I followed her with a roar and a rush of blinding pleasure as I released her nipples and snatched her waist, pumping myself into her over and over again until I was empty.
And my heart was full.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Keep You
IRINA
The storm had been a stroke of luck. And not just because of the night, and the morning … and the three other nights that had followed. I’d quietly moved most of my things into the main bedroom on the fourth morning after the storm, and Henry’s eyes had twinkled with pleasure.
We hadn’t really spoken out loud about what it all meant, but I wasn’t sure that conversation was really needed just yet. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
Henry’s plan was to sail far enough off the coast to reach international waters, and then make our way north before sneaking back west and docking at Staghorn Island. Technically we would no longer be ‘offshore’, but we’d bent enough rules this far, what was one more that had very little chance of causing any problems whatsoever?
Josie had cheerfully informed us that the storm had managed to blow theGirl on Firenorth faster than we would have been able to make under motor, so we would reach Staghorn days earlier than expected. There, we would be able to arrange for fresh food and water to be ferried out from one of the populated Whitsunday islands, or even flown over from the mainland.
And even better, I’d be able to use the swim spa while we waited fornews of whether I’d been approved for a bridging visa, which would allow me back onto the mainland while they assessed my application for a partner visa.
Yesterday we’d Zoomed with the immigration lawyer Henry had engaged. Rebekah, or Bek, as she insisted we call her, was a forty-something-year-old woman with impeccable makeup, sleek brown hair, and a personality that was both bubbly and cutthroat—an odd combination that somehow seemed to work for her.
“I’ve pulled a few strings … called in some favours at the Department of Home Affairs. I made several people very uncomfortable that your application process went so very wrong, thanks to the general incompetence of government tech bros.” She paused to wink knowingly at us, and I wondered how much she suspected about the strings Henry had pulled behind the scenes himself.
“So, long story short, they’ve agreed that, given the fuck around with your initial application, they should grant a bridging visa as soon as possible. I think we’ll have an answer within the next seventy-two hours. And if not … well, I’ll be making some more calls, and they won’t be as pleasant.”
She grinned, flashing white teeth behind her ruby red lips. It was mildly unnerving.
“So, we could potentially be able to return to Sydney within a week?” Henry asked.
Bek nodded. “I’m about eighty-five percent certain at this point that I’ll be able to make that happen for you.”
“Thank you,” I said, my eyes prickling. “This really means so much to me.”
Bek shrugged. “You’re my clients, and you’re paying top dollar. This is my job, Irina.” Her voice dropped almost a full octave. “And I take my job very seriously.”
Then, with a tinkling laugh that was jarring after the dead-serious tone of her words, she ended the Zoom. I looked at Henry, cocking an eyebrow.
“Where did you findher?”
Henry, pink-cheeked, ran a hand through his curls. “She came highly recommended. And she had the highest hourly rate of everyone I looked into, so I figured she must be worth every cent.”
“She’s a little terrifying,” I admitted with a nervous giggle. Henry grinned, scooping me into his arms and planting a kiss firmly on my mouth, working my lips apart, tasting me until I was jelly in his arms.
He broke away, his smile softening. “Well, if terrifying the government into letting me keep you is what it takes … I’ll throw my entire fortune at her.”
Keep you…
My cheeks turned hot, and I buried my face into his shirt, inhaling the clean linen scent of him.
“Do you think we’llwantto keep each other? For two whole years? Longer?” I mumbled against the fabric.
Henry pressed me backwards, thumb and forefinger pinching my chin, eyes suddenly serious. “Are you ready to talk about this?”
My lips parted as I realised that he’d been waiting for me to bring it up. I swallowed and nodded.
“What’s worrying you, Catnip?” he asked gently.
What a loaded question. I sifted through the towering pile of apprehensions for the ones that were safe to discuss with him … the ones that didn’t get too close to the one thing I didn’teverwant to confess.
