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I needed to thank those two for setting such impossible goals—and thank Torin for fulfilling them for me.
After dinner, I went straight back to my room. With how Ralph had been tossing back drinks while alternately frowning and glaring at me, I was glad to be away from him. Milo had been shooting him disgusted glances while we ate, but I doubted the other man had noticed. I was half tempted to call Ryan and let him know, but that was a big risk. My cousin might decide I needed to come home sooner than anticipated because of how my guard was acting so he could handle the man, but I wanted to wait for Torin to return.
Kicking off my heels, I walked out onto my balcony. I had the weird urge to go next door and crawl into Torin’s bed, wanting his scent to surround me so I could have the illusion that he was beside me. As I stood there debating, my phone rang. When I looked at it, my heart did a little leap seeing “Moye Solntse” on the screen.
“I thought you would still be in the air,” I said in greeting when I lifted the phone to my ear.
His sharp inhale made me smile. “The joys of Wi-Fi,” he murmured in that deep Irish brogue. “Miss me yet?”
“So much. I was actually about to go next door and crawl into your bed so that I could at least smell you while I sleep.”
“Do it,” he commanded. “But be careful climbing across.”
“Hold on a minute.” It took me no time to get across, and I lifted the phone back to my ear once I was on the other side. “There. Safe and sound.”
“Don’t get sassy with me, mo chroí,” he grumbled. “Worrying about your safety is second nature. I would die if anything happened to you.”
I just stood there, missing him even more. “When will you be back?”
“I can’t be sure, but it won’t be long, I promise. Now go inside, hug my pillow, and pretend like you are lying with your head on my chest.”
Pouting because I wanted a definitive answer on his return, I did as he instructed. Unzipping my dress, I put the phone on speaker and grabbed one of the shirts he’d left behind in his closet. I tossed my bra aside and then slipped on the shirt before pulling back the covers and crawling into the middle of the bed. His pillow was cool against my cheek and far too soft to remind me of his chest, but when I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, I could smell him, and some of the tension eased from my shoulders.
“Better?” he asked quietly.
“Mm-hm,” I mumbled, keeping the phone on the pillow close to my mouth.
“How was your evening?”
I sighed and lifted my lashes, staring at the wall. “It was meh,” I said after a moment, deciding to wait for his return to tell him about Ralph’s behavior. “Missing you makes everything kind of lackluster. The island doesn’t feel the same. Even dinner didn’t taste as good.”
“Fuck,” he groaned. “As soon as my feet are on the ground, I’ll make sure no one sleeps until everything is dealt with.”
“If you rush, then things could get blundered more,” I argued. “Take the time you need so it’s done right. That way, you don’t waste time or risk having to fly back to take care of it again.”
“Beautiful and reasonable,” he murmured.
“I’m just trying to be smart about this,” I told him with a roll of my eyes. “Plus, I’m greedy for your time. I don’t want you giving more than absolutely needed to anyone but me.”
“Even when we’re apart, you have all of my time,” Torin said earnestly. “You are on my mind every minute of the day, mo chroí.”
Smiling, I cuddled into his pillow a little deeper. “I’m not going to lie. That makes me ridiculously happy.”
“Your happiness is the only thing that matters to me, Ciana.”
“What would make me the happiest right now is if you stay on the phone until I fall asleep,” I told him with a yawn. “I’m so tired, it won’t take long, and the sound of your voice is so soothing.”
“Sleep, my beauty. I’m here as long as you need me.”
I sighed contentedly. “Keep talking. It will help me pretend you’re here.”
“Close your eyes. I am right there beside you. My fingers stroking up your bare back, drawing little circles on your shoulder blades. I can see the goose bumps already pebbling your petal-soft skin.”
His voice was pulling me toward sleep. My lashes lowered, too heavy to stay open any longer. “I love you.”
When he spoke again, his voice was raspier than usual, but I was almost asleep and missed the way it broke ever so slightly. “I love you, mo chroí.”
