His eyes narrowed. “Let's hear it.”
“I want to hire your firm to do Lazar Import
“Part time?” He frowned.
“That's to leave you free for your real job. Full-time love slave.”
He blinked, and looked away with a muffled snort of laughter.
“Kind of like the setup you suggested after Victor's party,” she continued. “Clueless muscle-bound stud brought to island hideaway to fulfill my every erotic whim. We never did explore all the possibilities of that scenario. We got distracted by the pirate queen and her insatiable appetites. And other things. Murder, revenge, betrayal and whatnot.”
She waited to see if he would ignore the mockery in her tone—or echo it.
“Interesting,” he said slowly.
“I thought you might think so,” she said.
“I have a counteroffer. I'll tell you the job description I really want.”
Raine's throat tightened in frustration. If he was going to keep it on this level, it was up to her to force them to the next one. As always.
Seth looked down at his feet. She saw his Adam's apple bob, once. Twice. He met her eyes, with the look of a man who was facing the firing squad. “Full-time lover,” he said hoarsely. “Father of your children. Companion in adventure, champion, guardian, protector, helpmeet, mate. Love of your life. Forever.”
Her heart eyes stung and burned with tears. Her heart thudded against her sore ribs, and her throat shook. “Oh. But I'm afraid, urn, the love slave clause is non-negotiable,” she whispered.
“Fine. I'll be your love slave, I'll be your white knight, I'll be your sailor stud, I'll be your frog prince, I'll be whatever the hell you want. Just tell me you still want me. Tell me quick, Raine. You're killing me.”
She finally understood the trick of the eye spell. It had to be mutual to work. It pulled her like a rope, until she was wrapped around him, pressing her face against his chest. “God, yes, I want you. And I need you. I missed you so much,” she said.
He stroked her back as if she were made of glass and buried his face against her hair. “Me, too,” he said roughly. “I'm sorry I made you wait. I was embarrassed. It was stupid. So, uh, about my offer. It's official, then? I can relax? Done deal?”
She pulled her wet face away and stared searchingly into his eyes. “You're sure?”
“I love you. Why wouldn't I be?”
Her eyes flew to the place on the water where the white moth had drowned, where Victor's ashes had mingled with it. “Because of who I am. I’ll never turn my back on it. I'm a Lazar, Seth.”
He took her face in his hands. “I love who you are,” he said, dropping soft, reverent kisses, on her cheek, her forehead, her jaw, her lips. “I want to celebrate it, and protect you and adore you. What you are is beautiful, Raine. There's no one else like you in the whole world.”
The world softened and widened as she gazed into his eyes. The final glow of sunset rippled over the surface of the water. A golden eagle swooped over their heads. Then another, a mated pair. The muted whoosh, the shadow of their vast wingspans was a solemn benediction. Another moment of grace. Life had more of them than she had thought. They would spend the rest of their lives making those moments together, and rejoicing in them.
Seth's eyes were full of love and cautious hope. There was a fine tremor in the big, strong hands that cupped her face so tenderly. “So? he asked. “Will you marry me?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart bursting with a joy too big to contain. “In a heartbeat,” she whispered.
