“Your wound?” Ethan asked.
“It’s fine, and I want to try.” Goodness. She was more insistent than the boys.
When she put her hands on his solid shoulders, her smile faltered. His eyes were the same colour as the sea. His wet skin only enhanced his harsh lines. His Adam’s apple was particularly prominent, and she wanted to trace it with her fingertips or lick the salty drops from his skin.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Yes.” No hesitation because it was true.
“Ready?” He sounded low and husky.
“Yes.” Instead, her voice was tiny. She slid her foot into the step formed by his hands. Their bodies brushed against each other. His skin was so warm she felt the heat in her core.
“One.” He sucked in a deep breath that raised his chest. She was breathless too. “Two.” His gaze dipped to her lips, and she didn’t mind. “Three.”
He threw her up. It was a mighty push that propelled her into the air, making her feel light and weightless. The world turned upside down as the sky and the sea exchanged places. Then she dived into the water with a big splash. The sounds disappeared. Bubbles tickled her skin. When she emerged, she burst out laughing. It was liberating.
“Mama.” David hugged her, and they laughed together. The more she heard him laugh, the harder she laughed.
Another first. She couldn’t remember the last time she and David had laughed so hard that their bellies hurt. Every moment they’d spent together, even the most beautiful ones, had been tainted by something Jacob had said, done, or by the thought that Jacob would be home soon, or that they would need to return to London and face his anger again. A constant shadow even on the brightest days.
The wave of sadness caught her by surprise. Not exactly sadness, but the laughter made her too aware of what she’d lost in the past years and how accustomed she’d become to being miserable. Jacob’s presence was like a cold blade stabbing her soul without warning. It was odd how she’d grown used to being unhappy and considering her life to be an endless grey series of events out of her control. How different her life looked now.
Ethan would disagree, but she owed this new perspective to him. His expert hands had healed her flesh wound. His love had freed her spirit. His kindness had made David feel safe. And she loved him. Heaven, she did love him. Desperately.
How ignorant she’d been about her own feelings. How silly not to understand immediately what he meant to her. Being with him wasn’t another prison. He was freedom itself for David and her.
She held David harder with desperation. He was the only good thing Jacob had given her. Her laughter turned into a sob, which she masked with a cough, not wanting to spoil the day for David. She released him and stared at the water, glad it hid her tears.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” David asked.
She nodded and rubbed her eyes. “Very enjoyable.”
Ethan frowned at her, likely having understood her change of mood. “We should return home and have dinner.”
“May I stay five more minutes?” David asked.
“Tomorrow, we’ll stay longer. After we meet Judge Quigley, we’ll spend the day on the beach and have a picnic here. What do you say, Mrs. Parker?”
“Words fail me, my lord.” Mrs. Parker arched her eyebrows.
Ethan patted David’s cheek. “It’s important for your mother to rest.”
David nodded and started to swim towards the beach with Harry.
“Race you there.” Harry sped up, waving his arms furiously.
“Not fair.” David chased him.
Mrs. Parker headed to the bathing machine, muttering something about eating sand and sandwiches. Cora went to follow her, but Ethan took her hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes.” She blinked her tears away.
“Your shoulder? Was it too much?”
“No, it’s fine.”
