He panted, his chest heaving as he took them to their sides, and tucked her curves neatly into his own contours; their bodies sated from the lovemaking.
“I love you too, Quinten,” Saige mumbled against his chest as she snuggled against him, their legs intertwined.
He held her against him, gentle caresses of his fingers trailed back and forth along her back while their breathing eased as their earlier passion turned into heart felt love.
“Saige?” he questioned, when a finger traced the largest scar that she’d been left with. He bent his head and placed a soft kiss to the puckered skin on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
She shook her head. “You had nothing to do with what happened to me…you have your own scars from that time as well.” Saige cupped his face in her hands and kissed his scarred cheek, most of which was hidden with his beard. She then lifted his hand and kissed along the scar he’d gotten breaking into the shack. “I love you.”
Her arms went around his neck as she laid her head against his shoulder, totally exhausted. He was still inside her as he tugged the quilt over them and snuggled her against him.
“Sleep, baby.”
* * *
3:00pm
* * *
Quinten had slept briefly with Saige in his arms, and although he hadn’t wanted to slip out of her silken sheath, he had, and left her sleeping.
He needed to clear the cobwebs inside his head, and to think, but so far he hadn’t done much of anything, other than to stare out across the ocean.
He might have his life back, but what kind of future did he have now that his name was known. No one would hire him, even though his name had been cleared. He was a craftsman and he knew that it was something he’d never forget, although he was probably rusty at it by now. He could get that back.
To get his life back they’d have to move faraway from Florida. At least he had the money that the government had confiscated when he’d been convicted. Surely they’d give it back after everything. He wasn’t rich by any means, but there’d be enough to live off for months while he searched for work...Saige would come with him though. Wouldn’t she? He smiled. She’d move wherever he wanted, just like he knew that he’d stay in Port Jude or Tampa if that was what she wanted.
“Hey.”
He heard the smile in her voice seconds before she snuggled beside him. “I was just thinking about you.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, needing that connection to her.
“What about me?” She grinned at him.
He laughed. “Not about you naked, at least, not right now.” He brushed her hair back from her face with his fingers. “I was thinking about our future, and how it might be better if we moved to a state where my name wouldn’t be recognized. I was wondering if you’d want to do that.” He covered her mouth with his, kissing her until she was breathless before she could answer. For some reason, now that he’d asked, he was terrified of what she would say.
“If you don’t want to move, then we’ll stay.”
“I think a move will do us both some good, and I think it will be best for you to start your business up again where people don’t know your history. You’ve been cleared of all charges, but people can be weird.” Saige wrapped her arms around his arm, and her head rested on his shoulder.
He was content to stay where they were, but knew that wasn’t an option. As long as Saige was by his side, then his life would always be complete.
“Will you come somewhere with me?” Saige asked quietly.
Quinten frowned, and met her gaze. “Of course. Where?”
Saige looked nervously out at the water and his own apprehension reared its head. “Tell me.” He cupped Saige’s chin and made her look at him. “I’m not going anywhere, so please talk to me, Saige.”
“I remember everything apart from my time in the hospital. Two years of my life are still lost. I want to know why the smell of cleaning chemicals makes me physically sick...I want to go and visit the hospital and, hopefully, get to read the records they have from my stay there.”
Quinten stayed silent as he felt his anger at Saige’s treatment begin to rise. He hated that she went through everything without him. He should have been there with her, but he wasn’t, through no fault of his own, but it still caused an ache in his heart.
“We’ll go together.” He lifted her into his lap and cuddled her to his chest. “Whatever happens from now on, we face it together.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “I love you, Saige. I never stopped, and it hurts deeply to know that I was kept away from you when you needed me the most.”
“I guess in a way, I had it easy because I’ve only recently remembered you and what we had back then. I feel guilty for that. All those years you sat on death row, remembering me, and I was trying to live my life knowing that something was missing but not knowing what.” Saige wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her sweatshirt and met his gaze. “I love you, Quinten. I loved you before and I love you now.” She smiled. “You’re stuck with me, honey.”
“That makes me happy.”