Page 125 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

“You could have.” His voice is strong, firm in his belief. “You are so capable, Tessa. I still have things to figure out with Drakos Development and what my future will look like. But I promise to never hold you back. Your company, scuba diving, mountain climbing…”

I laugh. “Mountain climbing?”

“I have literal billions at my disposal.” He kisses me, as if he can’t bear to stop touching me. “No matter what the future holds for us, you will always have the freedom to do what you want.”

“Rafe, that means so much. But,” I add gently as I brush a kiss along his jaw, “you’re a part of this, too. That means we’ll figure it out together.”

He guides me over to the edge of the bed and helps me sit. He holds up a finger and disappears, giving me a moment to look around the room and take in everything from the wood ceiling fan spinning lazily overhead to the picture frame he kept on the bureau.

I thought I was happy in Paris. That was nothing compared to the complete and utter contented joy filling me to the brim.

Rafe walks back into the room, a sheaf of papers in hand. He drops down to one knee in front of me and holds them up.

“Tessa Drakos, may I have the honor of ripping up this petition for divorce?”

I can’t help my laugh. “Yes.”

He grabs the corners of the petition and rips it clean down the middle. He tosses the torn shreds on the floor behind him, then grabs my left hand in his. A smile spreads across his face as he sees the engagement ring made of citrines and diamonds and its matching platinum band.

“You put it back on.”

“It seemed right since I was coming back here to tell you I wanted to give us a little more time.”

“And now?” he asks as he gently tugs the rings off.

“Now I want forever.”

A shudder passes through him.

“The last time I proposed, I asked you if a marriage would be agreeable.”

I press my lips together to keep from smiling. “I remember.”

“This time, though,” he says as he slides the engagement ring back onto my finger, “I’m asking you to stay married because I love you. I admire you. I want to dive with you in the ocean and wake up with you in my arms every morning. I want to travel the world and, when the time comes, I want to be the father of your children.”

Tears are falling down my cheeks, steady now, but I don’t care.

“Yes, Rafe. Yes.”

He slides the silver band onto my finger. I barely have time to look at the rings together before he eases me back onto the bed and covers my body with his. I respond in a heartbeat, every fiber of my being trembling as his firm weight settles on top of me. His breath feathers over my skin.

“I haven’t slept in this bed yet.”

I blink back more tears. “I’m not normally this weepy.”

“So long as they’re good tears.” He kisses one away as it slips down my cheek. “The thought of sleeping in here without you…it felt wrong.”

I kiss him. “I’m here now.”

“You are,” he says with another true smile that melts my heart. “And I’m never letting you go again.”

EPILOGUE

Rafe

Three years later

TESSA DARTS BACKand forth just a few feet above the seafloor, her movements confident and strong as she follows a school of fish. I smile behind my regulator. The woman is a mermaid in the water.

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