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“I thought you had gone to bed.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“It’s an interesting piece.” He came into the room and stood next to her. “What’s it called?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.”
Taking the brush from her hand, he put it away and hunkered down in front of her. “I love you, desperately.”
Tears filled her eyes, and he saw her struggling to contain them.
“You said you were sorry you ever met me.” She reminded him, her voice husky.
His heart turned over at that. “I didn’t mean it.” Taking her elegant hands, now stained with colors, he lifted them to his mouth. “I cannot bear the rift between us.”
“I am not sorry.”
He smiled slightly. “I know you’re not.”
“I want this, Cayden.” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand.
“And I want my wife. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Losing you will destroy me.” His hands gripped hers. “Before I met you, I was carefree, lofty about the fact that I was not subjected to the varying degrees of emotions.” He placed heropen palm on his cheek and closed his eyes as the warmth of her skin seeped into his.
“Now I wonder what I would have done without you.” Dropping her hands, he tugged her into his arms, bracing against the wall and cradling her petite frame against him. “Promise me you’ll be here until we’re both old and decrepit.”
“I can’t…”
“Promise me!”
She lifted her head to look at him and felt emotions flooding her at the intense look on his face.
“I promise,” she murmured, hands cradling his face, “I’ll be here for you, always.”
“Good.” He responded gruffly. Placing his hand over hers, he tugged at the scarf and watched as the silk of her hair spilled over his skin, Crushing the soft strands in his fist, he lifted her mouth and crushed it hungrily.
*****
Her eyes drifted open slowly to find him propped up on one hand, staring at her.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“What are you doing?”
“Looking my fill.” He used his free hand to brush the hairs from her face. Last night, he had made love to her with a tenderness that had her crying and clinging to him.
“Why?”
“You’re so beautiful but you snore.” He grinned as she rolled her eyes.
“I do not.”
“I should know. I am the one sleeping next to you.” His touch lingered on her cheek “You make these adorable sounds when you sleep, and you burrow.”
“That’s because you always have your arms wrapped around me.”
“Hmm. Keeping you close.” He could feel the tension easing from around his chest. For the past couple of months, he had been on edge – angry one minute and scared the next. But he hated being on opposite side of the fence. His family was right, whatever the case may be and however much he did not like what she did, she needed him.