“You’re hiding something.” I blurt it out—I feel the words topple out of my mouth like stones tumbling down a hillside.

“Yes.”

My heart sinks. Pangs. “If you try to tell me you’re having an affair, I’ll just laugh. And then murder you in your sleep.”

He snorts. “Not in a million years, my love.” He gives me his eyes, open and frank, at least in this. “Never.”

I know it’s true. My heart knows it. “Then what?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet.”

“Adrian, please.”

He sets the bowl on the coffee table—the spoon clatters noisily. His eyes are gray, almost silver. Turns to face me, those eyes heavy, hiding something. Sadness, I can see it. Panic. Desperation.

For the first time since I met him, I don’t get what I ask for.

“Nadia…” He ducks his head. Seems to have trouble breathing. “Not yet. Please. I love you. More than I can ever—more than I can ever fucking express. I just…”

I palm his cheeks. “Make me a promise and I’ll let it go.”

“Okay?”

“You ask me for help, if it’s something I can give. Anything. My last breath, you ask for it—I’ll give it. You love me; you’re mine and no one else’s. You don’t leave me. Promise.”

This is, suddenly, everything.

One of those moments that are etched into your soul, a mile deep.

He blinks. Tugs away, ducks his head. “Everything I do, Nadia, I do for you. Never doubt that.”

“Adrian, you didn’t—”

A harsh sigh. He visibly rallies, gathers himself. Looks me in the eye, clear and strong. “I promise. Whatever you can do, I will let you do. I’ll ask. I’m yours. Totally. More now than when we exchanged rings. Forever, I’m yours. I will never…” he falters here. “I won’t leave you. I swear on my soul.”

“Okay.” I clutch him to me, and I feel him breathing hard. “Okay, Adrian.”

“Okay?”

I nod against his shoulder. “Okay.”

I want to hold him forever. As if to let go, now, is to somehow let go in some deeper metaphysical way I cannot truly grasp. But I do. I let him go. “Go back to work, babe. I can feel you needing it.”

“Just a little more. Then I’ll come to bed.”

“I work—”

“Seven to three tomorrow, noon to midnight Wednesday, seven to three Thursday and Friday, off the weekend.” He smirks. “I know your schedule before you do.”

I laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Creeper.”

He pauses at the door to his office, which I can see from my place on the couch. “Nadia.”

I pick up my book. Smile at him. “Yeah?”

“You’re cute. I like you.”

“You gonna keep me, then?”