The jets of the Jacuzzi had stopped and it was quiet except for the sound of their breathing, though Jackie was sure she could hear the beating of his heart against hers. She rested her chin on Alex’s chest and tried to slow her breaths. Wrapped in his arms, she realized that never had she felt so blissful, so met, so alive.
As she glanced around the bath, everything had the soft focus that passion leaves in its wake. Her eyes rested on a photo on the opposite wall—rays of sunshine playing on vines heavy with fruit, with Trovare’s castle perched on a distant hill, a tiny silhouette above the vineyard.
“It looks like something out of a dream,” she said.
“It was a dream. In some ways, it still is.” He stroked a wet curl away from her eyes and traced his fingers along the nape of her neck. “But dreams cut deep.”
“Don’t they.” She slid her eyes to his swelling wrist.
He tipped her face up. “Welcome to mine.” He cradled her chin with his other hand and ran his finger gently along her jaw. “I hope you know I love you, Dr. Lady.”
His straightforward admission stunned her, and the look in his eyes was a blazing, healing miracle. She felt as if she were looking at him across a sacred fire, as if she’d been transported into a mythic tale and met the man who made her whole, the man who could stand beside her and who wouldn’t fear her living in her true power—living life as her calling and dreams demanded—the man she’d nearly stopped daring to dream existed.
Certainty flowed through her. She didn’t care how long the moment lasted. What mattered was that she’d felt it and knew she’d never forget.
She started to reply, but he put a finger to her lips and then drew it slowly, ever so slowly, away and dipped his lips to hers.
His kiss was the last thing her mind registered. Everything after that was feeling. And just when she thought she could bear no more, his fingers were between her thighs, stroking her, stoking a fire beyond bliss, beyond words, beyond facts, beyond mind.
When she returned to reality, the water in the Jacuzzi had cooled. Jackie was grateful for the warm towel Alex wrapped around her as he helped her from the tub.
“At least we managed to get out of the kitchen,” she teased as she bent at the waist and ruffled a second towel though her hair.
He wrapped his fingers around her hips and pulled her against his thighs. “I have plans for the kitchen,” he murmured. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten my promise of ramen noodles.” Mischief sounded in his voice. “But first”—he turned her and lifted her to the marble counter, then snatched away her towel—“I think we’ve yet to finish exploring in here.”
She reached and pulled him toward her. “Exploring’s my weakness,” she said as she met his heat with her own.