Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
The scent of fresh coffee fills the air as the morning sunlight streams through the windows, bathing the kitchen in a warm, golden glow. I close my eyes as I take a deep breath in and feel the warmth on my skin, letting this peaceful feeling wash over me.
Gentle hands slip around my waist from behind me as soft lips press against my neck. I smile, tilting my head as Liam trails kisses over my skin.
“Morning,” he murmurs against my neck.
“Morning,” I say, opening my eyes.
I turn in his arms and meet his icy blue eyes as they sparkle in the sunlight, so bright they almost look translucent. But my eyes drop to his smile, and my heart skips. I press my lips to his as he holds me against him, kissing him soft and slow, just like the peaceful morning that surrounds us.
Miss Bobber weaves between our legs, purring loudly until I chuckle against Liam’s lips and glance down at her. “Someone needs attention.”
Liam nods. “I do.” Then he gently grabs my face and kisses me again.
I laugh against his lips, returning his kiss before kneeling down to give Miss Bobber some love too.
Once the coffee finishes brewing, we each take our mug and just like we’ve done every morning this week since returning from Inverness, we head into the sunroom.
Miss Bobber jumps up with us as we settle onto the couch, and I smile, setting my mug on the coffee table we made so she can settle on my lap.
The view of the ocean is beautiful this morning, with barely a ripple on the surface, and the pale blue sky is clear, painted with soft yellows of the early morning light. These quiet mornings with Liam have become my favourite part of the day, and I want to soak in every moment with him before he goes back to work next week.
Liam turns his head to me. “What should we do today?”
I stare thoughtfully out at the water. “I don’t know,” I say slowly, then look at him. “Fishing?”
He cocks an eyebrow as a playful challenge sparkles in his eyes. “In the mood to lose?”
I scoff with a shake of my head. “After all you caught was seaweed last time? I’ll take my chances.”
His eyes narrow slightly, and I smile at the reminder of him pulling in endless clumps of seaweed, while I brought in three fish.
“It’s on,” he says.
I laugh, reaching over with my good hand to grasp the side of his face, my thumb lightly brushing over his cheek. “But first… let's just stay here a little longer.”
He smiles as his eyes flick between mine, then he leans in, and our lips meet. I hold him in a gentle kiss as we melt against each other, knowing there’s nowhere we have to be, and nothing we have to do. It’s just us and Miss Bobber, and the home we made for ourselves.
I rest my head against his shoulder as I scratch Miss Bobber behind her ears, and her soft purrs fill the quiet space. Liam’s hand slides onto my thigh, and we sit in the comforting silence as we gaze at the calm ocean outside.
Before we met, we were both navigating the rough waters of grief, guilt, and pain, running and hiding in a desperate attempt to tide over the relentless waves of what we couldn’t confront.
But now, the peaceful scene before us is a complete reflection of the peace found within us both.
Our storms have finally passed.