Her father had granted her request and had told her that she was strong, even when she doubted it. She was like her mother.
That had made her smile. She had always thought she was like her father, always seeing him as the stronger one out of her parents. Now she could see that she was like them both.
Her strength and resolve had come from both of them. She was a good soldier and she knew that she could make something of herself, could help her fellow soldiers and could make a difference just as her parents had. With Van at her side, she believed that she was strong enough to make the rank of captain.
But first there was the matter of getting married.
It had been her request to have the wedding on Varka Prime. She hoped that once they were there, Regis would grant Van time away from his duties and they could spend their leave together on the planet.
She pulled back and stared into Van’s eyes.
“Van?”
“Amerii?”
“When we’re married... what will my gift be?”
He smiled as though he knew the answer that she wanted. She wanted what Sophia and Regis had. She wanted the gift that Regis had given Sophia.
“The only gift I can give that is worthy of you,” Van whispered and pulled her back down to him. He kissed her throat and then her ear. He whispered into it, “Eternity.”
Her eyes closed on hearing that word and she smiled.
Soon the kiss he placed on her throat would be one that would last forever and give her a gift beyond her imagination.
A gift that she wanted above all others.
Van.
For all eternity.
“Amerii,” Van husked against her throat, kissing up it towards her jaw. She smiled lazily and held his mouth against her.
“Yes, my love?” she whispered and dipped her head to kiss his neck.
He took a deep breath.
“I love you.” There was a tremble to his voice that made the usual echo that laced it even stronger.
Amerii stopped and pulled back, a blush on her cheeks. “You do?”
Van nodded, a nervous look in his eyes that was quickly chased away by hunger when her hands came to rest against his chest.
“I love you too.” She leaned forwards, kissing him again and feeling light and hot inside. He loved her. She had seen it all in his eyes. He had realised his dream of feeling love. He had changed himself for her. Her stomach flipped and jigged, her heart thumping against her ribs. “How does it feel?”
He swallowed hard, pushed her off him and smiled into her eyes.
She smiled back at him. He was so handsome and he was all hers.
His smile widened.
“Like I am flying and falling at the same time.”
Her smile widened too on hearing her description of love on his lips. She knew that feeling well.
With a sigh, she leaned down again and kissed him, whispering against his lips, “Like flying and falling.”
But more than that.
It was flying and falling.
And knowing that Van would always catch her.
Always.
The End
###
About the author
Felicity Heaton is a great believer in love at first sight and the romantic ideal. Having grown up reading extensively, she developed a deep love of classical literature, ranking Jane Eyre, North & South, and Persuasion amongst her all time favourite reads. The most romantic moment of her life was when her husband got down on bended knee on the steps of Sacré Coeur, Paris, at night in front of several hundred spectators and proposed. She was too drunk on love, and subsequently champagne, to care about the audience. All she could see was the man that she loved. A writer of emotion and life, she always strives to touch a chord of familiarity in her readers and give them characters they can love and a read to remember.
Connect with me online:
Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/felicityheaton
Blog: http://felicityheaton.blogspot.com/
Daughters of Lyra: Heart of a Commander Page 12
