Page 58 of A Deeper Blue
“If you want me to,” he said, his head cocking to one side.
“Yes,” said Azure, the word coming out in a whisper.
“Mmm.” He rumbled out his pleasure at her answer, and she could feel the growl in his chest. “But…” She looked around at the farm and surrounding hills. “Don’t you want to be here? With your family?”
“Oh, fuck no,” said Rafe. “That would be a terrible plan. Dad and I would end up challenging each other in like a week. This is better. At least I’ll be welcome back for visits now. And besides, I’m pretty sure that you are going to need someone to watch your back because you are nothing but trouble.”
“Me? No! You’re the trouble maker.”
“I’m the trouble finisher,” he said, grinning. “You can start it—I’ll clean it up. Teamwork.”
Azure giggled. She couldn’t help herself. “I love you,” she said and then gulped a big breath of air.
“You’d better, sweetheart,” he said. “You’re going to be stuck with me for a long time.”
“Hm,” said Azure. “You do realize that at some point, that means I’m going to drive your bike.”
“No,” he said.
“Yes,” she said.
“No,” he said.
“Well, yes. And possibly also while naked. That is currently unclear, but definitely a strong possibility.”
He gave a shiver that ran all the way down his body. “Um.” He appeared to be struggling mightily betweenyesorno.
Azure giggled again and leaned in to nibble his earlobe.
“Azure,” he groaned. “Woman…” He trailed off in favor of kissing her.
“You love me?” she asked, pulling back.
“Yes. In all the ways,” he said. “Until the end of time.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling as if her heart had just exploded into a thousand tinier, even happier hearts. “Can you love me in some of the ways right now?”
“Anytime,” he said, a grin stretching across his face. “Anywhere.”
“All the time. Everywhere,” she replied and kissed him.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
Azure
Azure woke up sweating. She’d gone to bed sweating in the Florida humidity, but this was different. Outside the porthole window, the tide slapped against the side of the boat. She sat up and clunked her head against the low ceiling. She groaned and rubbed her head.
“Sweetheart, did you just hit your head?” asked Rafe’s sleepy voice.
“Shut up,” said Azure rolling over him, trying to get out of the berth. The boat had seemed like a nice accommodation when it had been light. In the dark, it was annoying. She couldn’t wait until next month when they would get to head home to Wyoming for a break. She loved Rafe’s king-sized bed and pillow-top mattress. Not to mention the steel-reinforced bedframe.
“Mmm,” murmured Rafe, grabbing a handful of ass on her way over him.
“Not now,” said Azure. She fell onto the floor and crawled to her bag.
“What we doin’?” asked Rafe, rolling over to look at her.
