“I needed that,” he whispers, voice rough with emotion.
“I know,” I murmur.
I curl around him, pulling up the sheets. “It’s going to be okay, Ethan. We’re going to be okay.”
He rests his chin on my head. “You can’t stop me from worrying.”
“I know.”
His hand comes to rest around my waist, fingers splayed protectively over where our child grows. “Once everything is over, let’s go somewhere. Just the two of us.”
“And this little nugget,” I chuckle.
“And the baby,” he agrees.
“How about Switzerland? We can go to one of the villages, get a cabin there, and stay for a few weeks.”
I look up at him, surprised. “Really? I was sure you’d say Paris or something romantic like that.”
“I can take you to all those places. But I want you to relax, get away from all this. Explore the waterfalls, walk in the rain. Sleep late, wake up when the sun is in the sky.”
I wriggle on the bed till I am lying on top of him, my armsfolded beneath me, the slight bump of stomach pressing against his. “That sounds very unlike you, Mr. Workaholic.”
He smiles now, lifting his hand to wrap around a curl of my hair. “You make me want to forget about work. I just want to lose myself in you. I want lazy mornings with you, even lazier afternoons. I want to watch you fall asleep in my arms. I want to be alone with you, away from the hustle of the city, of our jobs.”
My chest tightens, warmth spreading through me.
“Why are you so wonderful?”
He blinks in surprise at my words.
I press a kiss to his cheek. “Absolutely wonderful.”
For the first time, I see his cheeks turn slightly red.
He wraps his arms around me, his voice gruff. “Seems you’re ready for round two.”
“No.” I slide my arms around his neck. “I’m ready to tell you how I feel, how madly you’ve made me fall in love with you.”
He goes still, his eyes watching me, a hint of vulnerability in them now. “Natalie?—”
“Once this is all over, I want to wear that ring you got me. I want to wear it proudly,” I smile, tears in my eyes. “I want to tell the whole world you are mine, and only mine.”
He buries his face in my neck, and I run my fingers through his hair, savoring the silky texture against my skin.
“Fuck, you undo me,” he whispers against my neck.
“Like you’re any better,” I laugh.
When he kisses me, it’s fierce, love and desire pouring through to me.
I don’t resist, wrapping my legs around him, drawing him closer.
“I love you, Natalie Thorne, my beautiful, stubborn, gorgeous girl,” he breathes. “You drive me fucking insane.”
My head tilts back as he slides down my body, worshipping it.
As Ethan plays me like his favorite instrument, my heart overflows with these feelings of joy and warmth.
