“How many are left?”
Resting my cheek against him, I inhale his faint citrus mixed with sea breeze scent. “One.”
Briefly, I allow myself to remember that one. I consider how Mark has changed and how he would react if he knew the whole story of the last one. Mark isn’t a weak young boy anymore. He would take the fight out of our hands if he knew it included me.
He would do something dangerous…
“You’re not going after anyone while you’re carrying our baby.” His words distract me from my dark thoughts.
“No.” I shake my head, holding onto his shirt. “I told her at least four months.”
His expression changes to warmth, pride, and he places both hands on my stomach, smoothing them over the rounded swell of our baby growing inside. I place my hands on top of his, and we hold them, the three of us together at last.
“I dreamed of you carrying my child.” His gaze remains on our hands. “You were always so beautiful. Now you’re even more beautiful.”
Fresh tears flood my eyes, and I can’t help a smile. It’s all so horrible and yet at the same time, it’s so perfect.
“I’m more emotional now.”
He catches my hands, holding them tightly in his. “You’re going to marry me. We’ll arrange everything here. We’ll have a ceremony on this beach, and when the baby comes, he’ll… she’ll…” Curious eyes rise to mine.
A touch of nerves hits me.
We’ve never talked about this. I don’t know what he wants.
“It’s a girl,” I say, waiting… holding my breath.
His eyes gleam and the smile brightens his face. “She.”
He cups my cheeks and covers my mouth with his. It’s hungry and passionate and… happy.
I reach up to hold him, and all of it is back, every emotion we’ve ever shared. Our lips chase, our tongues collide and curl together. Heat floods my panties, and desire rushes in like the waves. I want his shirt off. I want him inside me.
“I want to make love to you,” he says, and I laugh. “What?” He grins.
“It’s the only thing I can think about.”
Joy bursts in my chest like a tiny plant pushing through the darkness of the soil. It won’t be kept down. It radiates from the center of my being, stretching toward him like the sun.
“Look at me.” His hands hold my cheeks. “We’re going to figure this out. We’re going to get married, the baby will come, and we will make it work.” My fingers tighten on the soft fabric of his shirt as he speaks. “But before any of that, you have to know one thing: I love you, Lara. I love you more than any of this, with everything I have.”
“Oh, Mark…” The swell of joy in my chest explodes into a burst of flowers. Butterflies take flight, and it’s like spring has come.
“I love you,” I answer quickly. “I love you so much.”
Strong arms surround me, and we’re lost in another passionate kiss. What’s coming is too much for me to think about, but I’m holding onto the happiest ever after I never dreamed I could possibly have.
1
“The murderer shall hang by the neck until dead…” -Napoleonic Code
Six years after Under the Lights.
Mark
She’s gone.
After only four weeks together, I roll over this morning to find her side of the bed cold and empty.