The song ended, and he let his hand drop for a moment, flicking his fingertips. He wasn’t used to playing for long stretches, not yet. “What do you want to play next? Something more upbeat?”
“Hmm, in a moment. I want to share something with you.”
Baldewin set his violin aside, heading for the baby grand in the center of the room. He sat at the stool, got comfortable, and then touched the keys with light strokes. Baldewin had large hands, but you’d never guess it from the way he played. Each touch of the key was perfectly balanced in strength and tone. “This is how I see you.”
Tori listened, transfixed, as if under a spell. It was a light, beautiful melody, like wind blowing through a meadow. It had that ethereal quality to it. This was how Baldewin saw him?
It hit him suddenly that this wasn’t a song Baldewin had discovered. It was something he’d composed. He’d sat at this very piano, thinking of Tori, and this was what came out—this sweet melody that was joy personified.
Baldewin had told him many times he loved him. He’d shown in multiple ways that he looked at Tori and saw someone amazing. Tori had believed him. He’d married the man, after all. He’d never doubted Baldewin’s feelings for him.
But he’d never understood them, either, as he did in this moment. The music conveyed those emotions in an entirely different way, speaking to the musician in Tori.
He could feel the rise of emotions making his eyes burn. Tori was melting steadily as he listened. The day they’d exchanged vows, he didn’t think he could love Baldewin any more than he already did. This moment was proving him wrong.
Tori never wanted him to stop playing. He also wanted to jump him. It was a very conflicting set of instincts.
Baldewin ended the song with a trill of keys and turned with a shy smile. “What do you thin—”
Tori kissed him hard, overcome with joy and love but not sure how to express it all. Baldewin groaned into his mouth, opening under the kiss with a happy sound.
“I loved it,” Tori assured him, already reaching for Baldewin’s slacks. “I’m going to show you just how much I loved it. And then you’re going to play it for me, again and again, for the rest of our lives.”
The grin that stretched from ear to ear on Baldewin’s face was more than a little smug. “It will be my pleasure.”
“Oh, it’ll definitely be yours.” And his.
This was the best part of being Baldewin’s mate. Neither of them ever had to sacrifice anything to make the other happy. Instead, they took pleasure in making each other happy. It was a never-ending cycle of love, passion, and music.
And wasn’t that the most wonderful thing of all?
GERMAN
Bitte – please
Boah – wow
Dankeschön / Danke – Thank you / Thanks
Ganz gut – quite well
Hallo – hello
Hastig – hasty
Hoheit – sire
Ja – yes
Liebling – dear, love
Nein – no
Nichts zu danken. – Nothing to say thank you for.
Scheiße – shit
Verstehst – understand
Wie geht’s dir? – How are you?
FINNISH
Hei – hello
Hyvää huomenta, rakas – Good morning, beloved.
Rakas – loved one
Rakastan sinua. – I love you.
PORTUGUESE
O que há de errado? – What is wrong?