“Why are you here?”
Omar smiled a little. “You left before I could make things right.”
Another tear escaped. “So you came to me?”
He nodded, wiping away a tear with his rough thumb. “Marian, I love you.”
Her whole body quaked with the admission, and she crumpled into his arms. He held her, gently rocking back and forth, as she cried.
“I’m sorry for how everything went down,” he whispered. “I never used you. You were always right by my side. I made sure that everyone knows you had the most to do with that deal…and that I just signed it.”
Marian shook a little, letting his words wash over her. The tears wouldn’t stop coming, but his scent was a balm she hadn’t counted on.
“I just want to be with you,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “You’re the only woman that makes me feel free again. I want to be free, with you at my side.”
Marian clutched at the lapels of his jacket, the tears finally subsiding. She looked up at him, searching his face for clues that this was really happening. The contours of his jawline, nose, the shape of his eyes, were such a relief to look at again—even after just days apart—that it prompted more tears.
“Goddammit,” she sputtered, resting her forehead against his chest. “I love you too. Where did you get these butterflies?”
His warm hand smoothed over her back. “My father has been involved with conservation societies for a very long time. And occasionally, they’re released back into the wild.”
Marian groaned. “Like you?”
Omar’s body shook as he laughed. “Exactly.”
Marian looked up at him again, her face feeling damp and messy. “You’re a real keeper, you know that?”
“I try my best,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb over her chin. And then he pressed his lips to hers, an electric kiss zipping through her, making her toes tingle. “I want to keep this for as long as I can,” Omar murmured, sliding his hand around the back of her neck.
Marian sighed, slinging her arms around him. Thank God this was real, this was happening. Because there was nobody else she wanted to have at her side. “Oh yeah? Well how do you suggest we do that, when we live half a world apart?”
“There are ways.” He nuzzled his face against hers. “I could always move to New York. Or you could come claim your new job in Parsabad as Negotiations Director.”
She inhaled sharply. “You’re kidding.”
“I’ve talked to my father and Mr. Thomas.” He smiled warmly as he ran his fingers through her hair. She could look up into his eyes for a lifetime and still want more of it. “They both agree the change would be great for the company. And a bigger challenge for you, since you proved yourself with the National Oil deal. If you’re open to the idea.”
Her mouth fell open, ideas springing to life. A move to Parsabad? Omar at her side? A new, more challenging role? Not a single doubt crept into her mind. She could only feel excitement, could only see hope.
“Yes,” she blurted.
Omar chuckled, brushing his lips against hers. “Don’t you want to think about it for a little bit first?”
“I’ve never felt anything more right in my life,” she said, hooking her arms around his neck. “God, it just makes so much sense. All of it. Especially you.”
“So you won’t have a problem coming to be with me…for a very long time…” Omar’s gaze turned boyish and shy. “Like maybe forever.”
Marian couldn’t fight the smile. She fingered the collar of his jacket, admiring the immaculate trim of his hairline. Forever had seemed like a possibility with him from the beginning, even when it made no sense. Now it was the only thing that made sense. “That sounds like a pretty good start to me.”