"For how long?"
"Just the weekend. Friday to Sunday." He's watching my face carefully. "If you have plans, we can?—"
"I don't have plans." I cut him off gently. "I'd love to go."
Something in his expression relaxes. "Good."
"Why do you look nervous?" I ask, studying him. "It's just a weekend trip."
"I'm not nervous."
"Liar." I poke his chest. "You're terrible at hiding it."
He catches my hand and brings it to his lips. "Maybe I just want everything to be perfect."
"It will be." I lean up and kiss him. "Because we'll be together."
—
Friday afternoon finds us driving out of the city in Andrei's car—not the armored SUV with guards, just his personal vehicle, although it still has bulletproof glass. The beach house, when we get there, is stunning. The sound of waves fills the air, and the late afternoon sun turns everything golden.
"This is beautiful," I breathe, standing on the deck and looking out at the water.
Andrei comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "I'm glad you like it."
"Like it? I love it." I lean back against him. "We should come here more often."
"We can come whenever you want." He presses a kiss to my temple. "It's yours as much as mine."
I turn in his arms to face him. "You know you don't have to give me things, right? I'm not here because of what you can provide."
"I know." His hands settle on my hips. "But I want to give you things anyway. I want to give you everything."
"You already have." I touch his face. "You gave me my freedom. Myself back. You let me be me so we could be together. That's what matters the most."
He kisses me, deep and thorough, and I lose myself in it—in him, and this moment of perfect peace.
When we break apart, he takes my hand. "Walk with me?"
We make our way down to the sand, and I slip off my shoes, letting my feet sink into the cool grains. The ocean stretches out endlessly before us, and the sky is starting to turn pink and orange with the approaching sunset. We walk in comfortable silence for a while, hand in hand, the waves lapping at our feet. I feel completely at peace. Completely myself.
"Liesl," Andrei says after a while, and something in his voice makes me look at him. He's nervous again. I can see it in the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw is set.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing's wrong." He stops walking and turns to face me. "I just—I need to ask you something."
My heart starts to beat faster. "Okay."
He takes both my hands in his, and I notice they're shaking slightly. Andrei, who faces down enemies without flinching, is shaking.
"A year ago," he begins, "I asked you to marry me in a hallway while you were wearing a pajamas and could barely stand."
I laugh despite my suddenly racing heart. "You did."
A smile tugs at his mouth. "You said maybe. You said you'd give us a chance."
"I did."
