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“What happened? Did you get him?” Her eyes were sparkling with contentment.
He eyed the lively glint in her eye and nodded happily, proud to be able to confirm his success. “Yes, we got him. He is on his way to jail as we speak. Tomorrow, I need to go to the prison with Barnaby to start to question all three of the convicts. For now, we can relax a little.”
Strangely, he found he didn’t even want to mention Delilah’s name for fear of it stealing the warmth from her beautiful features. As far as he was concerned, nothing was going to remove that sparkle of happiness.
“You clever man,” she enthused, and leaned up to kiss him tenderly.
“I am, aren’t I?” he teased, happy to comply with her demands to kiss her again.
Thankfully, the bruising around her throat had already started to fade, and there didn’t appear to be any other lingering problems from her ordeal. Some tender loving care and a happier environment had chased the shadows from her eyes and for that he would be eternally grateful.
“I am going to have to stay here for a while, I am afraid,” he warned.
“Oh?” She whispered huskily. Her heart leapt into her throat.
“Yes, for a while I suspect. Bamber isn’t going to be very co-operative, so I think I will need to be here for a very, very, long time.”
“Oh,” she replied, looking disappointed.
Jeb stopped peppering kisses down her neck and leaned back to look at her. “Oh? Have you changed your mind?”
Sophia coughed uncomfortably. Jeb had said yesterday that there should be no secrets between them but how could she tell him what it was that she really wanted?
“What is it?” he murmured sensing her discomfort.
“I thought you meant something else, that’s all,” she replied huskily.
“Like what?” Jeb was too busy studying the gentle curve of her lips and was only vaguely aware of what they had been discussing.
“I had hoped that you meant you intended to remain here. In this room. With me.” Her voice trailed off as her body melted beneath the wave of raw need that swept through her.
“Sophia,” Jeb growled, but couldn’t deny her. His desire for her was something he had fought from the first moment they had met. “I should like that.”
Sophia jerked and leaned back to look up at him. It felt daringly wanton, but she wasn’t embarrassed by it. “Are you sure?”
“I am positive,” he replied. “As long as you promise you will respect me in the morning.”
Sophia began to laugh and leaned up to kiss him. “I promise.”
“So you will marry me then? I want this to be a more permanent arrangement.”
“I would love to,” she promised.
It was all he needed to hear. He swept her high into his arms and carried her toward the bed. “I will always come back to you, you know,” he promised.
“You had better,” she warned with a mock scowl.
“I promise,” he grinned.
“You had better, or I will come and find you.”
He groaned and shook his head. “Together forever?” He fervently hoped so and began to lower her onto the bed.
“Always,” she promised.
“Forever.” He reiterated, and set about showing her that although he had returned to the village to catch a thief, he had found so much more.
He had found a Sophia; his life; his future; his love.
The End.
