Page 474 of Hidden Depths

Storm stepped closer.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Wanting this too much.”

“What is this?”

“You.”

Her breath caught.

I continued before courage deserted me.

“I want mornings aboard Sea Whisper. I want you insulting my docking skills. I want your sisters interrupting every private conversation we attempt to have.”

“They will.”

“I know.”

“Ivy will probably take pictures.”

“I’ll confiscate the camera.”

“She has four more.”

“Of course she does.”

Storm smiled.

I touched her face.

“I want to be beside you when the water is calm and when it isn’t. I don’t want one night. I don’t want something that ends when the yacht reaches the next port.”

“What do you want?”

“Everything you’re willing to give me.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You took long enough.”

I laughed softly.

“That appears to be a Sinclair family complaint.”

Then Storm rose onto her toes and kissed me.

I had imagined it a hundred times.

None of those imagined kisses came close.

Her hands slid into my hair.

I wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her against me.

The kiss deepened.

Weeks of restraint disappeared.