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Then we will all go back home. To the Village. Where we will continue to live together until one of the couples is ready for their own place, I guess? Or we need a nursery? Or, maybe we will all just squeeze in together.
I’d like that best.
The salt water is clean, crisp, and refreshing.
As I move deeper, the water is a bit colder than I expected, but not too cold. The sun feels warm against my shoulders, like a late spring afternoon, but not too hot.
I beckon for Damian to join me in the water. He stands on the shore, watching me, looking unsure.If I thought he was handsome the first time I saw him, now, he’s a pure god in my eyes.
Because now, I know his insides match his beautiful exterior.
"Come," I call. "You're ready. I promise."
Damian hesitates, unsure of himself. I can see it in his eyes. But I know he won't regret it. There's nothing quite like the feeling of diving into the sea. Especially this one. For him, it will be a huge milestone in his healing.
We've been preparing for this moment for months. Hours of therapy, weeks of private swimming lessons. Me at his side for every stroke.
After a moment, he nods and slowly steps into the water. The coolness of the sea washes over him and he shivers a little.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" I say, grinning.
He nods again, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Soon, he’s at ease, joining me in the waist-deep waters. We swim together, the water buoying us up, carrying us along. We talk and laugh, splashing each other playfully.
As we swim further out, the waves grow stronger, and the water gets deeper. We dive under the waves, coming up out of the water gasping for air, laughing. Damian emerges from the water, a smile of pure joy on his handsome face. We swim toward the shore, playing in the shallower waters.
I turn to him. "All your hard work paid off. Look around you."
His gaze travels over the sea, hovering at that place beyond the docks. He closes his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, and I know who he is thinking of. He finds his footing on the ocean floor and takes me in his arms.
I stand in front of him, my skin cooled from the water now warmed by his broad chest. He wraps his arms around me, holding my body tight against his. We gaze out as the sun sets over the ocean, boasting pretty pinks and purples tonight. Golden hour in the Mediterranean.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he says.
"It is,” I agree. “Magical."
"I wouldn't be here without you, Lindy." He leans down, nuzzling against my ear. "You're my everything."
"You're mine, too,” I say. “In fact, I think I’m obsessed.”
He grins, the look of love so warm in his gaze I have to move closer and kiss those gorgeous lips of his. Right now. I melt against him, enjoying the languid sensation of our tongues tangling. The kiss deepens, turning into an emotional moment of triumph for us.
We’ve overcome our fears. We’re both healing from our past.Whatever life throws at us, whatever we must face now, we know we will face it together.I can't wait for our upcoming wedding, to officially become his Mrs. Bachman.
His lips graze against my earlobe, leaving a trail of heat behind. "Join me for dinner?"
"Of course," I say.
For him, I’ll always say yes.
eight years ago…
epilogue
Savage
The buzz of the alarm. The opening of the barred cell door. The guard stands at the edge of the cell, gray uniform, gray hair, gray skin.
