Remington allowed Addy to pull him with her to the surface of the lake.

For once, his body welcomed the breath he took when they emerged.

Then Addy was covering his face with kisses, warm and feather light, so that he thought his heart would burst.

“Are you okay, Remington?” Her whispered question awoke him from the stupor of enjoyment.

“Of course,” he said.

“You were so strange down there, you wouldn’t look at me,” she said.

“I was afraid I would begin to crave air,” he told her. “I was practicing meditation to ease the cravings if they came. I learned to meditate to calm myself when I was getting accustomed to my human form. Meditation is most useful. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

Addy laughed.

“My mom would like you,” she said.

He smiled. That was a nice thought. He knew her mother had been here and it was a sadness that he had not had the opportunity to meet her. Perhaps another time.

They climbed up the bank.

It was strange to see no one on the moonlit lawn except the firefighters.

He turned to Addy.

She was shivering. The beautiful gown she’d been wearing was completely soaked and bits of algae clung to it.

“You’re freezing,” he said.

“I’m okay,” she replied.

He suspected that she was in shock. This happened commonly to humans who were placed in stressful conditions without the soothing effects of meditation.

“I’m going to hold you anyway,” he said.

He lifted her up and carried her up toward the main house. She wound her arms around his neck.

Ellen, the night manager was coming down the hill as they walked up.

“Is she okay?” Ellen asked.

“She’s cold,” Remington said.

“Take her inside. Room 38 is open tonight,” Ellen said, tossing him a key card. “That will open any of the rooms, but I trust you to use it only on 38.”

“I promise,” Remington assured her.

“Get some rest,” Ellen said, giving Remington a significant look, “both of you.”

He nodded and cuddled Addy closer to his chest.

When they reached the lobby he had to take a breath. It was strange, thinking about being a guest instead of a waiter as he crossed the plush carpet.

There was no one to be found anywhere. He pressed the button and the elevator doors slid open.

At last they arrived on the top floor of the stone house and he followed the numbers on the doors to #38.

Addy had been silent in his arms all this time.

She wiggled to be let down when he struggled with the key card and he placed her gently on the ground.

She took the card from him and slid it through the reader. It beeped and the lock clicked.

Remington pushed the door open.

The room was large, with a cream-colored carpet, alabaster bedding, and white curtains framing a huge window that overlooked the resort. He could see the single moon reflecting in the black water of the lake and the gently swaying trees on the hillside above.

It was beautiful.

But not as beautiful as his bedraggled bride, resplendent in her ghostly glory.

“What are you looking at?” Addy asked.

He gaped for a moment, then realized she was joking.

“I look like something out of a horror movie, don’t I?” she asked, then laughed.

“You always look beautiful to me,” he said, not quite wanting to agree.

“Well, enjoy then, because I’m taking it off right away,” Addy said.

True to her word, she began to struggle with her sodden gown immediately.

“May I help you?”

“Sure,” she said. “Thanks.”

They wrestled the wet dress together until at last it was piled on the floor at her feet.

She gazed up at him, her eyes luminous, as if she were ready for a kiss.

His heart ached in response, and his body raged. But Remington wasn’t going to take advantage of her state of mind. He patted her shoulder gently, then headed for the bathroom.

“I’m going to start a warm shower for you,” he said over his shoulder.

He could sense her confusion, but she trailed after him agreeably enough.

When the water was steaming, he turned back to her.

She had removed her undergarments and stood before him completely bare.

Her breasts were beautiful, delicate pink nipples jutting out as if begging for his touch. Her waist narrowed before the flare of her hips. The triangle of pale skin between the deep tan of her belly and her thighs looked like an arrow to him, pointing the way for him to find her pleasure.

But he brought his eyes to hers and tried valiantly to keep them there.

She blinked up at him, blue eyes filled with… something that made him feel warm inside.

He puzzled over whether it might be wonder or gratitude, then forced himself back on task.

“Let’s get you in there,” he said gently, taking her hand to help her into the water.

She stepped into the shower.

He watched, hypnotized, as she tilted her chin back, letting the water cascade through her hair, down her chest.

When she reached for the shampoo, he grabbed it for her and hesitated before handing it over.

She looked at him, then smiled, and let her hand fall to her side again, waiting expectantly.

He squeezed some shampoo into his hand, replaced the bottle, and leaned in to massage it into her hair.

She closed her eyes like a kitten and leaned into his touch.

Her hair was smooth as satin in the warm water. When he was finished with it, he took soap and worked it between his hands, then skimmed it down her arms, across her chest.

She held her breath, and he knew she was waiting to see what he would do next.

Slowly, so that she could stop him if she wanted, he circled her breasts, then allowed his palms to caress them gently.

Her nipples pebbled against his hands and he almost groaned with frustrated need.

Addy drew in a breath and he knew she felt this too, this desire that was almost like gravity.

He slid his soapy hands down to her belly, around her posterior, down her legs.

Then he worked his way back up her inner thighs.

