Page 41 of Freedom's Kiss
“My future is you, Pakse. As my wife.” Cradling the back of her head, he lowered his face toward hers until their lips met in a balm that covered the scars of her past and gave a promise of a future filled with love.
Rising on her toes, she pressed into his kiss. Another tear leaked from her eye, and she couldn’t help but smile against his lips. Never had she experienced such joy. Used to the ache of loss and the dull pain that spread like an infection, this feeling of her chest expanding, the tingling sensation that spread all the way down to her fingertips, left her giddy, and a laugh escaped.
Nokosi pulled back enough to look questioningly into her eyes. Her smile only widened until she couldn’t imagine her cheeks stretching any farther. Placing her palms on the sides of his face, she looked deep into his eyes. “I have never been happier than I am now.”
The concern that had pinched his features melted, replaced with tenderness. Feeling bold, Winnie pulled his face back down to hers and captured his mouth again. The lightness of a moment ago settled into the pit of her stomach and hardened until all thoughts of laughter fled from her mind in the wake of the ball of desire burning in her middle.
Nokosi placed a line of feathery kisses along her jaw until his breath warmed her ear and sent shivers down her spine. “Today,Pakse.Will you join with me today?”
Winnie studied the ground as thoughts spilled into her mind. Was it wrong? To experience such elation when her friends and his people were fighting and dying for their lands and freedom? Would it be wiser to wait until the conflict ended before they tied their lives together?
She raised her eyes and met his dark penetrating gaze. One glance. That was all it took for surety to calm and settle over her. Every day, every moment, was a gift to be received, opened, and enjoyed. The coming days were uncertain, but this moment with this man held no doubts. She stared at the greatest gift ever bestowed to her. She would cherish every moment she had with him…no matter how small the number of those days might end up being.
