34. Thirty-Four

Thirty-Four

A rt carefully helps me step down into the tranquil warm water and keeps a firm grip on my hand to steady me as we wade up to the shore. He leads us up to a small cove hidden from the hot sun and lays down the blanket across the sand. Apart from the gentle sound of the ocean lapping against the rocks, we're surrounded by silence. I think I need to pinch myself because I've got to be dreaming.

I can't help but ask, "Do you always holiday in places like this?"

He chucks his sunglasses down on the blanket and laughs. "No. I don't tend to holiday much. Work's always been my priority … until now."

I pull off my kimono and drop it on the sand, glancing up at the cliffs. "And you say this place is uninhabited?"

He closes the distance between us in two easy strides. "We're the only ones here." He slips his arms around my waist.

He's brought me to a private paradise.

"This is incredibly romantic," I blurt because there's a look in his eyes I haven't seen before and it's making me nervous.

He plants a light kiss on the tip of my nose. "That's why I've brought you here – besides wanting you all to myself today."

I slide my palms up his smooth chest and across the dark smattering of hairs that adorn his pecs and rest them on his shoulders. "You had me all to yourself last night."

He brushes the tip of his nose against mine. "It's not enough. It's never enough. I want you to myself forever."

For a moment, the strange look in his eyes is still there. "Do you fancy a dip?" He breaks out into a smile, and just like that, the look's gone.

I gaze out into the sea and wrinkle my nose. "No, I don't think so. I'll sunbathe for a while."

"Are you sure about that?"

There's a mischievous glint in his eye that unnerves me, and my eyes dart to the sea and back to him as I realise what he's got planned.

"I'm not going in," I protest, but it's too late as he picks me up in a bear hug. I squeal, beating his chest with my fists as he carries me across the sand.

"I think you're too hot, and you need to cool down." He laughs, ignoring my plea.

"Put me down!" I struggle for a moment and then give in as I decide it's not worth fighting. I'm never going to escape his strong grasp.

I gasp as he pulls me into the crystal-clear waters, up to my shoulders, and finally releases me.

He ducks his head and shoulders beneath the water before reappearing, flinging his head backwards and pushing his hands through his hair, slicking it back. Droplets of water cling to his long eyelashes and glisten like crystals on his tanned flesh. I feel a pain in my chest as I look at him. I'm physically aching for him. He's beautiful.

His hands disappear beneath the water, and a cheeky grin spreads across his face as he lifts his right hand upwards, revealing dripping wet black swim shorts. He hurls them onto the beach.

He's naked.

He looks at me and lifts his brows a touch, challenging me. "We're the only ones here."

He's thrown down the gauntlet. The look on his face tells me he doesn't think I'll copy him. My defiant streak kicks in, and I meet his eyes, unfastening the clasp of my bikini top and throwing it onto the sand and then doing the same with my briefs.

That'll show him.

He grins and loops his arms around my waist, and I press myself against him beneath the water.

His eyes fall to my breasts. "You're too beautiful to be covered up."

I push my hands through his wet hair and kiss him once. "So are you."

The taste of salt water lingers on his lips as they cover mine, and I wrap myself around him so that he's supporting my weight.

"I love you so much," he breathes, and I want to cry out with happiness.

"I love you too."

As he kisses me adoringly, I can't help the nagging voice in the back of my head that's niggling over what he said this morning. It's a big thing, and we haven't mentioned it since.

I need to ask, "Why were you so calm about me missing my pill?"

He rests his forehead against mine and gazes into my eyes. "If this is going to happen, I want it to be with you."

My heart double beats. "With me?"

"Yes." He smiles. "With you, my beautiful Sophie."

He kisses my forehead, and I close my eyes, suppressing a sob of happiness. Then, he slides his lips to my right cheek and leaves a light kiss before doing the same to my left. Then, finally, he presses his mouth to mine. He kisses me slow and unhurried, and I'm only slightly aware that we're moving because I'm lost in him. His hands slide beneath my bum, supporting me as I remain clinging to him as he carries me out of the water. The heat of the sun prickles my damp, salty skin as he walks across the sand and lowers us down onto the blanket hidden away in the cove, lying the firm length of his body against mine. He kisses me, and his fingers glide up the inside of my right inner thigh and stop before they reach the most sensitive spot between my legs.

He tears his mouth from mine and that strange look in his eyes is back. "This is perfect." He brushes his fingers across my cheek. "It's perfect because you're here."

"It's perfect because we're here together." I lift my head to kiss him, but he draws back slightly, as if he wants to say something and he hasn't quite finished.

"You're like a ray of light in my life, Sophie. I feel like I was living in shadows, my heart in darkness, hardly beating. I thought I'd feel like that forever. You've let the sunshine in, made my heartbeat properly, given me a chance to really live." He presses a palm over my heart, his eyes searching my face. "You're the woman who made my heartbeat again."

I do the same to him and feel his heart galloping in his chest, and I'm pretty certain mine's matching it.

"Marry me."

I freeze. My eyes frantically search his face for any trace of a smile to show me that he might be joking. He's got to be, hasn't he?

My heartbeat is thudding in my ears so loud that I can barely hear myself talk over the din. "Sorry, I think I'm hearing things because I thought you just asked me to marry you."

He smiles and brushes a damp strand of hair away from my forehead with a finger. "I did."

