Chapter 34

34

Worry knocked at the back of Enya's mind. A worry that wouldn't abate.

Shooting flames and black smoke filled her dreams along with the fear she'd lose Sullivan. And she couldn't bear the prospect that she'd only get two brief kisses with him on her way out of town then never see him again.

She started to shake her head in protest, but at a nuzzle against her neck she halted. Warm breath and lips brushed against her skin where her hair had been pushed aside.

Full wakefulness surged through her, and she was aware of not only the soft mouth near her neck, but the hard length of a body behind her and a bulky arm holding her.

She rolled over as quickly as she could in the tangle of her skirt and covers. As she faced Sullivan, his eyes remained closed.

"You're back." She didn't care if he was sleeping and she woke him up.

His lids raised halfway. But he didn't speak.

"Thank heavens." She threw herself against him, wrapping her arms around him and burrowing into him. Her joy at seeing him was too hard to contain.

His arms slipped around her in return, and he pulled her closer.

Her whole body trembled, and tears stung at the backs of her eyes. They'd made it here. They were both safe. And maybe now they could be reunited for good.

But first ... she had to apologize.

She pushed against him.

He didn't budge.

"Sullivan, let me go." She wiggled to free herself.

"No." He pressed a hard kiss into her hair. "I won't let you go ever again."

At the possessiveness in his tone and in his hold, she couldn't hold back a smile. How was it possible it had taken her so long to fall in love with this man? Or maybe she had loved him earlier but had just been too scared to admit it?

Regardless, she had to make things right with him. "I promise I won't go anywhere. I just wanted to see your face when I apologize."

He stilled.

This time when she tugged away, he allowed it. In fact, he rolled to his back, crossed his arms behind his head, and watched her through half-lidded eyes.

With his muscles straining against his shirtsleeves and his vest, she was tempted to run her fingers up and down his arms. But she propped herself up on one elbow and then placed the other hand on his chest, at his heart. "I'm sorry I pushed you away for so long. You were right about how I sabotaged our relationship."

He continued to watch her, his eyes dark and intense—or at least the small slit that she could see.

"I was putting obstacles between us, though to be fair, I didn't realize it."

He removed one hand from behind his head and trailed a finger through her hair hanging around her in disarray.

"And I was letting my scars from my past determine my future."

His finger moved languidly. So sensually. So enticingly.

A flare ignited within her. "I can't promise that my scars won't affect us ever again. Because they might."

He dropped his hand to her neck and drew a trail down to the base of her throat, to the pulse that was starting to pound harder there.

"But I do promise that when I'm hurting, I'll try not to push you away again."

"I can live with that."

At the rumble in his voice, the spark inside flamed hotter. "Good." After the kisses she'd shared with him last night, she had the feeling that if she kissed him again right now, she'd incinerate. Maybe they'd even incinerate together.

But that was okay, wasn't it? After all that had happened, she'd never believed it possible that she would have a beautiful and loving marriage. But God had given her this man and this opportunity. How could she do anything less than fully give Sullivan her heart and hold nothing back?

The prospect didn't terrify her as much as it had a month ago. Aye, it was still frightening to trust another man so completely. But hadn't she just promised not to push him away?

Without letting herself think about what she was doing, she lifted up so that she was lying on top of him.

At her bold move, his eyes flew open, revealing the dark brown that she could lose herself in every time. She tried to bite back a smile, but her lips quirked.

His gaze locked in on the quirk.

She was surprised at how good he felt beneath her, how right it felt to press into every inch of him and know that he was hers. "I forgot to thank you for all your gifts." It was her turn to lift a hand to his hair and let her fingers linger there lazily.

His eyes were still riveted to her mouth, and from the slight flare of his nostrils, she could tell he was thinking about kissing her.

She bit her lip to tease and entice him.

His hand snaked around her and splayed at the small of her back. Hard.

Oh, she loved him, loved this. "Since you gave me so many lovely gifts"—she dropped her voice to a whisper—"I wanted to give you one in return."

"There's no need." His voice was a whisper too. "I don't expect anything in return. I hope you know that."

"I do." She bent in lower so that her lips hovered above his. "But this is something I want to give you."

"What?" The brown of his eyes had lightened, revealing the flecks of amber she liked so much.

"My heart. I'm giving you my heart, Sullivan." With that, she lowered her lips the rest of the way, fusing her mouth to his in a slow meshing, then pulling back, lightly teasing, before pressing in to start it over again.

He only played her game for a few seconds before growling and chasing after her.

This time she sat up and placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

Head off his pillow, he paused, but the look in his eyes said he was coming after her again in a second whether she was ready for him or not.

"Not only am I giving you my heart Sullivan, but I'm giving you all of me." As the words spilled out, she flushed at her brazenness.

His gaze met hers, wide, questioning, as if testing her sincerity.

She nodded. "You told me you'd make sure that this would be something I wanted."

"And is it?"

"Aye. Very much." Then she bent down once again, letting her lips meet his with all the passion and love swirling within her.

The rhythm of his mouth accelerated quickly, but then he broke away abruptly and framed both sides of her face with his hands. "I love you now, and I always will." His breath was already labored, and his eyes were dark with desire.

He hadn't needed to say it. But she liked hearing it anyway.

She smiled. "I love you now, and I always will too." Then she aimed for his lips again. And this time she had no intention of stopping.