He paused minutely.

‘And now,’ he said, ‘we’re done with waiting. Done with finding. We can just enjoy, Ellen. Enjoy the rest of our lives together.’

His mouth lowered to hers and he kissed her softly, gently, before withdrawing. He felt her fingers tightening over his as his lips brushed hers, felt the sudden constricting of her throat, saw the misting of her eyes as he drew his head away.

‘So...’ he said, because he wanted to make sure—to make absolutely, totally sure of his future happiness...a happiness that was already flooding through him, soaking through every cell in his body, radiating from him like a beacon. ‘Have we finally...