She lingered, just for a moment.Abbie went to move away but Derek slid his arm around her waist and held her close.His head dipped to the sensitive spot behind her ear, his lips against her skin.
“I loved my sketch, by the way.Thank you for leaving it for me.”His voice was barely above a whisper.
Abbie swallowed hard.“You’re welcome.”
“Can I unwrap you now?”Huskiness lined his voice.His fingers tracing along her spine provided sufficient distraction, but Abbie shook her head.Derek stopped moving.Abbie wasn’t sure he even breathed.
“I need to say something first.”
She didn’t know how to say it.She’d never told anyone she was in a relationship with that she loved them.She’d cared about them, absolutely, but she’d never fallen as completely in love with them as she had with Derek.
“Um, I, uh...I don’t know how to say this.So, I’m going to just...”She looked at him, at his ocean-blue eyes, and remembered that she’d never felt like she was drowning.No, she’d always felt safe, swept away by passion or desire, but anchored all the same.By him.
She dove in and went right past her fear.“I love you.I’minlove with you.I want to make it work with us, even with all the things that scare me.They don’t scare me as much anymore, not if it means I get to be with you.”It all came out in a rush, and Abbie was breathless when she’d finished.
Derek’s eyes were alight with joy.“I love you too, Abbie.”
Abbie felt lighter than she had in years.“You do?”She couldn’t quite believe it, even as the words settled into her heart.
He nodded.“Yes, I do.Exactly as you are.”Derek held his hand out, an invitation.She accepted, and he clasped his other hand on top.“I know there are things about my life that worry you, and I promise to do everything I can to make sure you feel safe and your life is as private as you want.”
Her throat closed and tears started to flow.Derek brushed them away with his thumb.
“I appreciate that more than I can say.I’m less afraid now.You’ve always made me feel safe.”Abbie took a shuddering breath in.“I do have a couple of questions.”
“Anything.”
“How are we going to handle the issue of our privacy?”
Derek’s hands settled on her waist, his gaze earnest.“My manager and agent will have some suggestions.What’s your biggest concern?The thing you’re most scared of?”
“I don’t want every detail of my life online, for the world to see and judge.I’m scared of the scrutiny, and not going to lie...a little bit for my – our – safety.We’re not royalty or anything, I know, but security isn’t something to sniff at.”
“It definitely isn’t.We can figure out the security part a little later – that’s something my manager can help with.”He gently stroked her cheek, and she leaned into his touch.“As for keeping your life away from the public eye, nothing needs to change about the way you live your life, Abbie.Not if you don’t want it to.”
“But what about going out on dates?To restaurants or movies?”
“We’ll have to ask some people who know how to maneuver, but I think we’ll be okay.Plus, I’m more of a stay in and eat kind of guy, you know.”
Abbie blushed.She did know.
“Red carpet events?”
“You don’t have to walk the carpet with me if you don’t want to.I’d love for you to come to premieres, but there’s a separate entrance that you can go into.And it’s rare for photos from those to get leaked.Security is pretty high at events like that.”
She thought for a few moments.It’d be fun to wear a pretty dress and get all dolled up for a night, even if she didn’t walk the carpet for photos.Then again, it might be nice to declare to the world that she was with Derek.
“Would you want me to walk the red carpet with you?”
“Only if you want to.It’s intense.I’ll never ever force you to go in front of cameras, Abbie.”
A weight lifted off her chest.“I don’t know if I can handle the intensity of that.”
“You make that decision, not me.”
Derek adjusted his body on the floor, sat up a little straighter, and moved her so that she was straddling his waist.Abbie ran her fingers through his hair and took in every detail of his face: his strong jaw, perfect cheekbones, and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.She still had difficulty believing he was in front of her.
Derek continued to trace his fingers up and down her back, every now and again daring to graze the side of her breasts.“You know, I really missed you, Abbie.”