Her footsteps slowed. What if he didn’t want her?
She sucked in another breath and pushed open the door while bracing for the worst. The room was stuffy and dark and smelled of alcohol.
“Hone?” She fumbled for the light, relieved—so relieved—when she found only Hone in the bed.
He rubbed his face and blinked at her. “Cassie? Am I imagining things?”
“I-I missed y-you.” She swallowed the hard lump in her throat that was making her stutter. “I can’t sleep.”
“Oh, god, Cassie. Is that really you?” He bounded off the bed, and heedless of his naked state, wrapped her in his arms.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she sank against his hard chest. Hone drew back and kissed her, and she felt as if she’d come home.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Hone kissed her nose, her chin and nuzzled her neck. “I missed you so much. How long are you here?”
“My new manager says I can base myself here for most of the year. I’ll have to travel a bit, but I shouldn’t be away for longer than a month, maybe two, at a time.”
A slow grin flourished on Hone’s face, highlighting his haggard appearance. But his irises glowed that reddish-brown, and she understood she was seeing his taniwha. “I love you, Cassie. I’ve been so miserable without you.”
“Hone, I love you too.”
He kissed her and drew her to the bed. Her clothes faded away, and she sighed as their naked bodies moved together in perfect synchronicity. His hands shaped her breasts, plucked her nipples even as she stroked his chest.
He left her to get a condom, then they slid together again. He pushed into her, stretching and filling the empty spaces inside. They held each other, shattering into climax and lingering in the aftermath.
“Cassie, will you marry me? I love you. My taniwha has already claimed you. We both want you more than anything.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I love you—both of you. Oh, Hone. Yes.”
Their next kiss contained passion and acceptance, commitment and joy.
Best kiss ever.
Best day ever.
Forever.
