Leah rose on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, rubbing off her lipstick stain with a spit dampened thumb. “Well, sugar, I guess you’ll do. Maybe I’ll get some dark headed grandbabies out of the two of you.”

His wife blushed. “Can we be married for a while first?”

“We’ll do our best.” Christian smirked at Luke. “Give it the all-American try.”

“Someone tell me why we’re not kicking his ass?” Luke asked, his voice rough.

As the rest of her family offered their support and presents, he watched Zoe as she talked to Melanie. Their conversation ended with Zoe shaking her head and grabbing a large picnic basket.

Suddenly, Melanie let out a groan and grabbed her huge belly.

Everyone rushed to her side.

“Are you hurt?”

“Is the baby coming?”

“Maybe it’s gas.”

“Maybe she can’t stand the thought of Romanov being a part of the family.”

Zoe shooed them away. “I think Melanie needs to go to the doctor.”

Luke raised his hand. “There’s already a doctor in the house.”

“She means a real doctor, not a guy who plays one on T.V.,” Logan said.

Carter shoved everyone out of his way and helped Melanie walk to the door. “Zoe, watch SmithAnn.”

“No,” Melanie shouted and everyone stopped to look at her. “I want Zoe with me.”

“I’ll take SmithAnn,” Leah said, taking her grand-daughter’s hand.

“Let’s go Christian,” Zoe said, tugging him after the couple heading to their minivan.

Christian dragged his feet. “I don’t think she wants me, love. And I’m sure as hell not ready to be in the room with her.”

Zoe gave him an exasperated look. “I’m bringing you to keep Carter company. He’ll be nervous.” She set the basket in the van and climbed in.

Christian climbed in after her, entirely confused. Why would Carter need him of all people? This was Melanie and Carter’s second child. Something was not as it seemed, but he got in anyway.

After about five miles, Melanie yelled for her husband to stop and he hit the brakes. Christian glanced at his wife, but she was busy giving her sister-in-law a hug. The door slid open and she got out, grabbing the basket and motioning him to follow.

With a mischievous grin, Melanie waved at them. The minivan took off.

“Are you going to tell me what madness has taken over or is this your way of saying you’d like to have a picnic?” he asked.

“I had to get us out of there.”

“You couldn’t have asked everyone to leave?”

“They were planning on staying for dinner,” she said, walking to the edge of the forest, then back to him. “I want to take you some place special.”

He raised his brows. “The legendary springs?”

She nodded and set off in the opposite direction. “But I can’t find the dumb trees. They’re entwined dogwoods.”

“You mean these?”

Chapter Forty

Christian waited by the slender-branched trees, showy pink blossoms falling as the wind gently blew.

“You found them,” she said, running to him.

Taking the basket from her, he grabbed her hand and kissed the palm. “Which way?”

“Where you go, I’ll follow,” she heard herself say.

“Together.” He brushed past the trees and went left.

She followed him, deeper and deeper into the forest, until time seemed to stand still and not even the sun dared to set. A great hush descended, as if even the trees and animals were holding their breath in anticipation.

The sound of water rushing over rocks sang in her ears. He abruptly turned right and stopped. A blanket of ivy hanging from branches above seemed to part in front of them, like a giant curtain on opening night. Her eyes grew round and her heart tripled its beat. She placed a hand on her chest.

“I can’t believe we found—”

“The Garden of Eden,” he finished.

Leafy plants, orchids, roses and a multitude of flowers that she had no name for grew together as no plants of the tropical and evergreen variety should. But there they were, cohabiting in harmony. Butterflies fluttered and dragonflies zoomed. A tall waterfall tumbled over rocks and splashed down into a crystal clear pool of water.

The real Holland Springs.

Hands clasped tight, they walked through the parted ivy and up to the pool of water.

Standing at the edge, she looked down, relieved to see nothing but a sandy bottom even as her palms grew damp in anticipation. She licked her lips, unable to say anything.

He clasped her waist and slowly turned her to face him. “Tell me.”

“I love you, Christian,” she said simply. No embellishment needed.

“Those are the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard,” he whispered before his mouth came down on hers. A kiss of fulfilled promises and a future together. A kiss that mended even the smallest pieces of her broken heart.

Reluctantly, she pulled away and began to unbutton her shirt. He watched her, his face intense as she removed her clothes. His clothes quickly joined hers. She couldn’t help but admire him. The way his lean body gleamed in the sun. The rose tattoo on his muscular chest. The way his strong thighs gave way to muscular calves. Even his feet and hands were perfection.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to touch him.

He sucked in his stomach when her fingers caressed him and she gave a low laugh. But it was short lived as his erection stood hard and thick between them. He gave her a wicked smile and wrapped his hand around it, slowly working it up and down its considerably length.

“Do you think this is beautiful as well?”

Her mouth became dry as the Sahara while the Amazon ran between her thighs. She tried swallowing, but was unsuccessful until he turned away and dove into the pool of water. She watched his body in motion, gliding through the depths until he broke the surface and shook out his hair.

“Get in with me.”

“It’s too deep,” she said when her mouth returned to normal.

He swam her way and held out his arms. “I’ll catch you.”

Taking a deep breath, she jumped in. Water surrounded her, but instead of the shock of cold, the water was perfect. Tiny bubbles tickled and caressed her skin. She was hauled to the surface, making full contact with his hard body. She tangled her fingers in his hair and brought his face down to hers.

