Page 156 of The Genius
“How could I not? He was blocking the fucking sun.” Tristan chewed on his lip.
“What if he decides to come after you? Did you stop to think about that?”
“Shelly, I already have a mom, I don’t need you to fuss over me. Solo isn’t some irrational lunatic who will come after me. I’m pretty sure he understands that he blew his chance with Willow seven years ago.”
My eyes strayed in the direction of the lake again. “I wish we knew what was going on down there.”
“Me too.” Tristan walked off, throwing a last comment over his shoulder, “All I know is that there are more ways to win a woman than in a tournament.”
“He’s right about that.” Marco looked after Tristan. “What did you think about Mila’s suggestion to have these gatherings once a year?”
“I’d come. I’ve had fun and it would be a wonderful reminder of the most magical wedding I could have imagined.”
Marco’s smile was warm. “Really? You don’t mind that it was informal?”
“Not at all.”
“Do you think your family will be upset that they weren’t there?”
“Rochelle was here.” I trailed a finger along the bridge of Marco’s nose. “I’m sure my mother prefers to pretend there was no wedding.”
“You will tell her, though, right? I don’t want it to be a secret.”
“Oh.” I laughed. “I don’t think we could keep it a secret even if we wanted to. I bet there are already rumors spreading and soon the media will be asking for a comment. You’re going to be in newspapers around the world as the Nman crazy enough to marry Shelly Summers.”
“You mean lucky enough.”
“Now you’re just sucking up to me.” I grinned and leaned down to nuzzle my nose against his. “Some people in the Motherlands will adore you like they did when you climbed that flagpole. Others won’t like you no matter what you do.”
“I don’t care, Shelly. All I want is to be with you and for us to raise our kids together.” His hand rested on my belly, his face soft with the crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
My hands played with his curls. “I say the wrong thing often, so I want to get this right.” My eyes grew moist and my voice a little wobbly. “Marco, I truly admire and respect you. You’re funny, warm, generous, and patient with me, even when I’m insensitive, obstinate, and lecture you on things you don’t care about. I’ve known for ten years that if I ever were to be with a man it would be you.”
Marco stared at me with wonder. “I don’t know what to say. That was a real declaration of love. I’m impressed.”
I licked my lips and remained serious. “Maybe I’m not good with declarations of love, but I needed you to know how I feel.”
Marco brushed his thumb across my lips and kissed me. “Shelly, I feel it. It’s there in your kisses and your touch. When we make love you give me everything, and I feel so fucking blessed that you picked me.”
Our hands intertwined and we sat up with Marco hugging me from behind.
It was the sudden silence around us that alerted me that something was happening.
“Shit,” Marco whispered. “I guess that means they are done talking. He doesn’t look too happy, does he?”
Solomon was walking fast, his head down, his stare fixed to the trail in front of him, and his hands folding and stretching, giving an impression of a heated internal dialogue.
A minute later Willow appeared from the woods with Hunter next to her. The two siblings walked without talking.
“Solomon,” Mila ran after the giant man, who was aiming straight for his drone.
I was pushing up from the ground.
“Shelly, I mean it. Don’t meddle,” Marco warned.
“I just want to know how it went.”
“It’s obvious how it went, wouldn’t you say?”
