Page 66 of Liam

His eyes flashed to hers and he grinned. “I’m fine, but you need to get your sweet little hands off me before I embarrass us both.”

Taamira frowned and looked at him as she backed up, but he snagged her hand in his bringing her close. “Your touch drives me crazy,” he said looking at his crotch purposefully as Mitch chuckled and dragged Fawzaana towards the door.

Taamira smiled and dropped a pineapple lip balm flavoured kiss to his lips. “I love you.”

“Back at ya, Princess.”

HIS RECOVERY HAD NOT BEEN as quick as he had envisaged, but five days after he’d woken, he’d been allowed to travel home. That had been three weeks ago, and he was already stronger. He had a strict regimen to follow, and near-daily visits from Waggs which he knew were as much for Taamira’s benefit as his. His woman fussed over him constantly; he understood it and figured he would be the same in her position.

It turned out they hadn’t created a baby that day and the news had been a blow that he’d not expected, but it had cemented his feelings for Taamira. He loved her so much it hurt, and it terrified him because the thought of losing her made him shake with fear.

Whether his chat with his dead friend had actually happened or had been a result of the drugs, he didn’t know, but the end result was the same. He needed to put his grief to the back of his mind. He would never stop missing Ambrose, but he was alive, and he needed to live life for both of them.

He discovered Laverne and Astrid had flown to Eyan while he was unconscious and questioned the household staff at the Palace about Mustafa, and had called Jack, who had been in the middle of calling Mitch when Fawzaana had attempted to stab him. That Laverne and Astrid had done that off their own back to help a friend meant they would have his gratitude for the rest of his days.

He curled his arm around Taamira as they lay on the couch, watching the second season of Hawaii Five-0, her body lying in the space in front of him, his arms around her.

“Do you need any pain killers?” Taamira went to move, and he tightened his hold.

“No.”

“Food? Drink? I can make you something?”

“All I need is you right here in my arms.”

Taamira smiled and turned towards him, the tv show forgotten. “I can do that.”

“Although…”

She went to move, and he held her again, a twitch on his lips.

“What?”

“I wouldn’t mind a walk outside to see Digby.”

He watched her eyes light up at the sound of the donkey’s name.

She scrambled up and held her hands to him. He stood with only a tiny bit of pain, feeling a hundred times better than he had. He had waited as long as he could, but he needed this to happen today.

With their hands entwined they walked towards Digby. The animal trotted over to them and he saw Pax had done as he’d asked.

Taamira smiled when she saw the bow around his neck, her eyes flitting to his in question. “What is all this?”

She let his hand go and grabbed the donkey’s collar, twisting it to see the note attached. When she turned around, she gasped as he sank to one knee, her hands flying to her mouth.

Liam took her hand in his, pulling it from her face. “Taamira, you changed my life from the second I met you, filling every second with life and joy that I never thought I deserved. You have shown me how to live, how to be a better person, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, building a family with you and growing old with you. Will you please marry me, treacle?”

Taamira sank to her knees, throwing her arms around him as she nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Liam kissed her then, pouring every ounce of the love he had for her into it. Digby nudged him with his nose, and they broke apart laughing.

“Think we should maybe take this to the bedroom?” He smiled as he stood and rubbed the animal’s snout.

“Are you well enough for that?”

Liam laughed and swung her into his arms as she gasped. “I’ve never felt better.”

“Well, let’s get started on the rest of our lives.”