“Would you like to find some live music? Take a walk? Sky dive? Swim?” I ask after we’ve unpacked the groceries.

I hate grocery shopping, but she even makes that fun.

She laughs. “So many choices. A swim sounds nice,” she says.

The thought of her in a tiny bikini immediately puts my head in the gutter. I try to get a grip. She wiggles her eyebrows like she can tell what I’m thinking. I’m so screwed.

“All right. I’ll check in with JT and Zed and be right out.”

Both JT and Zed assure me everything is running smoothly. Zed has finished installing new deadbolt locks, security cameras, and a better alarm system than our previous one.

“It’s ready for ya,” he says before we hang up.

I thank him and breathe easier knowing I’ll be taking Lili back to a safer place. JT doesn’t have any news for me, just keeps reiterating that I need to enjoy my time away. I don’t tell either one of them we got married. I’m not sure how everyone will take the news. Before Lili, I’ve never even brought a girl to the community center, preferring to keep that part of my life completely separate. I chuckle to myself at the thought of bringing a wife home, but it quickly dies in my throat. A wife.

I allow myself a few minutes of internal panic. I knew it would come eventually, and it hits me with a punch. I’m already in too deep. It scares me how much I want this, how much I see forever with her. I count backwards from fifty, breathing slowly. Our paths were designed to intersect—that’s the only way I can make sense of this. I forced the issue a bit, bailing her out of jail and bringing her home with me. And being on the hunt for her all these years … it makes me sound like a man obsessed. Maybe I am. Maybe she’s the only reason I haven’t been able to commit to anyone—I’ve spent all this time consumed with her. I can still picture her in that bed, that very first time, and the way her vulnerability gripped my chest so tight. It’s always been her.

Sleeping with her last night took it to the rawest level. I should have waited for her to actually reciprocate feelings for me before going there, but there are times when I imagine that she already does.

I’m doing the right thing by protecting her. I won’t let her live in fear of Nico, or anyone else, for that matter. If it costs me everything to do it, it will be worth it. I exhale an unsteady breath and splash cold water on my face.

She’s already swimming by the time I venture outside. The sunlight casts an indigo shade to the water, and when she comes up to take a breath, her eyes glow the same color. Her skin looks especially luminous against the water and her dark swimsuit.

“You coming in?” she asks.

I want to devour her, but I don’t say that. I hope my eyes don’t look too wolfish when I look at her. I’m fighting a constant battle to show her, and myself, that I’m not like every other hot-blooded pervert who looks at her, but my body betrays me. My heart confuses me. It’s foolish to be in love with her, but I can’t deny the fact that I never want to be without her. I want to give her every luxury. Worship her mind and body and never let her doubt my … love.

Fuck. I put both hands on top of my head.

“Soti?”

I blink and focus on her. I don’t have time for fear. She comes first.

It’s all about her.

I give her a shaky smile and she returns a faint one. I kneel down and sit in front of where her arms are resting on the tile. The water splashes as I put a leg on either side of her.

Her hands drag leisurely up my legs until they reach my waist, and then she pulls hard, until I slip in the water with her. Her smile is full of mischief. My chest might cave in, it’s pounding so hard.

“There. Doesn’t it feel good in here?” She puts her arms around my neck and wraps her legs around my waist.

I grip her thighs, drawing her closer. “Like heaven,” I mutter.

Her hands dig into my hair, as she leans in and gives me the barest whisper of a kiss. Her eyes seem shy, but then she traces my bottom lip with her tongue. She smiles when it becomes obvious just how much her touch controls me.

“I like you, husband,” she whispers.

“I like you, too, my wife,” I whisper against her lips.

Our kiss deepens and I can’t tell if she’s trembling or if it’s me. Our hands are everywhere at once. My tongue twists with hers like it has finally found its favorite place. Our bodies leave no room for doubt. She engraves her name on my heart; I know exactly when it happens. She leans back just long enough to look in my eyes, as if checking to see if this is real. What she sees there reassures her, and we both shake with the knowledge of it. Two lost souls, found.

I don’t venture from her lips for the longest time. I could kiss her for an eternity, and hope to, but our bodies crave more. Eventually I carry her out of the pool and lay her on the canopy daybed next to the water. Then I make sure I don’t miss an inch of her body.

She writhes under me, impatient and greedy. I continue tormenting her with my mouth, heady with the power her whimpers give me. She begs me for more and I wait until I don’t think I can stand another second. I slowly lower into her and we both let out a relieved breath when I sink all the way in. When I lean over her, she looks like an angel. But I go completely still when I see that her face is wet with tears.

She cried earlier when we kissed but begged me not to stop. This time it’s more than a tear or two.

I lean on my elbows and wipe her tears. They keep falling. I try to lift off of her, but she clutches me tightly.

“Talk to me, love.” I brush her hair out of her eyes.

She draws a long, shuddering breath and licks her swollen lips. Her face scrunches up and she lifts her head to nestle into my neck. I’m shocked to hear her weeping. She won’t let go of me, so I hold her and whisper, “It’ll be okay,” even though I’m not sure it will be. When she quiets, I pull back just enough to look in her eyes. She has a wobbly smile.

I kiss her forehead and cheeks and feel another tear meet my lips. I don’t know what to do, so I just keep stroking her hair. She puts her hands on either side of my face and blows out a deep sigh. Her mouth parts, like she’s going to say something and I wait, barely breathing.

“I’ve … never … felt … like … this,” she chokes out. “So h-happy.” She gasps as another sob comes out. “Sorry!” She rolls her eyes and covers her face.

My eyes fill even as I laugh. “You make me happy too.” I lift her hands and put them back on my face. “We deserve to be happy. Do you believe that?”

She blinks and nods, her eyes never leaving mine. “I want to … I want to believe it.” Her voice gets higher as she says the last words and I kiss the new tears. A breeze blows the canopy curtain into us and she shivers.

I pick her up. “Hang on tight.”

When we reach the bed, I sit and lean against the headboard, still holding her. I pull the comforter over us. Her fingers tickle my chest and her tears are drying up.

“I’m sorry for losing it. Worst timing ever, huh?” she says.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s all been a whirlwind.”

“Is it crazy that I feel completely peaceful, with all the junk going on at home?” she says. “I know it’s not over. Yet here I am, lost with you, and it feels … perfect.”

I pick up her hand and run my fingers over each long, slender finger. Every part of her is graceful.

“I’m glad you feel safe with me.” I kiss her fingers.

“I’ve never been kissed the way you kiss me.” Her voice is timid. “It … gets to me in a way I didn’t expect.” She buries her head in my chest. “I want you to know, with you, I forget … I don’t think about…” She stops and shakes her head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She repeats my line, laughing. Her eyes skirt away. “It’s like magic. You make everything new.”

“Together, we’re magic,” I tell her, grinning. I put my hand on her heart. “What’s in here speaks to what’s in here.” I put both of our hands on my heart.

She laughs. “That’s another thing. I’ve never brought out the mush in someone. The sleaze, yes, but not the cheese.”

I turn and have her on her back in seconds. I nip her ribs with my teeth and she howls, pushing me away.

“You making fun of my mushy side? Huh?” I taunt, leaning over her. I find her ticklish spots and am relentless.

She laughs until she can’t breathe and holds up a hand. “I like it! I like it.” She catches her breath. Her face grows serious as she looks at me. “I love it,” she says, pulling my face to hers.

* * *

Her eyes hold a thousand secrets, threatening to spill over; I want to unlock each and every one.