Their lips danced, their tongues mated. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He moved them, until the waterfall splashed down on their heads and shoulders. She threw back her head and laughed, feeling free and joyous.

A slight move to the right and her back bumped up against the mossy side. His erection brushed her thigh and she twisted to bring him inside of her, but he stopped her. He lifted her high in the air, his hot mouth opening over her nipple and tugging deeply.

She moaned low in her throat, letting him lower her to the edge and push her down. Soft grass tickled her back. Her thighs fell apart. He bent his head, the soft touch of his scalding tongue seeking her most intimate of parts. He devoured her, ate and licked at her, until she trembled and cried out his name.

“I don’t have protection with me,” he panted, letting her go and laying his head on her stomach.

“The basket,” she said, running her fingers through his wet hair. “I put some in the basket last night.”

He pushed himself out of the water and strode to the basket. Two beats of her heart later, he was beside her. Droplets of water rained down on her skin as he covered her, his hands on her hips.

“Who do you belong to?” He entered her, slowly. Until she was stretched and filled.

“You. The man I love.”

Clasping her wrists in one hand, he stretched her arms above her head and let go. “Mine. Always and forever.”

His thrusts started slowly, but quickly worked to a feverish pitch as he stroked her, holding her body prisoner beneath his. She grabbed his arms, holding onto him like he was her anchor in a carnal storm that raged over her.

Christian looked down on the woman under him. She was heaven and drawing this out was hell. She was his and had always been. She humbled him. She amazed him.

Zoe loved him.

He buried his face in her neck, his muscles gathering and flexing as he moved. As they came together in utter perfection. He was so close, but he had to hear her words again. “Tell me you love me.”

“I love you.”

His body jerked. “Tell me again.”

“I love you. Only you. Always you.”

He shouted her name as he came, his breath leaving his body in great gulps as he cradled her close to him. “I love you, Zoe,” he remembered saying before they drifted off to sleep.

***

The moon had risen high in the night sky by the time he opened his eyes, but he could see Zoe as clearly as if they were under a noon sun. She smiled sleepily at him, pulling the soft blankets he’d discovered in the basket over them.

“Is this a dream? Are you really an enchantress after all?”

She shook her head, her pretty eyes soft. “No, but I promise to be the woman I should be, the woman I’m meant to be, and the woman you deserve.”

His heart pounded against his chest, not caring if she saw the tears in his eyes. “You already are, love. You already are.”

Epilogue

Eight years later

Christian knelt down and looked at his five year old twins. The eldest, Jude, had dark hair like Zoe with his pale blue eyes while Waverly was all sunshine-colored hair and pretty green eyes like her mother.

“Now remember, you stick up for each other. If someone teases your sister, Jude, you defend her, and, Waverly, if someone is mean to your brother, you defend him.”

Jude nodded and shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “I can defend myself and Waverly.”

Waverly shook her head, making the large green bow in her hair wobble. “Mummy said we’re to tell our teacher.”

“Oh, quite right. Well, Mummy does know best.” Christian tapped his forehead. “She’s got loads of brains. Luckily, you two take after her.”

The bell rang.

“It’s time for them to go inside,” Zoe said, her soft drawl and calm manner easing his anxiousness. She gave their children a big grin. “Y’all have my old Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Phelps.”

“Can’t we homeschool? Perhaps a private tutor?” Christian stood.

“But we want to go to school. Please, daddy?” his children simultaneously protested.

“Please, daddy?” Zoe mimicked with a saucy wink directed his way.

Christian capitulated, taking Waverly’s hand while Zoe took Jude’s. “Okay, but just for this year.”

The trio cheered.

After walking them to their classroom, he gave his wife a sidelong glance.

“Ready for some alone time, Mrs. Romanov?” After eight years of marriage and two children, she looked as beautiful as the day he’d met her. More so with baby number three on the way. Their little ‘whoops’ as he liked to call the baby girl.

“We’d better enjoy it while we can,” she said, lacing her fingers through his. “Plus we need to pick out a name.”

He brought her hand to his lips for a fleeting kiss. “I’m still not entirely convinced you named the boy after me.”

Zoe shook her head. Sometimes she still couldn’t believe he was hers. Such a family man. He pinched her bottom. And as wicked as ever.

She smacked his hand. “Your middle name is Jude,” she pointed out.

“Have you taken a look at your laptop’s history files lately? All I’ve seen is Jude Law’s digital images. A less confident man would be suffering right about now.”

“It’s for my next novel. You’re not jealous, are you?” she teased. “He is staring in the movie you’re financing and agreed to headline a benefit for B.T.S.” Christian headed the board for the organization. They’d had a change of heart, issuing a statement that in effect said that even adults deserved second chances. He’d stepped up and had taken over, establishing the charity in several foreign countries. He’d begun taking parts again, in films that spoke to his heart and won critical acclaim.

“You completely fangirled Jude when he said hello while we were on holiday in Majorca.”

“But who got to go back to our penthouse and have bubble bath fun with me?”

He pointed at his chest.

“And if you play your cards right, I’ll let you do it again before I get too big to fit in there with you.”

He scooped her up in his arms and she squealed. “I’ll just have a larger tub installed, with winches if need be.”

“You really shouldn’t say that to a pregnant lady.”

They drew smiles and curious stares while he carried her to their SUV.

“What should one say?” Love was bright in his blue eyes.

“I love you. What else?”

“I love you,” he murmured.

Then she kissed him.