‘Oh. Yeah.’ He’d clearly forgotten he even had the thing on. ‘Thanks.’
She lifted it carefully and put it on the nearest table. When she turned back he was still on his knees, rubbing his temple where the crown had left a mark.
‘What?’ He registered her frown and a self-mocking expression crossed his face. ‘Is the hat hair bad?’
‘No. But that thing is horrendously heavy.’
‘Real jewels,’ he muttered.
‘Yes.’ Standing before him again, she gently ran her hands through his hair to ruffle it. He leaned in, closing his eyes when she pressed a little harder to massage his scalp.
‘Better?’ she asked softly.
‘Yeah.’ He caught her hand and drew the inside of her wrist to his mouth. His head still bowed, he stroked her skin so gently.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said. ‘Watching you play the mandolin in the café that day. It sounded so delicate, almost ethereal and you were like an angel come to make us feel...’ He trailed off. ‘And then last night I wanted to find something delicate but strong, something that shone as brilliantly as you so that when I had to watch you from far away, when I couldn’t stand beside you, I would see it even from that distance. And I’d know that I’d offered and that you’d accepted something from me. That you’d chosen me.’
Her heart melted. The bracelet.
‘It was too beautiful,’ she muttered. ‘And I was scared, Felipe. I didn’t know how to handle it.’
‘I can relate.’ A flash of a smile, then he hesitated. ‘Would you still say no?’
Never. Not now she knew just what he’d meant. And how much he’d meant it.
He reached into his pocket with his free hand. He still had it with him... Her blood scurried as he fastened the gleaming coil around her wrist—an unbreakable rope of diamonds linking her to him.
He looked at it for a moment and then lifted his gaze. She smiled tremulously as she read the shy pleasure in his eyes that she’d accepted his gift. This, a man who had everything, hadn’t had the joy of giving before.
‘I love you, Elsie. And I’d love you to stay. Please.’
‘I have nothing to give you,’ she said softly. ‘Only me.’
‘That’s everything and all I’ll ever need.’
He meant it. She saw how much he meant it in the shimmering depths of his glistening eyes. Her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees to join him.
‘I love you,’ she whispered.
The kiss was messy and the tears wet and the laughter full of hiccups. But their hearts bloomed and the heat took over.
‘How does this jacket even work?’ She growled in frustration at the time taking to get to his skin.
He laughed a little and leaned back to divest himself of the jacket and everything else. Right there on the floor he stripped her too. And when she was naked and arching her hips he braced over her, locking her into the most delightful of cages.
‘I know this is crazy quick,’ he muttered. ‘But I have no intention of rushing this. Not now.’
She trembled with the pleasure of being in his arms again. Of seeing the way he looked at her—with that adoration, relief, joy in his eyes.
‘I didn’t think I would ever have this again.’ She gasped. ‘You. Holding me.’
Tears then tumbled again, even in this sweetest, hottest of moments. But it was so intense. So desperately wanted. He held her through the storm, kissing her gently, staying with her—alongside her, inside her—as she released the last of that aching loss. And then he pressed closer, claiming his place in her body, her heart. And giving her his.
‘Repeat after me,’ he whispered. ‘I belong to Felipe. And Felipe belongs to me.’
She smiled tremulously. ‘I belong...’
Her eyes filled again and she couldn’t finish it.