Grabbing her hand and holding her palm flat over his heart was a mistake he might
regret. Everything in him responded to her. “Never, in all the time I’ve known you, have I ever thought you were anything but strong, smart, and compassionate. But I wanted to protect you, to give you a break from something you couldn’t control. I’m sorry.”
Tears spilled out of her eyes and down her cheeks, big fat tears. Frustrated because her pain was so real, so raw, Ian did the only thing he could. He pulled her in and held her.
“Please don’t cry. Please.” Her body was small against his, but as always, she fit like she was made for him. Her skin was chilled and damp from being outside, but inside, there was a warm heart that worried for the people she loved. It was that big, loving heart that made Sofie who she was, and the woman he’d never stopped loving.
That was at the root of everything over the past few days. When he saw she was in
trouble, he reacted. His instinct to protect her outweighed any professional considerations and it may have gotten Ian in over his head, but he didn’t care. Seeing her tears, feeling her body shake completely, unraveled him.
“Oh, Ian,” she gulped. “What’s going to happen to us? We have nothing. What will we do?”
“I wish I had a simple answer, but your family will have support. They already do from relatives and people who are loyal to them. From what I understand, other governments are offering protection, or asylum. Every one of you will land on your feet, whether you are in Aubonne or not.”
“But my h-h-home. I have no home. I talked to my father, and he sounds so defeated. My mother must be crushed. My sister…” Her voice was small, weak, and Ian’s heart broke for her.
“I wish I could help.” He looked down into her perfect face, an angel’s face, letting his feelings rule him for only the third time in his life. Ian leaned in and touched his lips to hers.
Sofie clutched his shirt, holding on to him like an anchor in the coming storm. He kissed her, swallowing each of her sobs, and wishing he could take all of her sadness and his worry on himself. “It’s going to be okay, I promise. It will.”
“Keep kissing me, Ian. Just keep kissing me. It’s the only thing I want to feel right now.”
Lifting her into his arms, Ian carried her into the house, doing what she asked and not breaking the kiss until he set her on the kitchen counter. The drive to protect her was primal, a force he’d only felt the first time they made love, when she became his, and he became hers.
Their hearts, minds, and bodies were matched. “God,” he held her close. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I just want to be with you. That’s all I’ve wanted since I met you.”
Her hand stroked his face and her head dropped on his shoulder. “I don’t know where I’m going, or what’s going to happen next. Please don’t tell me we can’t be together. Even for now. I need you. Just love me for now.”
Without any hesitation, Ian said what he’d wanted to say since she blew back into his life.
“I’ll love you forever, Sofie.”
“I’ve done nothing to deserve you, but I need you. And I don’t need you for protection. I just need you.”
“You have me.” She’d always had him.
“Take me to bed, Ian. Love me so I can forget everything else. So you’re the only thing on my mind. That’s what I want.”
He held her face in his hands--her beautiful, sweet face, and nodded. Knowing he should keep his professional distance, knowing there may be no chance for them to have a future, she needed him, and while his life may not be in danger, Ian needed Sofie. Needed her light to keep him from losing any more of himself.
She wrapped her legs and arms around him as he lifted her, carrying her through the house. This was where they belonged. If only circumstances were different, he could see them here, spending summers with their family—their children.
“I’m cold,” she said nuzzling and nipping at his neck.
“You’re clothes are wet. We’ll fix that as soon as we get upstairs.”
Sofie’s eyes met his and she smiled before laying a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ve been thinking about this moment for eight years. You’re all I want, Ian. Palaces and politics were never important, only you were important.”
“You have me now,” he reminded her as he sat on his bed. “You always have.”
Having tossed and turned all night long, Sofie finally left her bed an hour before the sunrise. It had taken time, lying alone in the dark to process the news. Her family, her home, none of it was certain anymore. She’d always had a place in the world, now she didn’t know who she was.