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Dominic offered her a reassuring smile. “To be perfectly honest, Iwastaken aback. At least at first. But no, I’m not angry. Not with either of you. Far from it.” His smile turned wry. “Almost dying does tend to give one a different outlook on life. And I do understand why you hid your writing career from me. Because of my concerns about Celeste, Ihadbeen quite disparaging about your alter ego’s books. But it seems my contempt was entirely unwarranted. Arrogant ass that I am, I scoffed because I was ignorant. However”—he gave her a slow grin—“I hope you’ll be pleased to learn that at Celeste’s urging, I’ve started to readLady Violetta and the Vengeful Vampyre, and I’m utterly addicted. Celeste was right. You are supremely talented, my lovely Artemis. And I can’t wait to continue reading your book as soon as I get the chance.”
“Oh…” Artemis’s cheeks had turned a delightful shade of pink. “You really think I’m talented?”
“Very much so. You’ll also be pleased to know that Miss Rosalind Sharp has been dismissed, effective immediately. When she proudly declared that she’d forced you to leave, I sacked her on the spot. And, before you begin to fret that she’ll go to the newspapers, she won’t. She’s going to sign a legally binding confidentiality agreement in exchange for my silence about her misconduct. So you have nothing to fear, my love. Not anymore.”
“I simply don’t have enough words to thank you,” Artemis whispered. “You’ve done so much for me. Avenged my sister. Saved my life.” She raised her notebook. “My manuscript. My reputation. Yet when you needed me”—shame weighted her words—“I left you. I shouldn’t have.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about, Artemis. I remember you. At my side. Taking care of me. Whispering that you loved me. That our engagement was real and that you wanted to marry me. The things that you said gave me such hope.”
“I meant it,” she said softly. “Every single word.”
“And I…” Dominic drew a deep breath. “I love you too, Artemis Jones. My heart, such as it is, is yours and yours alone. And even if you tell me that you don’t want children, or if fate decrees that we cannot—whatever the reason—I want you to know that it doesn’t matter.Youare enough for me. You areeverythingto me. I only need you.”
“Oh, Dominic.” Artemis cradled his jaw with trembling fingers. “When we were at Ashburn Abbey, I realized that Idowant to have a child with you. I know, deep in my heart, that if we are so blessed, it would bring me such joy.”
He swallowed. “You do? Truly?”
“Yes.” She smiled, her beautiful brown eyes shimmering with tears. “I do. Because I trust you. And I trust in the idea of ‘us.’ For the very first time in my life, I believe that happily-ever-afters are not only found at the end of a book. Theyarereal.”
“Artemis…” A great wave of emotion rushing through him, Dominic shifted his head and kissed her palm. His voice was low and raw as he at last told her all of the things that had been brimming inside him for so long. “My love, if you only knew the depth of my feeling for you. You are my lifeblood. The reason my heart beats. You are the light that warms my very soul and I cannot live without you. Tell me again that you love me.” Dominic slid a hand into the wet, tangled curls at Artemis’s nape. Rested his forehead against hers. “Tell me that you’re mine.”
“I love you. I’m yours,” she whispered. “Forever and always.”
Dominic wasn’t sure who initiated the kiss first, but in the end, it didn’t matter. His mouth found Artemis’s, and his heart rejoiced at the feel of her lush, lithe body in his arms, the way her fingers curled into his damp hair, the press of her sweet lips against his, the supple stroke of her tongue. The delicious taste and scent of her. The little moan she made in her throat.
If he could capture this perfect moment and store it in a bottle, it would be all he’d ever need to sustain him until the end of his days.
When they at last drew apart, both breathless and disheveled and grinning like besotted fools, it was to discover that they’d arrived at Dartmoor House.
“Shall we go inside, my beautiful wife-to-be?” asked Dominic.
“We shall,” agreed Artemis. “And I don’t care who is about, or what anyone thinks, but I’m ordering a hot bath for both of us and then locking the door.”
Dominic flashed her a deliberately wicked smile. “I concur. And afterward, when I retire to my bed to rest and recuperate, you can show me the inspiration for some of your books’ saucier scenes.”
“There’s actually a bath scene inLady Mirabella and the Midnight Monk,” Artemis murmured as they ascended the stairs to the front door. “You can help me get the choreography right. If your titanic truncheon is up to it…”
“Oh, don’t worry, my love. It’s only my left shoulder that’s temporarily out of commission. I’ll be quite happy to demonstrate that everything else is in perfect working order.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
