"Did I?" There's genuine uncertainty in her voice. "I wasn't sure if you'd hate it."
I cup her face with one hand, making sure she's looking at me. "Seraphina. You gave me something I didn't even know I wanted. The chance to let go, to trust someone else with my pleasure, to be...vulnerable." The word still feels strange in my mouth, but it's the right one. "I've never had that before. With anyone."
Her eyes soften. "Really?"
"Really." I pull her up for a slow, tender kiss. "You surprised me. And then you took care of me, the same way I always try to take care of you. It was..." I shake my head, still searching for adequate words. "It was extraordinary."
She smiles, and it's like the sun coming out. "I'm glad. I was so nervous the whole time. Kept waiting for you to figure it out and ruin my plan."
"Your plan was flawless," I admit. "Much as it pains me to say it. You outmaneuvered me completely."
"I had a good teacher." She settles back against my chest with a satisfied sigh.
We fall into easy silence again, but my mind is turning to the other surprise I had planned. The one that got derailed when she drugged me with my own sedative.
"I had something else planned for last night," I say. "Before you, you know. Knocked me unconscious."
She lifts her head, curious. "What kind of something?"
"Stay here." I extract myself from the blanket nest and cross the cellar to where my pants are crumpled on the floor near the chaise. The envelope is still in the pocket, slightly crumpled but intact. I pull it out and return to her, settling back into the blankets.
"What's that?" She's eyeing the envelope with suspicion, probably expecting another game.
"Open it."
She takes the envelope and slides her finger under the flap, pulling out the folded papers inside. I watch her face as she reads—the confusion giving way to disbelief, then shock, then something that looks almost like tears.
"Luke." Her voice is barely a whisper. "This is a property deed with my name on it."
"It is."
"For this vineyard."
"Also correct. And here’s another. For the neighboring property. An additional hundred acres."
She stares at me, the papers trembling slightly in her hands. "You bought a vineyard?"
"I boughtusa vineyard," I correct gently. "All one hundred and fifty acres. The land, the cellar, the cottage on the hill that needs renovating, everything." I take her hand, threading my fingers through hers. "I wanted us to have a place that's ours. Somewhere to escape when the city gets too loud. Somewhere to play without worrying about neighbors or schedules or anything else."
"Luke." Tears are definitely gathering in her eyes now. "This is insane. This is—how did you even?—"
"Marcus wanted to sell it," I explain. "He and Jessica are moving to the East Coast, closer to her family. When he mentioned it, I made an offer that same day." I squeeze her hand. "I was going to tell you last night, after everything else. But someone decided to drug me before I got the chance."
She laughs, even as a tear spills down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to steal your thunder."
"You didn't steal anything." I brush the tear away with my thumb. "You made last night better than I ever could have planned. And now this—" I gesture at the deeds in her hands, at the cellar around us, at the one hundred and fifty acres of vineyard waiting above. "This is just the cherry on top."
She sets the papers aside carefully and launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck so tight I can barely breathe. I catch her, holding her just as tight, feeling her tears wet against my shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispers. "I don't even know what to say. This is the most incredible—you'rethe most incredible?—"
"You don't have to say anything." I pull back just far enough to see her face. "Just promise you'll come here with me. That we'll build something together in this place."
"I promise." She kisses me, soft and salt-tinged. "I promise, Luke. We'll build something amazing."
The kiss deepens, her body pressing against mine, and I feel the familiar heat beginning to build. But this is different from last night—slower, gentler, stripped of all the games and power plays. This is just us. Husband and wife. Two people who love each other beyond all reason.
"Make love to me," she whispers against my lips. "No games. No characters. Just you and me."
