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“Never what?”
“Never called,” he said, trying not to sound the way he felt, like a kid who’d lost everything because, damn it, without her, he had lost everything. He rose up on his elbow and looked down into her shadowed face. “You didn’t come to me, Salome,” he said roughly. “And, God, I wanted you. I longed for you. But you didn’t—”
“I called,” Leanna said, putting her hand over his mouth to stop the flow of words. “Every day. Every night. All the time you were in the hospital.”
Cam stared at her. “You did?”
“I almost went out of my mind, not being with you. Even after—after what you’d said, that you didn’t love me—”
“I was lying, sweetheart. To you and to myself. I’d have said anything to keep you in that room.” He kissed her, his mouth moving gently on hers. “And I was afraid to admit that I loved you.”
Leanna closed her eyes, then opened them again. “I thought—I believed—”
“Is that why you didn’t come to me all those weeks in the hospital?”
“I couldn’t come.” She hesitated. “I was sick, Cam.”
“Sick?” He sat up, gathering her against him. She could feel the swift acceleration of his heart. “What happened? Why didn’t you let me know?”
“An infection, in my foot. I couldn’t let you know. I mean, at first I was too ill. And then, when I was better…” A sob burst from her throat. “I knew you didn’t want me.”
He kissed her, and she could almost feel the love flowing from his heart to hers.
“I wanted you every moment, Salome. Those endless weeks in the hospital, all the ones since… You were all I could think about.”
“Then—then why…” Tears rose in her eyes. “When I knew you were out of the hospital, I let myself begin to hope. Each time the phone rang, each time the mail came— Someone would knock at the door and my heart would say, It’s him, it’s Cameron, he’s come. And—and you never…”
She began to weep. Cam brushed his lips over hers again and again, until her mouth softened and clung to his.
“Salome,” he said softly, “my sweet Salome. I couldn’t come to you, baby. You were my golden dancer. My Salome. My forever love.” He gave a ragged laugh. “Only one problem, sweetheart. I didn’t know your name.”
Leanna drew back in his embrace and stared at him. “What?”
“Your real name. I didn’t know it. That’s why I didn’t come to you. I couldn’t find you. I flew to Dubai. I hired a detective. I did everything I could think of—” he grinned “—including drive my brothers crazy.” His smile faded. “And then, when I’d all but given up hope, my old man talked me into going to a performance at—”
“The Music Hall! I knew you were there! I felt it. Oh, Cam—”
Cam kissed her, long and sweetly. “I’m sorry if I frightened you tonight.”
“You thrilled me. When I realized it was you—”
“Salome. I mean, Leanna—”
“No.” She kissed him, her mouth curving against his. “Salome,” she whispered. “I like that much better.”
Cam rolled her beneath him. “I’m never going to lose you again.”
That won him another kiss. “I won’t let you.”
“I’ll just have to keep you where I can see you.” His eyes darkened. He bent to her and kissed her throat. “In bed, with me.”
“Mmm.”
“Any objections?”
“Mmm,” Leanna said again, and gently moved her hips.
“Of course,” he said, his voice thick. “I can think of one other way.”
