Page 177 of Marks of Rebellion

"I don't want you to struggle or go through what you do. But I'm going to love you no matter what. I don't want you to feel pressure around healing due to our relationship."

"I don't."

"No?"

"No. And I love you, too."

His face lights up. "Say it to me in a different language." He bends his ear to my mouth.

I say it to him in Portuguese then Spanish while nibbling on his lobe.

He groans. "Sounds so dirty!"

"No, this would be dirty." I tell him in Portuguese several different things I plan on doing to him.

"That's hot. What did you say?"

"Can't tell you. I'll have to show you later."

"Outside or inside?"

"Well, that depends on how sneaky we can be."

He cockily arches his eyebrows. "Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe."

"Challenge accepted." He kisses me.

We change and go downstairs. He helps Andre and Blaise set up a sun canopy on the beach. Naomi and I fix some drinks and snacks to take out.

When I get to the tent, the guys are in the water, throwing a frisbee. An infinity symbol over a heart is drawn in the sand with a bouquet of red hibiscuses on it.

Never-ending, limitless love.

Love sweeps through me, and as tears fall, I pick the flowers up and smell them. It's the first time since my capture that I've gotten to inhale the flower's mild smell.

My demi-god, sexy vessel of sinner and saint, tosses the frisbee, runs through the water, and swoops me up in his arms. I drop the flowers back in the sand, and he jogs back into the water while I'm kicking and laughing.

When we're both up to our necks in the water, and my limbs are wrapped around his body, he kisses me, then wiggles his eyebrows. "Let's see how sneaky you can be in the clear, turquoise water."

Epilogue

Hunter

One Month Later - Australia

"What do you think?"I set our duffle bag and my backpack down. Nervous butterflies take off in my stomach.

Vanessa glances around then turns to me, beaming. "I love it."

"You do?"

She wraps her arms around me. "What wouldn't I love? This place is gorgeous. Look at your view!"

I exhale. The sun is shining over the water and waves are crashing against the shore from the tide.

She bites her smile. "Are you nervous?"