“I missed your smile.” AJ brushed his thumb over her mouth—her smile appeared magically beneath his touch.
Lani leaned into him. “I missed your laugh.” The palace had seemed so empty, so dull and lifeless despite all the staff bustling to and fro.
“I missed laughing. I haven’t done much lately.” He stroked her back, and his fingers stirred up rivers of sensation. She’d tried so hard to forget the feelings he aroused in her, and she couldn’t keep them from flooding back.
“Me, either.”
His lips hovered just over hers, close enough so she could feel their heat. Excitement buzzed in the air and made her skin tingle. Was it real? Could AJ really be back? Was everything going to be okay?
It seemed too much to hope for. Still, he was here, with his arms wrapped around her. Something she’d dreamed of in spite of herself the whole time he was gone.
“I missed your kisses,” she whispered.
“I missed yours.” He swiped a kiss close to her lips, but not quite on them. Her lips stung at the sudden and unexpected denial. “But maybe I don’t deserve to have any more.”
“You may not, but I do.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“So true.” He lowered his lips gently over hers, slid his tongue provocatively between her lips and gave her a kiss that made her toes curl.
Her nipples tightened against his chest and she ran her hands over the ridged muscle of his back, enjoying his strength. It made her feel safe, though it shouldn’t really, he hadn’t made her any promises.
She’d learned not to count on anything for sure except the sweetness of the present moment. “I’m glad you came back,” she whispered. Even if he didn’t stay, she’d always have this moment to remember, when she felt safe and whole and loved, for a while.
AJ nuzzled her ear. “I missed you like crazy. I tried to put you out of my mind and to distract myself with the films and parties and all those things I used to enjoy, but I found I didn’t want any of it any more. Not without you.”
Her heart contracted painfully. “I missed you, too.” She’d ached for him, night and day. “But you’d left me, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
“Except phone me.” He stroked her cheek.
“I was scared to tell the truth. I wasn’t sure if you’d be angry, or think I was nuts.”
“I am, and I do. I don’t think you should have put up with any of that nonsense from Vanu.” He lifted her chin until their eyes met. His gaze was filled with concern. “You should have told him he was a jerk and dumped him.”
Lani swallowed. Left in her heart was the one truth she’d never told anyone. “I did.”
“What?”
She pushed back, separating herself from AJ inch by inch. “I told him, that night, after he…forced himself on me…that he could kill me if he wanted but that I wouldn’t stay married to him for another day. I told him I hated him.” The memory of her own voice, shrill and serious in the night, made her shiver.
AJ stared at her. “And that’s why he left. Why he went out on the boat.”
“And why he died.” Her words, spoken softly, rang like a tolling bell off the stone walls. “How did he die? No one’s ever told me. Trying to spare my feelings or something.”
He rubbed a hand over his mouth and looked away. “Anyone’s guess, really. There wasn’t much left. Just the skeleton. A lot of animals and birds on that island.”
She let the ghastly image sink in.
“It was definitely him, though. They checked the teeth against his dental records. He won’t be back again.”
She didn’t know what to say or do. How could she be pleased to hear such grim news?
AJ reached for her hand. “It’s not your fault he’s dead.”
She clenched her fist inside his grasp. “I wanted him dead.” The words flew from her mouth. “It’s ugly but it’s the truth and I can’t change that.”
“It’s his fault that you felt like that, and I could kill him again myself for putting that sadness and guilt into your heart. You need to let go of it.”
“I want to. Maybe that’s why I had to tell you the truth. I had to tell someone.”
“Were you worried I wouldn’t believe you?”
“A little.” She hesitated and watched his expression. “And I was a little afraid that you wouldn’t care.”
“Because I ran out on you?”
She nodded.
“But now you know that I did that because of my own past with Vanu. I gave up telling people about it a long time ago. I wanted to leave him in my past.” He reached toward her and stroked her shoulder. “I think we should both do that.”