Then, as I hold her face in my hands, I lean closer and brush my lips against hers. Just touching them against mine is the most powerful experience and as I deepen the kiss, her lips part willingly and the sweep of my tongue stakes a claim on her that I will never surrender. Louisa is my woman, finally, and I will treasure every moment of this.
Our tongues twist in the most glorious dance of discovery and as we lean closer and my hand wraps around the back of her head, I show her how desirable she is. I feast on her. I consume her and I own every part of that mouth and pulling her lower lip between my teeth, I bite down gently, and her moan of passion is the sweetest sound. As kisses go, this one is the best I’ve ever had because it’s the start of something I have longed for all my life. It’s only her family I need to persuade now because it’s obvious Louisa wants the same as me and as we kiss after the most tumultuous hour of my life, she brings me right back down and calms my spirit. She has chased away the madness and replaced it with soft, sweet love.
We must kiss for a good thirty minutes before I reluctantly pull back and say softly, “We should return to the apartment. Things have changed and we need to discuss what that means for us.”
“Us?”
I hear the concern mixed with longing in her voice and I nod with a resolve that will never break.
“Yes, Louisa. I want you in my life and not as my fucking cousin, either. I want us to be a proper couple and I want to marry you.”
“Marry me.”
She sounds shocked and I say with determination. “Yes, baby. I’m not fooling around here. I knew from the moment I saw you I wanted to marry you and now the green light is flashing, I see no sense in holding back from that.”
“You say you have the green light. What if I have other ideas?”
Her teasing tone tells me she’s playing, and I grin. “Then I’ll have to persuade you, won’t I?”
“You will.” Her soft chuckle makes me smile and knowing she’s happy drives the last shadow away. There are no shadows when she’s around. She’s the light in my life that illuminates the dark corners and chases the monsters away. She calms my spirit and makes me a better man and I already know how important she is to me. Now I need to persuade her that she can’t live without me and that will be my pleasure because making this woman happy has now become my number one priority.