She gazes on at me, her lips parting with my revelation.
“It’s really over?”
“Yes, it’s over.”
She lets out a long, relieved breath.
“We lost signal on our way to the airstrip. We were fucking running to the plane when I sent you the message. We got detained at the border for a full goddamned day before Tyler got it sorted. And by the time I could reach you, you were already in the air.”
“If you want to reach me, Frenchman, then maybe you don’t put yourself in these positions like some stupid Rambo commando. You’re too old to be taking these risks!”
Unable to help it, I toss my head back and laugh, hard, which earns me two angry fists against the chest. I grip her arms to stop her assault, and she smiles up at me begrudgingly. “God, I hate you.”
“I love you, too. And how many times do I have to demonstrate that I’m. Not. Fucking. Old?”
She clasps her hands around my neck, pushing up on her toes and pressing her perfect tits to my chest. “Maybe one more time.”
“Only one?”
“Or two.” Her face falls of all pretense as she lays her head on my chest and grips me tighter. “God, I was so worried.”
I tilt her head up. “I know, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Never again, Trésor. I swear to you.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that be—”
I kiss her soundly to cut off her snarky reply and she draws me in further, a moan escaping her throat. Briefly, I indulge my desire and sweep her sweet mouth with my tongue before I still her, intent on my purpose. “We’ll get to that.”
“Okay.” She glances over my shoulder. “Tobias, this house is a dream.”
“Is it?”
“You haven’t seen it?”
“No. I came straight from the beach to you. I was waiting for you.”
Her eyes soften. “Come see. You’ve waited for this day for so long.” She grips my hand and I manage to pull it away just in time.
“That can wait, too. As I said, we’re in negotiations.”
She glances up at me, brows drawn. “For?”
My insides rattle as I grip her to me. In her eyes, I see it all, including my redemption.
“Life.”
“We’re negotiating life?” She cups my face as emotions swell inside me, past the point of holding it. I choke several times before I’m able to speak.
“Tobias, what is it?”
“I love you.”
“I know. Please tell me what’s going on. You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be scared. I have a favor to ask.”
She sobers considerably when she sees the visible change in me. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“I’m done scaring you. Completely fucking done. I’m done making you worry. I’m done plotting. I’m done with the board altogether.”
“You’re serious?”
“We’ll never be fully done. You know that. But I’m done with every part of the heavy lifting.”
She swallows. “Okay.”
I lift her hand and kiss the back of it. Her eyes fixed on where my lips caress her skin before I open her palm and place the sand dollar inside it. “I’ve been saving this for you. For today.”