She burst out in a sob at that, and his heart was sliced open.
“I never meant to hurt you,” he said as he swiped at her tears and then kissed her cheeks, her nose, her jaw. “Please don’t cry.” He muttered it again and again. “Please, love. Don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”
Her breath hitched and her lips were so unimaginably soft when he kissed her.
Home. Sweet, loving, joyful home.
Her lips clung to his as he kissed her, their breath mingling as the world seemed to come down to this moment. This perfect moment. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss so he could taste her. As if they had all the time in the world.
As if anything had changed.
But nothing had changed. He still ought to walk away. Yet how could he when she was here in his arms, kissing him back as though this was exactly where she wanted to be? As though he were her home just as she was his?
To push her away again now, to hold her like this and let her go—it would take a stronger man than him.
When at last he lifted his head to give them both a chance to catch their breath, her eyes fluttered open and he was struck dumb by the look there. Happiness mixed with pleading mixed with more love than he could possibly stand.
No one had ever looked at him like this. Like he was the center of their world. Like he was needed and cared for and...loved.
His heart twisted in his chest as his grip on her tightened. “I know I should let you go. It’s the right thing to do.” He dropped his head until his forehead rested against hers. “But I cannot do it. Not unless you push me away.”
She shook her head, her forehead still pressed to his. “I won’t. I can’t. And why would I want to?”
He groaned at the sheer innocence in that comment.
Her answering sigh was filled with exasperation. “Caleb, how can I make you see that you are worthy. Of me. Of a family. Of...of everything we could have together.”
He kept silent. He wasn’t sure he’d ever feel worthy of a woman like her. But he knew better than to try and convince her. She wasn’t about to hear it. His sweet Abigail would only grow defensive on his behalf. She was too kindhearted for her own good.
How frustrating that one of the things that made her so irresistibly loveable was also the trait that was driving him mad. If she could only just see that she deserved better. If she could only understand how big the world was and how many men would kill to be by her side.
“I know what you’re thinking, you know,” she said. Amusement laced her voice and made his heart thud.
He wanted to hear that amusement every day. He wished he could hold her like this for the rest of his life. He wanted so much, and none of it was his for the taking.
“Caleb.” She reached up a hand and stroked the scar along his jaw. His muscles tensed at the gentle touch, a tremor racing down his spine at the unexpected and unfamiliar intimacy of it.
He loved that touch.
Closing his eyes, he breathed her in and reveled in the feel of her soft skin.
“Why won’t you let me love you?” Her voice was so quiet. So gentle.
He squeezed his eyes shut as his chest tightened painfully.
Her sigh was sweet. “Fine. Let’s start with this. Why did you let me believe you couldn’t read when you are clearly quite proficient?”
He opened his eyes at the teasing tone. The laughter there that made it impossible not to look and see and...yes. There it was. That glimmer in her eyes that was more enchanting than any song or poem could ever hope to be.
He owed her the truth. “I wanted to keep seeing you.”
Her lips curved up slightly, but she pressed them together as she leaned in closer. “And why did you want to keep seeing me?”
His exhale was loud and filled with defeat. “Because I adore your company.” At her steady gaze, he huffed again. “And the children’s too.”
His honesty was rewarded with a beaming smile that hurt to look at. Like staring directly into the sun.
“And all that talk of missing your life at sea?” Her brows arched up, prompting him.
He growled as he tugged her closer. “Lies.”
Her grin was knowing and triumphant, and he couldn’t resist kissing the corners of her lips, finding that little dimple and dropping a kiss there as well.
“You’re staying here,” she whispered.
He nodded. What was the use in keeping up a lie that she’d see right through?
Her hands moved up to his shoulders. “You’ll stay here...with me.”
He froze in the midst of trailing kisses along her cheekbone, her breath a soft puff against his ear as a war waged inside him between what he wanted and what was best for her.
“Don’t you dare,” she said, pulling back so she could meet his gaze. “Don’t try and push me away again. I couldn’t bear it.”
His heart twisted in his chest at the flicker of pain he saw there. He’d done that. And there was no way he could do it again. “I don’t want you to have regrets.”
She nodded. “I know.” She wet her lips and his gaze fell to that utterly kissable mouth of hers.
Heaven help him, he couldn’t resist her any longer, no matter how he tried.
“I also know that no amount of me telling you that I won’t have regrets will sway you,” she said. “You think I am sheltered.”
“I know you are,” he said.
She nodded slowly, her gaze growing distant and thoughtful. “Perhaps you are right.”
He stilled, unable to breathe as he waited for her to come to
