“Patience, I could not have borne you being hurt. How would Lionel stand to lose you? You know he hates pap milk,” he said with a chuckle.
I swatted his arm. “I wasn’t hurt, and I know I helped.”
“It would be helpful if just once you listened.”
“I have listened, but I hear first with the ears of my heart.”
“Well, that’s a good place to seek guidance. Your heart is honest, and it holds my happiness right behind that lace.”
He put his hand to my jaw and lifted my lips to his.
I was moving. I thought I was, but I could be wrong. I couldn’t tell anything when he kissed me like this, like I was air or coconut bread or water.
“Let’s put Lionel in his crib.”
He’d picked up the bread basket and set it in my hands.
The kissing began again, me to the duke, me to my Lionel.
Busick pushed us into the adjoining room, and I settled my snoring baby into his crib.
“I love you, Lionel,” he said.
Placing his hand on my babe’s forehead, he offered a blessing. I heard Colin’s name in his whisper. Busick promised Lionel and me to keep us in safety and health.
Our boy’s whistle snores sounded so sweet.
Then he turned to me. “I love you, too.”
His voice was direct, like a command, weighty and forceful.
My heart obeyed. I loved him.
“You’re nothing of what Markham said. You’re good and trustworthy. You’re beautiful. And mine.”
We’d moved again. He’d crept right up to the edge of the bed.
“I am yours. Busick, I love you so very deeply. I trust you, and I always will honor you.”
His lips on mine weren’t searching, they were telling—telling me I was his and he was mine and the happiness and security I longed for, that I’d missed for so long was all mine.
And I’d never have to sacrifice me for peace.
Hands slipping to my hips, he lifted me on to the bed.
But that wasn’t my place, not without him. I bounced up and stood beside him, right under his arm and helped him lift from the chair.
“My favorite crutch. I think I like you best, undressed for bed.”
As we’d practiced, we lowered to the pillows in unison, not too fast, definitely not too slow. Then Busick took command, and I let him. Skin to skin, kiss to kiss, I was undone.
This mattress made for two held our love. We were one, the love between us burning brighter, growing slowly from embers to roaring flames.
I was consumed.
I was the woman Busick loved. I loved him, for he gave my life more beauty. This sharing of our spirits was pure, as pure as gold.
EPILOGUE
