Fly with Me (43 page)

“They’re my
parents,” she said soberly. “It hurts that they don’t love me the
way I need them to.”

“I’m sorry.”
He leaned his forehead against hers, his warm eyes gazing down into
hers with such love and kindness.

Such a Simon
look.

“But I have
something better,” she said softly.

He didn’t say
a word, just watched her patiently.

Also a Simon
trait.

“I have you.”
Her hand slipped around his nape. “I have you, I have my life, and
you make my whole world. So I got the better deal.”

He didn’t have
to move much to kiss her with soul-searing gentleness.

As soon as he
lifted his lips, she whispered, “I love you so much, Simon.”

Lifting her
hand, he kissed her knuckle below the engagement ring. “I love you
right back, Lis. With all my heart.”

He kissed her
again, deeper, longer, his hands slipping from the bench to curl
around her hips.

Elissa gasped
as her skin stung beneath his left thumb.

Startled, he
lifted his hands and stepped back, his gaze sweeping over her.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did I hurt you?”

“It’s all
right.” She grabbed his arm. “Actually, I kind of caused it
myself.”

“Huh?”

“I was going
to wait until later to show you, you know, when we’re in bed.” She
waggled her eyebrows.

His own shot
up in query.

“I got it this
morning.” Grabbing hold of the hem of the t-shirt in one hand, she
slid her thumb into the waistband of her slacks and slid them down
over one hip.

Simon’s eyes
went a little hot. “Oh yeah, baby, show me more.” Then he saw the
white gauze taped over a small part of her hip at the front. Heat
was replaced with concern. “What happened?”

“Just wait.”
Eager to show him, she yanked the gauze off. “Holy crap! That
stung
.”

Simon’s mouth
fell open. Then he dropped to his knees, carefully curled his hand
around her waist and looked closely at the little tattoo.

Elissa looked
down as well. Man, that tattoo was sweet. Two butterflies facing
each other, wings out in flight. Simon and her names at the top,
‘flying free’ in scroll work below the butterflies.

“Jesus.” Simon
swallowed.

“It’s a little
sore still, but it’ll get better,” she assured him.

He looked up
at her. His eyes had gone hot all over again. “You put my name on
your body.”

Amused, she
grinned. “By Jove, old bean, I am wearing
your
brand.”

Careful not to
brush against her hip, he pushed to his feet to capture her face
between his big hands and kiss her sweetly. Then a little deeper.
Then a whole lot hotter.

By the time he
shifted back a little, they were both breathing raggedly.

“So,” she
almost croaked, “you like it?’

“Sweetheart, I
love it.” His eyes danced with wicked heat. “I’m going to love
tonguing that tat any time I want to.”

“Mmm.” She
approved.

“Even better,
I’m going to love knowing that you’re branded with my name.”

“Simon,” she
murmured, swaying into his arms, “I wear it with pride.”

“You know
you’re still free.” He nibbled kisses along her jaw line. “Still
with me, always with me, but free.”

“I know.” She
arched her head, giving him greater access to her throat. “We’re
free. Together.”

“Together,” he
agreed. “Flying free, side by side. Always.”

####

BIO

Angela
Verdenius lives in Australia where she is ruled by her cats, adores
reading, and thinks a perfect day is writing and drinking Diet
Coke, followed by reading or a good horror movie.

To date, she
has written numerous novels in sci-fi romance series and BBW
contemporary romances, 2 novellas, and several short stories, one
of which is a zombie story she had great fun writing. Her books
have won many reviewers’ awards, as well as having been on the
Fictionwise best-seller list and winning the Golden Rose Award.

For more
information about Angela’s books, visit:

Visit her
website at
http://www.angelaverdenius.com/

The lighter
side of life on her blog
http://angelaverdenius.blogspot.com
/

and at
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/angelaverdenius

Keep reading
for a list of all available books in both ebook and print.

Other Books by
this Author

BBW
Romances

Big Girls
Lovin’ trilogy:
Doctor’s Delight

Cop’s
Passion

Vet’s
Desire

The Lawson
Boys duet -
The Lawson Boys: Alex

The Lawson
Boys: Marty

The Virgin Sex
Queen

The Mackay
Sisters duet:
Call on Me

Lean on Me

Seducing
Sam

Adam’s
Thorn

The Goodbye
Girl

The Gully’s
Fall series:
Burn for You

Fall for
You

Lie to Me

Fly with Me

Heart &
Soul sci-fi romance series

Heart of an
Outlaw

Soul of a
Mercenary

Heart of the
Betrayed

Love’s Sweet
Assassin

Soul of a
Hunter

Love’s
Bewitching Thief

Heart of the
Forsaken

Soul of a
Witch

Heart of a
Traitor

Soul of the
Forgotten

Love’s
Beguiling Healer

Heart of a
Peacekeeper

Soul of a
Predator

Love’s Winsome
Warrior

Heart of a
Smuggler

Soul of a
Guardian

Love, Heart
& Soul Moments

Shattered
Soul

Novellas
sci-fi

Operation
Seduction (BBW)

Blast from the
Past

Free Short
Stories

Zombie
Hospital

Perceptions