“Because I am.” I stared right back at him. “Because of you.”

Lucian swallowed hard, his throat working. “I make you happy?”

“Of course you do.” I cupped his damp cheek. “How could you not know that?”

He stared at me for a moment, then dipped his head and kissed me fiercely. It lit up my body, swooping through my belly, fluttering in my heart.

“Em . . .” His mouth chased and cherished. “You don’t know . . . how could you know . . .” He trailed off, kissing my neck, my cheek, my mouth once more. “Everything was dark and empty until you came. No flavor. No joy.”

He shuddered, resting his forehead against mine. “I’m just really glad I make you happy.”

I held him close, our breaths mingling. “I live in a world of egos and make-believe. I thought fame was what I needed, that I’d be safe if I had it.” Water lapped at our chests as I took in his face. “You’re not safe, Lucian. But you’re real. When I’m with you, I feel alive. I’m just me. And it took knowing you to understand that’s the best thing any of us can be.”

Night fell around us, the water tinkling as we stared at each other. Lucian’s chest rose and fell as he held me, taking in my words. When he spoke, his voice seemed to come from the deepest part of him. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Em. But I swear I’ll do my damned best to make sure I earn the right to keep you.”

Before I could tell him he’d already earned that right, he kissed me again and then promptly lifted us out of the water, heading for the bed.

Lucian

“God, you feel so good.” Lying face to face, our bodies tangled up together as close as we could get, I pumped up into Emma’s slick heat and groaned. Trembling, I cupped her flushed cheek and kissed her soft mouth. I loved her for hours, nice and slow, every inch of me aching for release, but drawing it out for as long as I could. We’d been at it all night and, now, in the hot sun of the morning.

“Lucian.” She rocked with me, the tips of her breasts brushing my chest.

Grunting, I reached between us; found her sweet, swollen nipple; and tweaked it. The walls of her sex clenched in response, and she circled her hips on a moan. So fucking good.

So good I felt like I was flying.

Emma was in my arms, and all was right with the world. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment that became my truth; maybe it had been from the moment we met. From the first, she made me smile, threw sunshine and air into my dark, closed-up world.

I needed her like I had needed the ice, like I needed food and water. I kissed her again, licked the plump curve of her lower lip. “Em. It’s never been like this,” I whispered. “Never like this.”

Our gazes collided just as I hit a spot that had her coming around my dick, squeezing it so tightly I saw stars. I followed her with a long, ragged groan, pouring myself into her with tight, hard strokes.

Empty and replete, I pulled her impossibly closer with a sigh. For a long moment, we lay in perfect silence, content to just hold on to each other. Then she tilted her head to look up at me.

A sleepy but content smile lit her eyes. “You’ve reduced me to a boneless puddle.”

I smoothed my hand over the silken curve of her cheek. “Let me do it again.”

I was mostly serious. I didn’t think I’d be able to move for a while. She’d wrecked me too.

With a dramatic groan she flopped back, then snuggled into the crook of my arm. “I need a long hot bath first. And coffee.” She blinked up at me. “God, I would kill for one of your croissants right now.”

I bit back a grin. As we were still at the hotel, that would have to wait. “It’s gratifying to know you want me for my baked goods.”

“And your dick too.”

I choked on a laugh, then ducked my head to nuzzle her neck. “Saucy, Snoopy.”

“Mmm.” Her finger traced the whorls of hair on my chest. “I had a good conversation with my agent yesterday.”

After the fundraiser, Emma had taken a meeting with her agent while I’d talked to Rickman and Clark. Neither of us had had the chance to discuss it with the other, as we’d basically gone at it like horny teens the second we were alone in our hotel room again. I couldn’t say I was in a rush to tell her about my news; I knew it wasn’t going to go over well. I concentrated on hers instead.