She rubbed her face against his chest, adjusting herself against his body with a movement that unbelievably teased his recently satisfied flesh. “And you belong to me.” She said.
He did not deny it. The bitter pill had turned out sweeter than nectar and he reveled in his possession of a woman so sweet, so passionate and so completely lacking in artifice. She was everything her father was not.
Everything women like Olivia could never hope to be. Tenderness he had never known toward a lover washed over him and he caressed her back, wanting to soothe her to sleep in his arms.
A soft butterfly kiss landed near his left nipple. “I love you, Dash,” she whispered against his skin.
The words did strange things to his insides and he could almost thank Neal Patchett for giving him the gift of such a woman.
They spent their honeymoon in Naples. Dash kept his promise to Tess and took her back to Pompeii to visit the ruins of the ancient city. They did other touristy things together, Dash never once growing impatient with her desire to see and experience new things. He made love to her every night, most mornings and frequently in the afternoon as well.
He was insatiable and she loved it. Shocked by her own capacity for passion, she became a total wanton in his arms. It worried her a little bit, this lack of control she had over her body when he touched her, but his ardor made her feel better about her own.
Every day her love for him grew. Though while she told him frequently of her feelings, he said nothing of his own.
He was solicitous of her needs, tender when he loved her and gentle when she needed him to be. There were several times Tess almost convinced herself that Dash loved her as she loved him. Although he never said the words, he seemed to like hearing her say them. And he made her feel so special, never letting his gaze slide to other women when they were out, using endearments when he spoke to her, and touching her frequently with affection.
When they returned to New York, she was so happy she was sick with it.
“So Dash is married now, and so is David. How is David doing by the way? I still can’t believe he got into a plane crash, lost his memory and then fell in love with a woman he completely screwed over for land.” Savannah said to Matt.
Matt winced. “You make it sound so…”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Awful? I’m sorry. I know he’s your friend, but I’m just surprised. I’m a little surprised about Dash too. You know how your friends are… No offense” she said.
“None taken. David has changed. I know it sounds weird, but after his accident he did a one-eighty. Anyway, he and Emily are coming into town in a few days to put his apartment on the market.”
“He’s moving too?” Savannah asked.
That shocked her. David was an urbanite through and through. He loved the city. Loved to travel. She couldn’t imagine him anywhere else.
“Yeah, he and Emily are moving.”
“Wow. David must really be in love.” Savannah said.
“Amazing what men in love will do for the women they love,” Matt said softly.
Savannah didn’t meet his gaze and concentrated instead on her soup. Lobster bisque. She savored every bite. Her taste buds were all simultaneously orgasming.
“He wants us all to get together before they leave.” Matt said.
Her eyes narrowed. “Define us.”
“Me, you, Dash, Tess and Stefan and, of course, David and Emily. I also thought it would be good to invite Mom so you’d have the buffer of other people. We can get it over with in one clean sweep.” He said.
It sounded like an evening from hell, not that she’d admit that to him. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than being surrounded by Matt’s closest friends, who of course all had been told that she’d cheated on Matt with Enzo. It was for that reason that she had not attended Dash’s wedding. She just didn’t think she was ready for that.
She nearly bared her teeth in response to that idea. And then there was his darling mother. All the evening lacked was…Enzo.
“And your brother?” she asked icily.
“He won’t be invited. I wouldn’t do that to you, Savvie,” Matt said quietly.
“When is this supposed to take place?”
“Next week. Probably at the end of the week. They’ll be busy organizing his apartment. We’ll eat at Tony’s. You like it there. It’s nice and casual. We can leave at any time and there won’t be any obligation to stay and visit.”
She sighed. She had to hand it to him. He was working hard to make things as easy for her as possible. The least she could do is be accommodating. His friends were important to him. His mother was important to him.
“All right,” she said in a low voice. “Of course we can go.” She forced a smile. “It’ll be nice to see everyone again.” She nearly choked on the lie, but the relief in Matt’s eyes made it worth it.
He reached for her hands. “We’re going to make it this time, Savvie”
She caught his fingers and returned his squeeze. “It makes me feel better to know you think so.”
“Do you have doubts?” he asked.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I’m scared witless. I’m scared to go out of your apartment,” she said honestly. “I don’t like the person I’ve become, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a very different person than the Savannah you knew. I’m more cautious now. I’m…harder. I don’t like it about myself, but I’ve learned to be that way out of necessity.”
He took her hand in both of his and propped his elbows on the table as he stared over at her.
“Marry me.” He said.
She jerked her hand back in shock and stared at him. “What?” she asked, clearly surprised. Where the hell had that come from?
“Marry me.” He said again.
He withdrew one hand and then reached into his pocket to pull out a small ring box. With his thumb, he flipped it open and she saw a stunning diamond ring nestled in velvet.