Page 28 of The Cloud Catcher

‘Thank you,’ Zara eventually murmured, her eyes glistening with tears that reflected her past struggles, future hopes, and present bliss. ‘For being my everything, and for loving me like you do.’

‘Oh, my darling Zaza.’ Pulling back just a little, so he could glance down at her, Jay gently brushed away her tears. ‘You’ve given me the purest love I’ve ever known, so how could I not love you as much as I do?’

Gratitude swelled within Zara’s chest, filling the spaces once hollowed by loss — of her father, her mother, and then their baby girl — and it was all she could do not to burst into tears. Under the rustle of leaves and the sound of the ocean kissing the coastline, a sacred silence fell as their hearts spoke in a language beyond words. In Jay’s unwavering presence, she felt the peace she’d longed for, and the steadfast assurance that every ebb in her life would be met with an equal flow. It was a surety she’d never known existed until Jay Maverick waltzed into her life.

‘I love you, my dear Jay.’ She sniffed back tears as she nestled into him.

‘And I love you, my sweet Za, more than yesterday, but not as much as I know I will tomorrow.’ His deep voice rumbled in her ear before he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his warm touch instantaneously igniting a spark of hope for the family they longed for.

It was a feeling that took Zara by surprise, one she’d never thought possible after the loss they’d endured. However, she also understood it was a sensation brought about by finding someone who grasped and accepted every part of her, and by knowing she’d be loved by this wonderful man throughout her life, regardless of whether or not they had children.

‘I never knew hope could feel so tangible,’ she whispered, unable to contain the overwhelming emotion within her. ‘It’s as if I could grab it in both my hands and hold it tight.’

Jay’s arms tightened around her as he murmured against her hair. ‘Hope has always been your gift, Zara, and you’ve taught me how to see it, even in the darkest moments.’

‘I have?’ She looked up at him from beneath her teary lashes.

‘Yes, you have. I mean, just look at us,’ Jay whispered, his fingertips tracing the outline of her face with tenderness. ‘From two wandering souls to this, to us.’

‘I love us.’ Zara smiled softly, knowing it was not only the rings on their fingers that bound them, but also the invisible threads of destiny that had woven their separate paths into one.

‘Let’s make another vow, right here, right now,’ Jay continued, his voice resonating like a grounding force beneath her feet, ‘to weather every storm together, to navigate by the stars when the sun hides, and to always find our way back to this magic moment of serenity.’

‘I promise with all of my heart that I’ll do just that.’ Reaching up on her tippy toes, Zara sealed their pact with a kiss that quickly went from tenderly gentle to mind-blowingly passionate.

With a sexy growl of hunger for her, Jay encircled her waist with his solid arms. The heat of his hands pressing against her back caressed through the fabric of her gown, making her want to get rid of the clothing so she could feel him, skin on skin.

Soon, but not now.

After the reception, they had all night long to make love to one another. So, under the watchful gaze of the ancient tree, with moonlight filtering through the branches and dancing upon their skin, the two hearts beating as one set sail on a beautiful journey with the unwavering certainty that no matter where life’s currents took them, they’d always return to each other’s embrace upon the shores of their love. And as the distant sounds of laughter and chatter from the reception drifted to them, mingling with the heady scent of jasmine that wafted from nearby hedges, their lips parted and she snuggled even closer to Jay, seeking the warmth and safety of his embrace. They were two peas in a pod, the missing pieces of their life’s jigsaw now found in one another, and she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the beauty of this majestic moment. They were finally married, their souls forever intertwined in a bond that felt unbreakable.