Page 46 of Sapphire

I rush out the glass doors, the sun is up and blazing high in the sky as I pass the sparkling pool and head through the lush gardens toward my studio. Opening the door, I head in and see the picture of Zoe where we left it before things took a different course. Pushing it away, I grab a new canvas.

Then I grab my brushes and paints and begin painting.

* * *

“There you are.” Tomas walks into my studio dressed in pajama pants that sling low on his hips. He’s holding a mug in each hand, the heady aroma of coffee surrounding him. “What are you doing?” he asks, handing me one of the mugs.

“I felt inspired this morning,” I tell him as I take a sip of the piping-hot drink.

“I can see,” he adds, sipping his coffee as he stares at my creation. His head tilts from side to side before a frown settles. “I think you’ve fallen for her.”

Tomas’s words surprise me. I have feelings for Zoe, yes. And are they stronger than I realized they were? Maybe. But something more than that, I’m not sure of yet. Can you have the capacity to love more than one person? Tomas is my soulmate, I’m certain of that. But Zoe, I was drawn to her instantly and don’t know why.Because she was made for you and Tomas, that’s why.

Guilt settles like lead in my stomach. I can’t look at Tomas as these thoughts roll around in my head. I don’t want to hurt him, but Zoe has awakened some dormant feelings inside me and now I can’t shut them off. I don’t know where they came from, but they are here now, bubbling endlessly under the surface.

Tomas smiles, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, I understand.”

“You’re not upset?” I ask, surprised by his comments as I turn in my seat to face him.

“I saw it the moment she opened her eyes. And the fact you never left her side. Then there was the way you looked at her. The list could go on.”

My heart stops.

“And you are okay about this?” I ask. Tomas means more to me than life itself, and if he told me he was in love with someone else, it would break my heart in two.

“She’s special, Mateo, I see it. Took me a while, I was hesitant but, I see it.”

I let out a nervous breath. “I still love you. You know that, right? You have my mind, body, and soul for eternity.”

He gives me a wide smile. “And you have mine,” he says, leaning forward and kissing me. Our foreheads touch as he whispers against my lips, “But I think there is room for more with us.”

My stomach does somersaults. I know at breakfast yesterday we spoke about all three of us being together and I knew Tomas was in for all the fun sexual stuff, but the fact he is in for the everyday things makes my heart sing.

“I see it, Mateo. I see that we both might be able to have a future with her.”

“You do? You’re still not high from the amazing sex we’ve been having, are you? You truly think she could be ours?”

He nods, and I jump up and wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. “I see a future with her too, Tomas. I see us walking down the aisle together, her dressed in white, you in a tuxedo looking handsome. Zoe’s beautiful smiling face looking back at us. I see kids—lots of kids. I see us happy. I see us not having to hide ourselves anymore.”

Tomas chuckles. “Well, don’t scare her off with all these baby images you’re having. It’s all very new. Let’s take one day at a time, okay?”

There he was, my sensible man, pulling me back down to earth. I don’t want to scare Zoe away; she was genuinely shocked yesterday when we surprised her with breakfast and our proposal. She thought that night was a drunken rumble in the sheets. She’s going through so much now, and we need to get her better before we can plan any future together.

“Mateo, we need time. I know patience is not one of your virtues but this time we can’t go bull at a gate over her.”

I nod. “I will express my feelings here, on the canvas, until the day I can tell her—untilwecan tell her.”

Tomas nods in agreement.

“Gosh, I love you,” I say, pressing myself against him.

“I love you too,” he says as his hand roams over my body.

His touch awakens my body as desire runs through my veins. “I need you, just you,” I tell him, kissing his neck. I let my teeth graze against his skin. I need to show this man how much I love him and appreciate him.

“You have me, I’m yours,” Tomas growls back.

Yes.

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