Page 125 of Ship Wrecked

Peter knelt before her, unprotected and unafraid.

“I’m sorry I don’t have a ring,” he said with the sort of adorable, uncharacteristic earnestness that was going to earn him a good amount of time spent on her own knees in the near future. “I was in a hurry to get here before you left. And if you said yes, I thought you’d want to choose it yourself.”

He truly did know her very, very well.

Bending from the waist, she used her fingers in his hair to guide his mouth to hers in a lingering, sweet, unhurried caress.Not a claim anymore but a declaration: that they had all the time in the world. That she trusted him with her softness, not just her strength. That, like him, she wasn’t worried or wary any longer, because he was hers, and she was his, and both of them were too damn stubborn to let go of what they loved.

Then she ended the kiss with a flick of her tongue against his, because her love encompassed softness, strength, sweetness,andfierce need.Heat.

“We’ll choose my engagement ring and yours at the same time.” It wasn’t a request. “I know it’s not standard for men, but I want everyone lusting after your thighs and dying to ride your beard to know you’re taken.”

She paused. “And speaking of beard-riding...”

After all, he wasright there. And it had been aweek.

He shook his head, lips twitching. “My greedy Swede.”

“You’re complaining?”

“No,” he said, and grinned openly. “Bragging.”

Then he yanked down her panties and leggings in one swift, strong tug and set a new standard for knee-sinking excellence. Because whatever Peter did, he did with unshakable commitment.

And since he was currently doingher...

Well. Enough said.

Texts with Maria: Thursday Afternoon

Peter:You’ve broken me, Pippi

Peter:Shame on you

Maria:???

Maria:I’m delighted, of course, but further explanation would still be useful here

Peter:Am I or am I not the man who acted like a jackass and let you leave me because I was determined to take jobs that would keep me away from you for months or years on end

Maria:Yes, obviously

Maria:If one of us is behaving like a jackass, I think we should always assume it’s you

Maria:That general rule has stood me in good stead thus far

Peter:And are you or are you not the woman who said she’d miss me terribly if I were gone for too long

Maria:I believe we both remember the incident clearly, Peter, thanks so much for reminding me of that very happy day

Peter:If all that’s true, if we’re remembering things clearly, then why am I here on location in NYC and fucking miserable after two fucking weeks apart while you’re blithely doing your own thing in LA and seem happy as can be

Peter:YOU BROKE ME, WOMAN

Peter:SHAME ON YOU, I WAS IN MINT CONDITION

Maria:...

Maria:Of course I miss you, sötnos, but work helps, and seeing our friends helps, and I’ve FaceTimed my family a lot too

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