A few seconds later he lowered me to my feet. I pulled his head down with me and kissed him with all the longing that had built up inside of me these last few weeks.

Was it only weeks? It had felt like years.

“I love you,” I murmured against his mouth. “I’ve missed you more than anything.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” he groaned. “Fuck, I love you, lady.”

I grinned at his declaration. It wasn’t the words of a poet but it was romantic as hell to me.

Craig

The low morning light was starting to fall into the room from a band of glass at the top of Rain’s window that wasn’t covered by a blind. He’d need to fix that for her.

The light spilled across Rain’s face as she lay sleeping, and for the first time in weeks Craig’s soul was soothed.

He should be asleep but jet lag was playing havoc with him. When he arrived in Sydney he’d crashed on his friend’s sofa bed for two hours before getting up to get ready to meet Rain. Now it was early in the morning but to him it was late afternoon and he was wide awake. Even after his energetic reunion with Rain.

He trailed the back of his knuckles across the soft skin of her upper arm, tracing a familiar freckle with his thumb. Not too long ago he thought he’d never see that freckle again.

A rush of affection for the freckle overcame him and he couldn’t help but lean over to press his lips to it. When he pulled back Rain’s sleepy gaze met his. She gave him a soft smile before reaching up to brush her fingers over his cheek. “Jet lag?”

He nodded. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

Amusement flooded him. “I don’t want to close my eyes,” he sang. “I don’t want to fall asleep.”

“Ugh.” She made a face and punched at him halfheartedly. “Ruin the moment, why don’t you.”

Craig laughed and fell over her, making her giggle. He kissed her nose. “I take it Aerosmith won’t be on our wedding playlist, then?”

She blinked sleepily, and fuck if it wasn’t adorable. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He nudged her legs apart, deciding if she was awake then she was going to help him burn off the jet lag.

“Wedding?”

He nodded, pressing kisses along her elegant jaw. “One day.”

He felt her smile. “One day,” she repeated.

“Because,” he whispered in her ear. “This is forever.”

Pulling back to see her expression, Craig was gratified to see the surprise in her eyes. “You really think so?” she whispered back.

“Aye,” he told her as he kissed her sweet mouth. “I can’t lose you again. No matter what happens I will fight like fuck to keep you.”

Rain gave him a slow, sweet, and slightly smug smile that made him laugh. “And so the realist becomes a romantic.”

He grinned at her assessment because no one else who knew him would ever suggest such a thing. But then again, no one else knew him in the way that this woman did, and no one else ever would. “Only with you, darlin’, only with you.”