“And what would those circumstances be?”
He slides his hand farther down my back until it’s at the curve right above my ass. His fingers dance under the silk fabric, and I don’t even flinch or recoil from the touch, I welcome it. I want more.
“If I was around my pa or my ma, I believe you’d truly see me at my worst.”
“So, you avoid them as much as you can?”
“Yes. I do. It really is one of the main reasons I came here. As much as I miss England and my siblings, it was a toxic world over there for me, and I couldn’t be around it anymore.”
“That’s how I felt with Keenan. It was toxic, which isn’t fully his fault. I wasn’t the best wife, either.”
Pike tilts my chin up. “What makes you say that?”
I glance around the tent at everyone coupled off, intimately talking to each other while dancing. It provides a sense of security as I sway in Pike’s arms. Makes me feel comfortable to open up to him.
“I was cold toward him. Intimacy was tricky for me because I never really knew how to act, how to love. He wanted affection all the time and I had a difficult time showing him that. So, he looked for it elsewhere.”
“That’s bullshit,” Pike says, his voice harsh. “If he wanted more affection, he should’ve asked for it. He shouldn’t have looked for it in someone else. Don’t give him excuses.”
“I’m not. I’m just telling you how I see that marriage. I guess . . . warning you.”
“Warning me of what?” he asks. Thankfully, he shed the jacket and billowy cravat, so when I talk to him, I’m not on the verge of laughter.
“Of how I can be. Cold at times—”
“Maybe the problem was you weren’t with the right person,” Pike says, holding me captured with his eyes. “Maybe you weren’t affectionate because you didn’t feel a connection with him. Because the way I see it, you’re not cold, not in the slightest. Not even lukewarm. I feel the way you burn for me, Cora. Your touch, your kisses, your cuddles, they’re all there, and nothing is lacking when it comes to intimacy with you and me. There’s no denying our chemistry or the feelings forming between us.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Feelings?” I ask.
“Yeah . . . feelings,” he says on an exhale. He rests his forehead against mine. “Really fucking strong feelings.”
“How strong?” I ask as one of my hands smooths up his chest and to the back of his neck, keeping him close.
I hear him swallow and then his eyes flash to mine. “Falling in love feelings,” he says, his voice shaky, but also confident.
“Really?” Tears well in my eyes.
“Yeah. Really.” He takes my hands in his, and without another word, he leads me out of the tent and into the chilly night air, granting us privacy. The subtle sounds of the band intertwine with the gentle lapping of Lake Michigan’s waters against the rocky shore of my brother’s backyard. It’s a sweet melody mixed together, creating a romantic atmosphere.
“What are we doing out here?” I ask, trying not to show how the cold immediately seeps into my bones.
“I wanted a second away from everything. The moment was too big to be surrounded by people.” He lifts his hand to my cheek and passes his thumb over my skin. His brow crinkles and in a strong, clear voice, he says, “I love you, Coraline. I feel like I’ve known for a while, but have been too afraid to admit it. Too afraid that I would scare you away, and maybe I just might scare you away with this conversation, but I don’t think I can hold it in anymore. I need you to know how I feel, where I want this marriage to go. I want you to move in with me, into my place, make it our place. I want to start a life with you and stop living in this world where I’m not sure where we stand. I’m telling you where I’m at. If you’re not there yet, just—”
“I love you, too, Pike,” I say, blurting out my feelings, feeling a wave of relief. I smile and grip the back of his head. “I love you.”
His smile grows larger than I’ve ever seen and he picks me up and spins me around, causing me to laugh. He sets me down and grips my face, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
“Seriously? You love me? You’re not just saying that? Pranking me? About to pull the rug out from under me?”
“I would never joke about that,” I say seriously. “Trust me, it took me a while to figure out the feelings inside me, but once I did, I couldn’t keep them in. I was just telling Stella earlier how I love you and how I wasn’t sure how to handle it.”