I think I'm flatlining. Everything seems to happen in slow motion for the next few seconds as he reaches behind him and produces a red box from goodness knows where.

He's lost his mind. He must have.

I sit up and stare in stunned silence as he opens the box to reveal a sparkling platinum engagement ring with the biggest square cut diamond I've ever seen in my life.

Shit. This is really happening.

He's watching me carefully, waiting for me to say something.

My heart's pinballing round my chest, and my stomach's doing a jig. "Are … are you sure? We've only known each other …"

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life. When we first met, I said it doesn't matter how long you've known someone, it's the connection you have with them. And you, Sophie …" A muscle tics in his jaw, as if he's holding some emotion at bay. "Despite my shitty start in life, I always wanted to get married and have a family. When I went to live with Mum and Dad and saw how devoted they were to one another, it made me want it even more. I always thought it was out of reach. I knew I'd have to let someone in, and I never thought I'd find someone who would make me want to do that. Then, I found you. I've always known I love you, Sophie. I just couldn't bear to say it in case I lost you."

I stare at the ring, glistening in the box. I'm dreaming. I must be.

Tears well in my eyes as his words sink in, and I glance towards the ocean. This all makes sense now. The funny look in his eyes. Bringing me here.

"Only Art Black could bring me to a secluded beach, strip me naked, and then propose." I part-laugh, part-sob.

He doesn't laugh as he watches me with serious eyes, waiting for my answer.

My vision blurs as hot tears run down my cheeks, and I admit the one thing I've realised more than anything over the past few days of us being apart, "I can't imagine my life without you."

He presses his lips together and looks down at the blanket for a moment, as if fighting with his composure, and then he looks up at me, misty-eyed.

"Yes." I smile through the tears. "Yes, I'll marry you."

He drops the box onto the blanket and grabs my face with both hands, pulling me into a fierce, desperate kiss that lasts for an age. I'm breathless when he finally pulls away.

"You've made me the happiest man on earth," he breathes against my mouth.

"And I'm the happiest woman," I say because I am. I'm floating on cloud nine.

He scoops up the box and pulls out the ring, sliding it onto my finger. I watch in awe as the sunlight bounces off the sparkling diamond.

"It's stunning and a perfect fit."

"I'm glad. I wasn't sure what size you were. I had to ask Mum for advice."

I lift my eyes to his. "You told your mum you were going to propose?"

"Yeah, I called her up to get a second opinion on the ring size and to break the news."

"What did she say?

He gives me one of his easy smiles. "She was ecstatic. She thinks you're perfect." He kisses me. "Just like I do."

My mum will be euphoric. I'm going to have to work myself up to telling her.

Even though I'm blissfully happy, the tiny, nagging voice is still in the back of my head, making me doubt. "Sorry, I've got to ask this … you haven't just asked me because there's a chance I could be pregnant?"

His brows draw together into a frown. "Yeah, I just carry an engagement ring round for a laugh. No, I've been thinking about it for a while." His frown dissolves, to be replaced by a smile. "And another thing." He kisses me and slides his body on top of mine, pushing me down onto the blanket. "I didn't strip you naked; you did that yourself. And you wear the look very well."

He moves down my body, positioning himself between my legs. He admires my curves. A look of pure adoration crosses his face, making me feel like a queen, and he sweeps his hand across my stomach. "You're so beautiful," he whispers. "I can't believe I'm lucky enough to get to see this every day for the rest of my life."

His fingers trail a line down my pubic hair, and I suck a deep breath in and close my eyes as his thumb caresses my clitoris.

"I'm going to worship you forever."

Oh God.

He increases the pressure of his thumb, moving in small, circular motions, and I moan.

"Sophie Black has got quite a ring to it, don't you think?"

I open my eyes and look at him, forcing myself to focus. "What if I want to keep my own surname?"

He frowns and lowers himself between my thighs, causing my heartbeat to speed up. "You'll take my name."

He keeps his eyes on mine as he trails a line with his tongue between my vagina and clitoris. My body arches off the blanket, as if an electrical charge had run from the top of my head through to my feet. He started on the boat, flaunting his gorgeous nakedness in front of me, and now, he's finishing the job. He's controlled and dominant and doing what he does best.

"Why?" I barely get the word out before he sinks two fingers inside me and laps at my hypersensitive clit, causing a ball of warmth to build between my legs. I gasp and close my eyes, flailing my head to the side as I squirm beneath him.

"Because I want the world to know"—his mouth and tongue, combined with his thrusting fingers, are proving to be too much— "you're Mrs Sophie Black …" His tongue sweeps across my folds, paying special attention to my clit.

I cry out, but he only increases the pressure, driving me wild.

"You're mine."

"Oh God!" I moan as my muscles clench around his fingers, and I tip over the edge as sweet, warm tension radiates through my bones. I take a deep breath to calm my erratic breathing and quieten my scrambled brain.

I open my eyes to see his face above mine, his hands planted on either side of my head.

"I'm going to wake up to this face every day for the rest of my life." There's a look of wonder in his eyes as he searches my face, as if he can't quite believe it.

"We're engaged," I say sleepily because I can't quite believe it either.

I feel his body weight shift over me, and he kisses my stomach softly, resting his head on the dip of my waist.

My fingers tangle into his hair, and my lips curl into a smile as my eyes close.

Sophie Black does have a ring to it , I concede. But I won't tell him I think that … just yet.