She was trembling, but she held still, so he slid his hand against her sex.

He nearly lost his resolve then. She was warm and wet, and it had nothing to do with the shower.

But he kept going, withdrawing his hand as soon as he was sure he had bathed her properly.

She whimpered lightly, and he rejoiced inside, knowing she wanted him.

He slowly rinsed the soap from every part of her body beginning at the top.

By the time he found himself back between her thighs he was desperate to taste her.

He had sworn to himself that he would not choose her tonight, but he had not sworn that he wouldn’t pleasure her again.

He was peeling off his clothes, joining her in the shower, and down on his knees before he had time to rethink things.

“Remington,” Addy breathed.

Then he was between her legs, lapping at the sweet tanginess of her, reveling in the small sounds of need she made as he toyed with her, unable to stop himself from teasing her just to prolong the incredible sensation of having her at his mercy. Her exquisite pleasure was tied to the tiny movements of his tongue.

When she laced her fingers through his hair, he knew he had pushed her too much.

Slowly, he pressed one finger against her opening and licked her clitoris into his mouth.

She arched her hips and cried out as he sucked and pressed inside at the same time.

He felt her whole body tense around him, and then she was moaning deliciously as she squeezed his finger in an endless series of pleasant contractions.

At last he rose, enjoying the sight of her pink cheeks and the wondering look in her eyes.

That other expression was still there.

He washed himself quickly, then turned off the water and wordlessly offered her a towel.

She took it, dried off, then padded past him, naked, out of the bathroom.

He dried off too, and followed her.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

He sat next to her.

“You told me something once,” she said. “It feels like a million years ago.”

“What was it?”

“You said that you wanted to choose me for your mate,” she said, sounding uncharacteristically shy. “Is that still true?”

“Of course,” he said, preparing himself for the pain of hearing again that she did not want him.

“I want it too,” she said softly.

“Addy,” he groaned.

“Please,” she said. “I mean it.”

“What about Marco?” he asked.

“What about Marco?” she repeated.

“I saw you with him,” Remington explained. “I thought… I mean it looked like…”

“Marco?” She said with a laugh that did more to put his mind at ease than any words could. “He’s a goofball. I was only going to see him to find Jasmine.”

“Jasmine?”

“I thought…”

He could tell that whatever she wanted to say caused her great difficulty, so he waited without pressing for more.

“I thought,” she continued, “that she would be a good match for you.”

“What?” he asked, not sure he had heard her correctly. “Why would you want me to be matched with Jasmine?”

“I don’t,” she insisted. “I never really did. I was just kidding myself. But I thought if I couldn’t be with you, then I needed to make sure you didn’t end up with someone who would mistreat you.”

“You were willing to put my well-being before your own.”

“Even if it broke my heart.”

His own heart swelled at the thought of her unselfish feelings for him.

“But you want to be a doctor,” he said. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever heard you say you wanted. It’s what you’ve worked for. It’s what your family has always wanted for you.”

“Yes,” she said. “And it’s still what I want. But I’ve realized something.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re not going to get in my way,” she said simply. “You’re going to help me.”

Remington paused, unable to speak.

She was right. Of course he would help her. It was all he had wanted to do in the first place.

“You’ve helped me since the day we met,” she continued. “And you’ve made me more patient and thoughtful along the way.”

He felt the same, the very same about her.

“I know I can’t be the wife Posey wanted for you,” she said. “I’m sarcastic, and pretty much obsessed with school. I’m not a lot of fun from September to June and if I get into med school it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I can’t take you on a tour of the world. I can’t teach you five languages or even give you a good crash course in pop culture. But if you still want to choose me, then I’m all yours - spreadsheets, textbooks, study sessions and all. I think we’ve belonged to each other since the beginning. It just took me a little while to realize it.”

Remington felt a prickling in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” Addy asked.

He wrapped his arms around her, hugged her so close.

“I’m so happy,” he told her. “Of course I will help you in whatever you choose to do.”

It was true. He would do anything he could think of if it might cause her to feel just a tiny fraction of the happiness he felt right now.

She pulled back slightly and brushed his lips with hers.

His body sang with the need to claim her. But there was something he needed to do first.

Reluctantly, he released her.

Then he knelt on the carpet at her feet.

“Adelaide Barnes,” he said. “I choose you to be my mate. Will you accept me?”

Addy smiled down at him, tears gleaming in her eyes.

“Yes,” she said. “I accept you.”

Then she was pulling him to his feet and they were flinging each other’s towels to the floor.

Addy reached for him greedily.

“Lie down, my love,” he said. “This cannot be rushed. It needs to be special.”

She narrowed her eyes at him as if in frustration, but lay herself down on the bed.

He smiled at her petulance, and enjoyed the view.

Her wet hair was spread out on the pillow case, her tan skin a delicious contrast against the pale cotton.

“Remington,” she whispered, reaching her arms out to him. “We literally have the rest of our lives to stare longingly at each other.”

It was true. They did.

And he had waited so long already.