He grinned and bit her neck, lowering his voice to a tease. “Yes, you’ll marry me, or yes, you want to come?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.” She choked out a laugh. “Yes, to both.”
The tension snapped like a rubber band inside him. He leaned forward, pushing her down against the table. He ground down on her clitoris and slammed into her until her body stiffened on a scream, causing his own body to implode as he, once again, lost himself inside her. He couldn’t help it, but surely, one more time wouldn’t matter.
Eve slumped across the table, and Michel collapsed over her. He felt his breathing align with hers as their hearts slowed together. He kissed her neck and down her spine. He had never felt so happy.
When she spoke, he realized that with her, his happiness had no limit.
“I love you, Michel,” she gasped. “I love you.”
ChapterThirty-Six
The next morning, Michel calculated it was the twenty-second day of their solitude. Michel lay lazily, happy in bed, propped on his elbow, watching Eve in a pretty lavender day dress that she had bought in town as she moved around the hearth. Michel enjoyed watching the way the dress cinched at her waist and flowed down her hips as she brewed tea and put together a breakfast of fruit and nuts. Every time she looked back at him, she smiled.
“You look very pleased with yourself this morning,” Eve joked. She looked down, grinding herbs with a mortar and pestle.
“I am pleased every morning that I wake and get to watch you.”
“Michel—” she began.
“What?” he said. “Do you suddenly not want to talk about my feelings anymore?” he teased. “You were so interested last night.”
“I know that,” she grumbled, shooting him an annoyed look.
She turned her face down, and for a second, Michel saw a flash of emotion, like what he had witnessed last night. He realized that they had made love, sworn themselves to each other, and fallen asleep in each other’s arms, but he never discovered what had made her cry. “Eve,” he said. “Come here.”
She looked at him, exasperated. “Michel, if we start now, I will never get the breakfast served.”
“No, not for that,” he laughed. “Please?” He held out his hand to her.
Eve gave him a warning look before dusting her hands off on her skirt. She came over and slid in next to him in bed. Outside, Michel could hear the sounds of the early morning city. Shouting, clanging, the noise of the marketplace. All of that faded as he focused on Eve.
They had learned each other's bodies over the last weeks—they fit so comfortably together now. She leaned her head on the pillow and looked up to him, waiting for him to continue.
“Eve,” he said. Being this close to her always became a problem. Despite his best intentions, he stopped thinking when she looked up to him. He felt a growl deep in his chest. He wanted to take her. Right away. He felt himself grab onto her waist. But she grabbed his hand.
“Michel,” she said in a warning tone.
“Sorry, I know.” He laughed again. He shook his head to refocus. “What made you cry?”
She blinked. “What?—”
“Last night,” he said. “You cried. Why?” He touched her cheek. “You miss your family? Or have I done something?”
“I miss my family, yes. But it wasn’t that.” Her smile reassured him. “And no,” she continued, “you have not done anything to upset me.”
“Then why?” Outside of their room, Michel heard the clamoring shouts of men, but the noise could not distract him from her words.
“There is a part of me…” She looked up to him. “Wasa part of me,” she corrected. “That worried…that didn’t know your intentions with me.” She bit her lip. “You’d sworn to take me to France. I always believed you would. What would happen when we got there?”
Michel wrapped his arms around her, grinning. “How could you not know my feelings?” he teased. “I’ve done nothing but worship you.”
“My body, yes.” Her twinkling eyes teased him back. “Michel,” she said. “You’ve still never told me you love me.”
“Of course, I—” he halted. Hadn’t he? He’d been in love with her since perhaps the first moment he saw her. Had he truly never said it aloud?
The noises of the marketplace continued to swirl in through the window, but the space between him and Eve stayed silent. He blinked away the confusion and looked in her waiting eyes. “I love you,” he said, gathering her close. “I can’t believe I made you wonder.” He began dotting kisses across her jawbone. “I have felt it for so long, I guess I just never told you.”
