glanced up at him. “I am.”

He shook his head. “No. I mean for real.” He went down onto one knee. “Marry me. Be my wife.” He held her hand gently between his own. He slipped off the ring he’d placed there a few days ago. If she said yes, he wanted a new start.

Her eyes widened. “Noah,” she breathed. After a few seconds, she nodded. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you.” She paused. “For real.” She said the words like she enjoyed the feeling of them.

He grinned and slipped the ring on her finger. He straightened and wrapped her up into a hug, finding her lips once again. Then he leaned down and scooped her up. He was sure she could feel his heart pounding as he pulled her to his chest.

In three steps, he was at her bed. He set her down on the mattress and then lay down next to her, propping himself up on one elbow so he could study her.

She had her eyes closed, which he didn’t mind. It allowed him time to absorb everything about her. Her eyelashes splayed across her cheeks. Her fair skin contrasted her dark hair. Reaching out, he ran his finger across her lips. They were full and soft.

She giggled as she reached up and grabbed his hand. After entwining her fingers in his, she glanced over at him. “Stay with me,” she said.

He glanced around her room. “In here?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “Sophia, we only have to wait a few more days. Then you’ll be mine. Fully.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not like that. And yes, here. Tonight.” She snuggled into him, taking a deep breath and then letting it go.

He laid his head back as he wrapped his arm around her. “That might be challenging my self-control a bit.” Especially when his fingers were brushing her silk nightgown.

“Please?” she asked.

Her voice was quiet and soft. He groaned. “There’s no way I could say no to you,” he said as he straightened so he could kiss the top of her head. “Of course I’ll stay.”

She sighed as she snuggled closer. “Thank you.”

He wanted to tell her that she didn’t need to thank him. That laying here with her in his arms was as close to perfection as he could get. She was everything to him, and he’d spend his whole life proving that to her.

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