“So softhearted,” he murmured, brushing his lips against her temple. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that day that your leaving was the worst possible thing you could ever do to me. I didn’t know how to stop you. I couldn’t find the words and, damn it, Melodie. I had destroyed your livelihood twice. I know how much you love photography. How could I refuse to let you try to make a career of it?”
“I do love photography. Just not as much as I love you,” she pouted, clinging to his neck as he lifted her and moved them both into a chair, her on his lap, legs dangling over the arm. She couldn’t get close enough. Each cell in her body plumped a little more with each breath, like a succulent absorbing the water it needed to survive.
He breathed a laugh against her hairline. “You have no idea how much I like hearing you say that.”
“That I love you? I do!” She hugged him again. “But I don’t want to quit working,” she rushed to say. “Not altogether. Just, you know, I won’t let it come between us again.”
“That’s okay. I would never ask you to give up something you enjoy so much. But, yes, if you could ease up, maybe take fewer clients so we can have more time together, I’d like that a lot. Charge more,” he advised loftily. “A lot more. Slow down those offers and make it worth our while for you to leave our bed.”
She snorted, wanting to be in bed with him right now. He wanted that, too. She could feel him hard against her hip and wriggled to let him know they were on the same page. That part hadn’t changed one teensy bit, and she missed him so much.
He stilled her with firm hands. “Darling, you know where that’s going to lead. I’ll be arrested along with getting you fired.”
“Might be worth it,” she teased, nipping at his jaw.
“Might be,” he agreed, running possessive hands over her. “But maybe it’s a good thing that I don’t have the option of letting my body do the talking right now. It’s not easy for me to open up. For you, for us, I want to try, though. No one has ever affected me the way you do, Melodie. From the first moment... Hell, I am the last person to believe in love at first sight or soul mates, but no one means as much to me as you do.”
She swallowed and ducked her forehead under his jaw, too moved to speak.
“I want to change, to be whatever it is you need in a man, but it will be hard. Bear with me. That’s all I’m asking,” he said, cradling the back of her head in his big hand. “And maybe, after we’ve given ourselves some time, if you want...” He swallowed, then cleared his throat. “We could talk about a baby. If you want.”
She tightened her arms around his neck and shuddered as a sob of joy took her.
“Don’t cry. I said only if you want,” he rushed to repeat.
“I’m happy!” she choked. “You’re giving me everything I ever wanted. I can’t help crying.”
“Oh,” he said ruefully, cuddling her closer. “Okay.” He took a deep, emotive breath that shook her on his chest. “I want to make you happy.”
“You do,” she assured him. “Just by being with me. I love you.”
“Is that how it works? Because it’s the same for me,” he said, tilting his head and tipping hers so they could look into each other’s eyes. “I was missing you as though a piece of me was gone. Then, the minute I saw you today, everything was right. I need you in my life to make it worth living. That must be love, right?”
“I’m sure of it,” she agreed, pressing her smile to his.
EPILOGUE
MELODIE STEPPED OUT to the glitter of evening sunlight bouncing off the sea. As she reached the top of the stairs, the silk of her gown poured like milk off the first step.
She paused to gather it, sending a smile to her groom where he waited at the bottom.
Roman wore a black tuxedo with a cream-colored waistcoat and a silk tie in the same color. It was the perfect level of formality for their small wedding and, as usual, it didn’t matter what he wore. He projected masculine beauty no matter what.
He leaped up the steps to take her bouquet and offer his free hand, ensuring she was steady as she made her way down. No father of the bride to give her away. She hadn’t even considered it, thankful that her “memoir” and her brother’s financial and legal troubles had kept both her father and Anton out of their lives for good.
No, Roman was walking with her to their understated altar. He hadn’t wanted to wait for her to come to him on the beach. The whole point of marriage is to do things together, isn’t it? he’d said as they were making the plans.