A smile spread on her lips. “Children. I like the sound of that, Max.”
Max immediately stopped walking, and turned to her. He stared into her eyes and slowly caressed his fingers down the side of her face. “Me, too, Ella. Nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing you pregnant with our child.”
“Oh, Max, you say the loveliest things.”
“That’s because I love you.”
A sense of calm overwhelmed her. The right man had come from the most tragic of circumstances. “I love you, too, Max. I always will.”
He pulled her into his arms. “To know you wear my mark brings me such peace, too. It joins us together forever.”
“I feel so complete with your mark tattooed on me.” Ella touched her hip where Max’s initials had been inked into her skin. It was the exact same design as the one he wore. Each intricately woven letter bound them together like nothing else could. They might be married in the eyes of the law, and wear gold bands on their fingers, but it was the tattoo that truly emphasized the binding commitment they shared.
Ella handed the rose she held to Max. “Please accept this rose as a sign of my submission.” She knelt in front of him, and lowered her head out of love and respect.
Max tenderly held it in his hand, then stroked the delicate bud with his fingers. “I accept this rose as a sign of your submission.” His deep voice filled her with comfort. He cupped her chin and angled her face to his. Her heart sang with joy at the love she saw there. “Ella, to me you are like the fragile petals of this rose. You have many layers that I will delicately peel away, one by one. Come.” He pulled her upright and began leading her back to the hotel. “I’m sure they will take us a lifetime to discover.”