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“Come closer,” he said.
I leaned forward and kissed him while the fingers of his other hand toyed with my nipples.
When I was on the verge of an orgasm, I pulled away—which was met with great protests from my husband—opened his trousers, then used my hands and mouth to bring him to his release first.
“You are the perfect woman,” he said as his body stilled from the first orgasm he’d had in weeks.
“The perfect woman for you, Levi,” I teased.
“Let me take care of you,” he whispered.
“We have a lifetime of you taking care of me, husband. Just lying next to you is enough right now.”
I felt him nuzzle against me and, moments later, heard him snoring.
When Angel announced we’d soon be landing, I wriggled away, put on my clothes, and woke him. “Come, my darling.”
“Again?” he said with a wink.
“Yes, I promise that will happen again soon. However, first, you need to get up from this bed and return to your seat so Angel can land the plane.”
“You do know that, if sex is the reward, I will always do whatever you demand.”
I leaned up and kissed him when he stood. “I’m counting on it.”
I could hardly sit still on the drive from the airfield to Casa Melro. I’d already advised those traveling with us that they’d have to remain outside until I gave the signal they could enter. I wanted Levi and me to be alone when I presented his gift.
We took it slow, getting him out of the SUV, then up the steps and into the house.
“I want us to have a few minutes alone before the others join us. I may be a tad emotional,” I explained when he noticed no one else behind us.
He stopped and cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry I gave you such a scare. I won’t again. I promise.”
We’d talked about him leaving Unit 23 as well as SIS. I listened to everything he said and agreed with most of it, but silently, told myself I’d give him time to reevaluate once his body had had time to heal.
“Come. Let’s get you seated.”
“I’d tell you I’m not an invalid, but I guess I am,” he said, trying his best not to lean on me. I guided him to a stool at the kitchen island then watched as he first settled himself, then looked up and noticed Dança dos amantes, my gift to him and to us.
Levi gazed from it to me with tears in his eyes. “I’m speechless,” he said barely above a whisper. “How—you know what? It doesn’t matter how. It’s amazing and beautiful and in the exact place I imagined it going the day I watched you sketch it.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
I gently put my arms around him, and he did the same to me. We kissed a couple of times, then invited our guests inside to join us.
I’d made arrangements for food and drinks to be delivered to the house in advance of our arrival. Penelope helped me get everything out on the island while everyone else wandered the first floor of our home, marveling at its beauty. I noticed Kima on her own, staring out at the ocean. Her shoulders were shaking.
“What can I do?” I asked, putting my arm around her.
She leaned over, buried her face, and cried. “I’m broken, and I don’t know how to put myself back together.”
“We all have healing ahead of us. You and Levi most of all. We’ll get through this together. As a family.”
She looked up at me.
“You’re the sister I never had, Kima, and I hope you consider me the same.”