Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [102]
“I wouldn't do that.” Her voice was uneven. “I'd never hurt you.”
“You did a pretty good job. Turn around, dammit.”
She took a deep breath and turned to face him.
“What kind of note was this?” He threw a balled piece of paper at her feet. “No good-bye. No reason. No it's been good to know you. Just take care of the dolphins.”
“Is that why you came halfway around the world? Because you're angry?”
“It's reason enough.” He took four steps and grasped her shoulders. “Why did you leave?”
“I had to come back to the island and pack up. I can't live here anymore.”
“And where were you going?”
“I'll find a job someplace. I'm qualified.”
“But not back to me.”
“It would depend.”
“On what?”
“On whether you wanted me enough. On whether you followed me.”
“Some kind of a test?” His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Yes, I want you enough. I'd follow you to hell and back. Is that what you want to hear?”
Joy soared through her. “Yes.”
“Then why the hell did you take off? I would have told you that when I got back to the ship. All you had to do was talk to me.”
“I had to give you the choice. You could have read the note and said, ‘To hell with the rude bitch.' I gave you the out.”
“Why?”
“I promised you I wouldn't hold you.”
“I've been the one who's been holding tight.”
“But you had no reason now. You have Marinth. Archer is dead. I had to be the reason. The only reason.” She looked him in the eye. “Because I'm worth it, Kelby. I can give you more than Marinth, but you have to give me what I need.”
“And that is?”
“I . . . think I love you.” She moistened her lips. “No, I do love you. It's just hard for me to say.” She took a deep breath. This was even harder for her to say. “And I don't want to be alone anymore.”
“Jesus.” He drew her close and buried her head in his shoulder. “Melis . . .”
“You don't have to say you love me. I promised I wouldn't—”
“Screw your promise. I never asked for it. I don't want it.” He kissed her, hard. “I don't want to be alone either. You had me on the ropes even before we left this place.” He cupped her face in his two hands. “Listen to me. I do love you. I would have told you a long time ago if I hadn't been afraid you'd skip out on me. You were so grateful that we were so beautifully noncommittal.”
“It was only fair to you.”
“I don't want you to be fair. I want you to make love to me and eat with me and sleep with me.” He paused. “And when you're absolutely sure I'm the one who you want to spend the next seventy years with, I want a cast-iron commitment. Understand?”
A brilliant smile lit her face. “I don't need to wait to be sure.”
“Yes, you do. Because there's no going back with me. You saw how I was about Marinth. Multiply that into infinity and you'll see how hard I'd make it for you to leave me.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead. “You'd have to go live with the dolphins.”
“I don't have the lungs for it.”
“Then you'd better stick with me.”
She put her head on his chest. She whispered, “I think you're right.”
They left Lontana's Island the next evening.
As the boat picked up speed after stopping at the nets, Melis looked back at the island shimmering in twilight haze.
“It's a beautiful place,” Kelby said quietly. “You're going to miss it.”
“For a while.”
“I'll buy you another island. Bigger, better.”
She smiled. “That sounds like you. I don't want an island. Not now. I want to stay on the Trina with you.” She frowned. “Can't you change that name?”
“Henpecked already. Shall I name it after you?”
“Heavens, no.”
“Our first child?”
Her eyes widened. “Maybe,” she said cautiously. “You are thinking of commitment.”
He grinned. “I didn't say our third or fifth.”
“Perhaps Trina's a fine name for a while.”
“Coward.”
“You have Marinth to bring to life. I have to study the dolphins that live there. I have an idea they're going to be different from any I've ever observed. We're going to be busy.”
“And you have to take care of Pete and Susie.”
She nodded. “Always.