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Every surface, from floor to ceiling, was covered with images of me. All taken on the night of the
borealis. There were easily over two hundred, but I could swear each frame had captured a different expression.
I turned to him, my heart in my throat as I stared at him, my soul bursting with feeling I couldn’t quite describe but wanted to embrace.
‘This,min elskerinde, this is how I see you. This is how you should look every day for the rest of your life,’ he said, his voice thick with emotion.
‘Thunderstruck?’ I croaked.
He smiled. ‘Starstruck. Awestruck. Filled with wonder and joy. Beautiful. Hopeful. Breathtaking.
Fulfilled. Beautiful.’
‘Your already saidbeautiful.’
‘I know. It deserves repeating.’
His fingers interlocked with mine, I slowly spun around, my gaze lighting on each picture, tears
brimming in my eyes as his words nurtured my soul, watered it and helped it sprout wings of belief.
And as I came full circle, he was waiting, arms wide open.
I flew into them, my heart full. ‘I love you,’ I confessed, the words a vow I knew I’d never doubt or break.
His body shook, his breath expelling long and deep as he held me tight. ‘I know, my darling. I got
there a little faster than you, but I knew you’d catch up.’
I laughed. I cried, uncaring that I was becoming emotionally wrecked again as I basked in his love.
‘We can enjoy this just between us, or you can show it to the world. You direct the narrative of
your life from now on. I’ll merely provide the support. But I’d like the world to see the real Graciela Mortimer.’
Eventually, I dragged my head from his chest and looked up into his eyes. Watched him slowly sink
down, uncaring who saw him on his knees in front of me, waiting patiently for my reply.
‘I want what you want, Jensen. Today, tomorrow, for always. If you see me like this, then I would
be proud to show myself like this to the world.’
I leaned down and kissed him, my fingers gliding through his hair, catching the knot at the back of it and gripping it tight. He groaned into my mouth, then drew back for a spell. ‘I love you.’
‘Jeg elsker også dig,’I repeated back to him, watched his eyes light up and knew that within that light my soul had been reborn.
EPILOGUE
‘TELL ME ABOUT the whales, Jensen.’
He gave a thick groan and I hid a smile. ‘You want me to tell that story right now?’ he asked, his
voice strained.
It might have had something to do with the fact that I was completely naked and astride him, and he was deep inside me, doing everything in his power to hold absolutely still at my command. Or
perhaps it was the old-fashioned folding razor I was using to shave off his stubble that made him a little nervous. I had a feeling it was the combination of edgy danger and surrendering himself to me that gave us both the ultimate thrill.