When she finally looks at me, I recognize the same look she gave me the first time I met her at the ballet in her dressing room. It causes the same fire to churn in my stomach. I realize that our relationship didn’t start out in the most conventional way, but this is the person I’m supposed to be with. My life would not be complete without her.
As I pull her into my arms, she nestles closer, her arms wrapping around my neck. One of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen graces her face.
“I love you,” she says.
“Say it again.”
She cups my face with one hand, rises onto her tiptoes and kisses me, and it’s like the first time we kissed all over again. However, before I can deepen the kiss, she pulls away.
“I love you, my husband, my heart, my Beast.”
“I love you too, Beauty. Until my last breath.”
31
Arabelle
Six Months Later…
Igrip the balcony railing and watch as the white-capped waves of the crystal-clear waters batter the sandy shore below. This is one of the most serene and beautiful places I have ever seen.
The brisk winds of the Mediterranean Sea blow through my shoulder-length hair, which is now in tight curls because of the salty air. I deeply inhale the warm breeze. It’s like heaven on earth.
His arms, warm and firm, wrap around my waist from behind, and his large hands resting on my stomach ground me in the moment. I lean against his broad chest, sinking deeper into his embrace, the scent of his smoky cologne filling my senses.
“How are you feeling today?” he asks, his soft, warm lips brushing the crook of my neck.
I look back over my shoulder with a smile, hoping to ease the concern I see in his loving gaze. “Not too bad today. I’ve only been to the bathroom twice since I woke up this morning. So, I say that’s a plus.”
I face him, then finger a piece of his shoulder-length hair, which is loose today because he knows how much I love it.
So far, this pregnancy has been kicking my ass. I’m on leave from the theater until I have our baby. Since I found out that I was pregnant, I’ve had nonstop morning sickness to the point where I’ve been dehydrated and hospitalized once. This morning was the first time I’ve had a day where I haven’t been bent over a toilet for the majority of the day.
He releases a relieved breath and slowly, the tension eases from his body as his hardened exterior relaxes. “Good.” He lays his hand on my growing stomach and the grin crossing his face when he touches me always causes my heart to stop. “And the baby?” he asks.
“Doing backflips like she’s training for the Olympics.”
He chuckles, and it’s like music to my ears. “Or maybe she’s training to be a dancer like her mama.”
“That’s possible too. Olympian or dancer, I could live with either one.”
His rare laugh fills the air once again, a warm and genuine sound that lights up his entire face. It leaves me completely captivated and fascinated by how much it changes his features.
It isn’t often my husband finds humor in anything, but when he does, I fall in love with him all over again. It’s like he drops his carefully erected walls. Then, and only then, does he let me see the true Florian Larsson. It’s very rare because the man carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and that weight has gotten heavier since I’ve been pregnant. He’s constantly got his head on a swivel, making sure everything stays safe for his family. I’ve told him constantly that it’s no way to live, but he always says that it’s necessary to keep us safe.
Despite the constant pressures of this life, this trip has done wonders for him to relax a little before the reality of our world comes crashing back down on us when we return to the States.Here, he can be Florian. There, he becomes Beast, head of the Larsson Syndicate.
His face softens, and his eyes light up with a warmth that melts away all his troubles whenever he speaks about our daughter or when he excitedly surprises me with another gift he thinks I’ll like, want, or need. When he speaks about his mother, that light shines brightly in his eyes. Other than that, he’s all business.
I’ve gotten used to Beast, as most people know him. It’s an intricate part of Florian. He’s the protector. He’s the savior. He’s the provider. But he’s also the one who, above all else, will do anything for me and our daughter that I’m carrying. Beast and Florian are one and the same. While it took me some time to come to terms with the important roles both versions my husband plays in my life, I’ve come to love them both very deeply.
“That dress looks so beautiful on you, Beauty.”
My lips curve into a smile I can’t control, a feeling of pure bliss washing over my entire body. This morning, when I woke up, I found a lovely cream-colored dress with a note from Florian asking that I wear it today. Although it’s fancier than the dresses I’ve been wearing, I did as he asked.
The draped silhouette of the chiffon floor-length dress beautifully complements my growing pregnant belly, while the cinched waist adds a touch of elegance. Its design gives a Grecian goddess vibe and not maternity dress, which I love. It moves so fluidly with each step I take. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
“Thank you. It’s stunning. And you don’t look so bad yourself. What’s the occasion?”
