Page 106 of Return to Me Always

"Yeah," I said, my voice coming out high.

"One more minute and I'm done. Just the finishing touches, my beautiful lass."

A shiver went through me at the soft way he said those last words.

Several more seconds of sweet torture and he snapped the sketchbook shut, setting it on the edge of the bed as he settled his body next to mine.

"Thank you," he whispered. "That was a dream come true."

I nodded, in awe at the power behind his words. "Do I get to see it?"

He looked away, a flush creeping up his cheeks. "Um..."

I felt my jaw drop. "Are you actually embarrassed? You? Mr. Outdoorsy Warrior Man who can kill a mountain lion with his bare hands?"

The flush grew even deeper. I couldn't help teasing him, delighted by a glimpse of this unseen side of him.

"Seriously?" I asked. "You're not going to let me see a naked picture of myself?"

At that, he chuckled and reached for the drawing pad. "All right. You win, love."

"Well, I would hope so. I'm dying to see this thingright now."

He flipped it open, and I gasped at what was in front of me. My eyes couldn't quite take it in. Sure, it was me. But it also wasn't me. There was something magical about the way Tyler had drawn me, all lush curves and sensual softness with my own eyes staring back at me, almost drowning me in their depths.

To be honest, it was breathtaking, and I didn't quite know what to make of it. When I looked in the mirror at myself, I just saw me. But Tyler... Tyler saw something else.

And I realized what the difference was that I spotted in all his drawings of me, most especially this one. The difference waslove.

"That's the way I see you," Tyler whispered. "That's the way I'll always see you."

Finally, I tore my eyes away from the drawing to look at him, his face only inches from mine.

"Why didn't you want to show it to me?" I asked.

He glanced at the pad still open on my bare lap. "Because I've never shared this side of me with anyone," he eventually said. "And it's just... I was nervous. You seem to do that a lot to me."

I smiled at my brave warrior's confession and moved my body so I could straddle his, wrapping my arms around his bare back.

He sat up, coming closer to me till our chests touched, and I knew that my little "rest" was over. There was no way in hell I was not going to have this man inside me. And soon.

"Do you know how much I love you?" I asked.

His lips captured mine in a dizzying kiss that sent me spiraling with love, lust, and every emotion in between. "I hope as much as I love you," he whispered against my mouth.

"More."

"I doubt it, love." He pulled back slightly to look at me. "I can't wait to start the rest of our lives together."

I held my breath as hope surged through me. "What do you mean?"

"I've been thinking a lot about it, and, well, first, I want to travel with you, explore with you, if you're okay with that."

Stunned, I simply nodded. "But—but what about your classes?"

He shrugged, moving my body along with his. "I was just taking a few art courses, hanging around in London."

The way he'd said it made me rather suspicious. "Hanging around in London, huh? And why was that?"

---