Adam must have felt her body tense. He leaned away and smoothed his hand down the side of her hair. The comforting touch chased away the thoughts of Tony. She nuzzled her cheek in the palm of his hand. If he didn’t come back from overseas, what would she do? Her chest clenched with the realization that he’d be in extreme danger. The thought of him lying hurt somewhere, leaving her for good? She wiped her tear-soaked cheek against his fingers.
“I’ve grown strong over the last year, Adam. I have. But I don’t know if I can handle you never coming back.”
Adam wrapped his arms around her waist and ducked down so she could look up into his eyes. “Hey,” he said and gently ran his thumb over her damp cheek. “I’ll be back. I promise. I won’t leave you, baby. You’re my oasis in the desert. Now, no more talk about war. Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”
Lily knew this would be her first real test. Tony’s lessons and training would come full circle as she tried to navigate through the days and nights, waiting for Adam to call or send word that he was healthy and coming home. She sat down at the table and tried to hide her shaking hands by fixing their plates.
“You don’t have to do that, Lily. I can fend for myself.”
She piled the pasta and sauce on the white plate. “I know that. I like to please you and serve you. It’s one of my simple pleasures. Do you mind?”
Adam took the plate from her trembling hands and set it on the table. The smooth skin of his one hand encasing her palm was such a contrast to the rough texture of the fingers caressing her cheek. He leaned over and gently skimmed his lips over her mouth. Instantly, her body reacted and relaxed in the chair.
“You may serve me any time, Lily Flower,” he whispered. “If it pleases you, then it pleases me.”
She opened her mouth, hoping to coax his tongue inside, but instead he leaned back and grabbed the fork next to his plate. He was teasing her, and more than anything, sending her libido into the outer stratosphere. There would be playtime later. This was about feeling close to a man who would protect her, fulfill her needs, and help her to grow even stronger in her independence. Lily twirled her fork in the pasta and took a healthy bite.
This was where she belonged. The sense of security that Tony would talk about when they were on a walk or playing out in the yard was here in her kitchen. With this man, she could accomplish anything. She could write, be an award-winning chef—hell, she could even climb a mountain as long as he was by her side. Maybe it was time to realize that she was a woman of worth. Keith had been wrong. Lily sat up a bit straighter in the chair. She was worth love, and no one had the right to take that away from her.
“You better come home to me, Adam. It’s taken me a long time to feel this.” She motioned between the two of them. “You have no right to take this away. There’s nothing so important to take you out of my life. Promise me. Promise me you’ll come back.”
Lily felt the heat from the well of tears teetering on the verge of falling. The last thing she wanted was to appear weak. She had to be strong, like Tony had taught her. This moment, this very second of time was the truth in her training. She was strong. The trying moments that lay ahead were going to be the test of that strength.
“Baby,” Adam said as he pushed back from the table and motioned for Lily to sit on his lap. “Come here.”
Lily got up and sat on Adam’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as she laid her head on his shoulder. “Promise me, Adam. You have to come home.” The steady rhythm of his big hand rubbing up and down her back seemed to give her tears permission to fall. Her wet cheeks soaked his T-shirt.
“God, do you even realize how precious you are? I promise, Lily Flower. I will come home to you. I will always come to you.”
Lily relaxed against his body and welcomed the warmth of his embrace. The commitment in his voice was going to have to be enough to carry her through the tough days ahead. She would recall this time, this conversation, and remember the promise he made. She was counting on his promise. “Don’t take this away. Don’t let anything take you away from me.”
Adam leaned back and took her tear-streaked face into his hands. The soft kiss he pressed to her lips made the trembles vibrating through her body intensify. She let the moment imprint on her mind. The feeling of him so close, the way he said her name, the firm hold he kept her in. These were the memories she’d file away.
“Look at me. There is nothing on this earth that will ever take me away from you. Understand? Nothing.”
Lily ran the pad of her thumb over his bottom lip. “Just keep your promise.”