Page 144 of An Inconvenient Marriage
He licked his lips. His hold on my hip tightened, fingers digging into my skin.
The flash of heat from earlier turned into a big roaring flame, setting my pulse on fire.
“Come home,mi diosa. Come home and make me whole.”
35
Zach
Myheartstopped.
So did my ability to breathe.
Staring down into those big blue eyes, I knew this woman was my beginning, my end. My home.
Gripping her chin between my fingers, I gently stroked her soft skin with my thumb.
“I wish there was a stronger word than love because what I feel for you is so much more than a four-letter word.”
Two tears slipped down her cheeks. Her lips trembled. And her breaths were shaky. All I wanted to do was close the little distance between us and claim her mouth so thoroughly that she never forgot who she belonged to.
But I’d be wrong.
My goddess didn’t belong to anyone but herself. I was but a mere servant, willing and eager to worship at her feet for the rest of my life.
“You love me?” she whispered.
Brushing my fingertips along her jaw, I swallowed hard. “I love you, Natalie de la Fuente. So fucking much.”
More tears fell from her eyes. Before I could brush them away, she shook her head and pressed her palm against my chest.
I hated being away from her, but if distance was what she needed, I’d give her that. Which was exactly why I took a few steps backward.
My gaze, however, never left her. I watched, with my heart trapped inside my throat, as she wiped the wetness from her cheeks and slowly paced.
“All this time,” she said. “You’ve loved me all this time and yet you didn’t say anything when I filed for a divorce?”
Like she’d done earlier, she tucked her hair behind her ear. And just like before the strands immediately slipped out again. My fingers itched with the need to push it back for her, to touch her. But since I couldn’t do that, I shoved my hands inside my pockets instead.
“There’s a long wait between filing and making it final and I intended to use that time to change your mind.” I cocked my head. “To remind you of what we had. Still have.”
Recognition lit up her gorgeous face. “The flowers and chocolates…. Itwasyou.”
“Everything about our time together is burned into my memory like a tattoo I never want to remove.Everything. But that night under the stars”—I closed my eyes and took a deep shuttering breath—“my heart knew then what I was too scared to admit out loud. That my life wasn’t complete until you walked into it.”
I parted my lids and was surprised to see Natalie had moved closer.
“How did you know where to deliver the baskets?”
Knowing exactly how the answer would sound, I slicked my tongue over my teeth and held her gaze.
“You’ve been watching me?” She took a step forward. “How long?”
I rocked back on my heels. “I hired a security team to make sure you were all right while I was still in the hospital. But when I was discharged, I had to see you for myself.”
Her gaze shot to my ribs and a pained expression pulled her brows together. “I’m sorry you were hurt because of me.”
This time, I didn’t fight the need to go to her. Taking her hands in mine, I ducked my head so I could look straight into her beautiful eyes. “I’d do it a hundred times over if it keeps you safe.”
