* * *
Alex put his hand on her cheek, guiding her gaze back to his. "I love you," he whispered.
She loved hearing him say the words, longed to say them back. But she was afraid. Scared to make herself vulnerable. Scared to open up.
"What happens now?" she asked, relieved to hear no tremble in her voice.
"We make love again," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Just as soon as I catch my breath."
"That's not what I meant."
Alex smiled. "I know, but it's the only thing I've been able to think about since you walked into my office in that horrible gray suit."
Lila swatted at him playfully. "Hey!"
Alex grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on her palm before pressing it to his chest, right over his heart. "The suit didn't matter, because I knew what was beneath it."
"What?" Her heart beat faster, waiting for his response.
"This gorgeous body," he said, running a hand down her spine to cup her bottom. "And a beautiful soul."
His words caused her eyes to fill with tears. He'd wanted her since the first time they'd met, and despite the troubles they'd gone through, he hadn't given up on his desire. Now they were together, and it was both terrifying and so magnificent that she could scarcely believe it.
She'd never thought to find a man that loved her as she was, that accepted her and fought for her. Lila couldn't help it as the tears overflowed her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
"Don't cry," he whispered, kissing away her tears.
"I love you." She'd said it. Her voice was so soft, so quiet, that she wasn't sure he'd heard her.
He had. His eyes lit up and he kissed her mouth. "Say that again."
"I love you, Alex Drake."
He groaned, then seized her lips in a passionate kiss, his tongue licking past her lips to plunge inside of her mouth. She kissed him back, her tongue caressing his, her teeth nibbling at his bottom lip. She could feel her arousal building and moved closer to him, pressing her body against him.
Alex turned to his side and put an arm around her back, pushing her closer to him, starting to grind his growing erection against her thigh. At last he released her lips and gave her a wink. "I've caught my breath finally. Time for you to steal it away again."
They spent the night locked in each other's arms, making love until they were exhausted. She'd fallen asleep only to awaken with his hands on her again, warming her up, making her feel loved and desired. Lila finally drifted off to sleep in the wee hours, and she didn't wake up until dawn had come and gone.
Lila wiggled out of Alex's grip. His mouth made a sleepy moue of disappointment and he shifted onto his stomach. She padded to the bathroom, relieving herself, then standing in front of the mirror. As she unraveled her braid, letting her hair spill over her shoulders and down her back, she watched herself.
Her skin was still flushed, her lips swollen. Her eyes were bright, filled with the knowledge that Alex loved her, and they prompted her to smile.
"Come back to bed," she heard from the other room. "I miss you."
Lila's smile widened and she hurried back into the bedroom, hopping onto the bed and burying her face against his chest. She pressed hungry kisses across it, then up to his neck where she sucked lightly, loving his unique taste.
"What a way to wake up," he murmured, then kissed her.
When he let her lips go, she snuggled against him. A glance at the clock told her it was after 8, and she wondered again what would happen next.
"Alex," she whispered.
"Mmm?" He was nuzzling her neck, rubbing his nose against the sensitive skin on her throat.
"What happens now? With us?"
He rose up, resting his weight on an elbow, and looked at her. "What do you want to happen?"
Lila looked away, unsure of how to respond. He was no longer engaged, and he'd said that he wanted to be with her. But she wasn't sure what that meant. "I don't know," she murmured after a moment.
He pulled her face back to his, resting his forehead against hers. "Whatever you want to happen is all right with me, as long as we're together. We can go back to Portland. We could go to Paris and walk like lovers along the Seine. Or stay here in Trouble Hollow and open up a restaurant. It doesn't matter to me what happens next, as long as you're by my side."
His words were a balm for her soul. For the first time in forever, she allowed herself to relax. Alex was right. It didn't matter what they did, where they went, as long as they were together.
"Although I would like to get married and start making babies with you," he murmured into her ear. "In fact, I'd like to start right now."
Lila smiled. She threw her head back and laughed, feeling free. Her gaze stumbled over the window and she froze. "It's snowing!"
Alex turned his head to look, then gave her his most devilish grin. "Well that decides it," he said. "We won't be going anywhere soon. I hope it keeps snowing until it takes weeks to dig us out. We'll stay here in bed and never leave it."
Lila liked that idea. She pressed a kiss to his lips, then ran her cheek against his, liking the rough feeling of his stubble against her smooth skin. Then she caught of whiff of breakfast smells, undoubtedly coming from the kitchen downstairs.
"I think we should leave the bed, but only long enough to run downstairs and get some of that bacon Mrs. Wheaton is cooking."
Alex laughed, a deep laugh that made his toned muscles stand out in relief. He was really too sexy. "I agree. But first, I want to taste you again."
He slid a hand along her neck, burying it in her hair and pulling her face to his. "I love you, cupcake."
She smiled. "I love you too."
Their kiss led to other things, so that they ended up missing breakfast entirely.
THE END