In Harmony

“Hm?”

“I’ll never love anyone but you.”

I opened my eyes and sunlight flooded my room. The clock read ten in the morning. I’d never slept so late in my life.

I was still tangled with Isaac, his body pressed to mine, holding me tight. I snuggled deeper against him, letting my fingers trail down his arms, skimming the words tattooed on his left forearm:

I burn, I pine, I perish.

My fingers kept going, down over his bruised knuckles. I told him once that beating up Xavier wouldn’t help me. Looking at the wounds now, I couldn’t help feel they were physical proof Isaac would hurt anyone that hurt me, including himself.

“No more hurt,” I whispered, and kissed his knuckles.

He stirred and his lips brushed against my neck.

“I like your house,” he said. “I love you in it. You belong here.”

I rolled over to face him. “What about you? Where do you belong?”

“With you. If you want me.”

“So much.” I kissed his lips, the cut on the corner, his chin. “But can you be happy here? What about your career? What about Hollywood?”

“I’m done with Hollywood. It gave me what I needed and I got the hell out. I’m not going back.”

“Broadway?”

“For me or for you?”

I covered my face. “Oh my God, not me.”

He pulled my hands away. “Yes, you. You’re brilliant, baby. The world should know it. But there’s no rush. I can stay here. I want to stay here. I’ve seen Harmony through your eyes and…” He shrugged. “It’s home. I want to build a life here with you.”

“You do?”

“Promise.” He smiled. “Marty’s already cast us in the next Shakespeare.”

I dropped my gaze. “There might not be a theater, Isaac. Xavier told me he’d buy it and have it razed.”

Isaac’s eyes darkened. “I’ll buy it.”

My eyes widened. “You can do that?”

He pulled me close. “I can. I will. I’ll buy it and give it to Marty. Or set it up with the city so that Marty can run it for as long as he wants.”

“Oh my God, he’ll be so happy.”

“What about you? I want you to be happy, too. That’s all I’ll ever want for the rest of my life.”

I slid my palm over his cheek. “I’m happy. Right now, I don’t think I could be happier.”

He inclined his head to kiss me, deeply, and I felt his body come awake against mine.

“Sorry,” he started to say but I shook my head.

“Don’t be.” I kissed him again, harder. “Isaac, I don’t want to stop this time.”

He pulled back to look at me. “You sure?”