Page 99 of Queen’s Gambit

“Ana…we had this conversation once before, and my answer is the same now as it was then.”

She sat up and wiped the tear away.

“I’m serious, Eddie. We don’t know what the future holds and what if….”

“Stop,” I said, kissing her until she relaxed.

I took advantage of her distraction to roll us over, trapping her underneath me. Ana moaned, holding me tight, and I loved how she wrapped her legs around my waist.

Breaking the kiss, I nipped at her lush bottom lip, teasing her as I wiggled my hips. If I made love to Ana a hundred times a day, it would still never be enough.

“Are you listening to me,” I asked, kissing her cheek.

“I always listen to you.”

Laughing, I wiggled again until she whimpered.

“No, you let your mind run off with you and stop listening sometimes. I need you to really hear me.”

Bracing my arms, I stared down at my goddess.

“I’m going to ask you for a favor,” I said, and she sucked in a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came out of my mouth. “Don’t ever think of me as being like all the other guys out there. I’m not. I never have been.”

Ana’s eyes softened.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re right. It’s just that I feel so guilty. We haven’t seen one another in over a year. What kind of life is that?”

“It’s a life I would choose to live a million times over for you. Ana, I don’t wake up thinking I’m unlucky. I wake up thanking my lucky stars that you love me, that you chose me, and that we found one another. Yes, the obstacles keeping us apart are difficult to overcome, but nothing great in this world was ever achieved without a hard-fought battle. I’ll fight to the death for you. I’ll wait until we are old and grey as long as you’re just as dedicated to having me by your side. Do you love me?”

“Yes. My answer is always yes,” Ana said, her bottom lip trembling. “With everything in me.”

“And I love you. I don’t want anyone else. Other women don’t interest me, and they never will. A life with you, waking up to you every day, I will sacrifice everything for that. Don’t ever think that I’m missing something with someone else. My heart has only ever belonged to you. We were meant to be, and I don’t just believe that.” I tapped over my heart. “I feel it.”

Ana glanced away and bit her lip.

“How are you so perfect? Are you even real? Or is this just the best dream of my life, and sometimes I wake up to face the dark reality I’m forced to accept? Because if there is a way to remain asleep forever, I’ll do it. I’ll never wake again to keep you just like this.”

Kissing her hard, I slid my hands down her body and pulled her hips up before gently nudging her entrance.

“Just like that, or like this,” I teased, easing one inch at a time into her.

“Oh god, like this, definitely like this,” Ana panted, making me smile.

“Now, promise me,” I said, holding still once I was buried to the hilt. “Or I’m leaving you right on the edge, craving that orgasm.”

“You really are diabolical,” she said with an adorable smirk.

Ana kissed me tenderly and like every time we touched, I felt her thoughts and emotions as if they were my own. Her love for me, the fear she held deep inside, all the worry she tried to forget. With me, Ana let it out, and for a little while, I helped her carry the burden. I only wished that she’d let me do more.

“Alright, I promise never to worry about what you could have with someone else again. But only if you promise that if at any time you change your mind, you’ll be honest with me.”

“Easy and done. I’ll never lie to you, Ana, and you’ll never lose me.”

“My father made such a mistake not choosing you, and you’ll prove that you’ve always been far too good for the Mikhailovs.”

“Unless we’re talking about you, then I could never be worthy,” I whispered in her ear as I began to move.

Pushing her hands above her head, I locked our fingers together and rose up to stare down into her dazzling eyes. Like the ocean outside, she’d lured me in with her beauty, and I’d been willingly drowning in her crystal blue depths ever since.