Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [128]
Gabe took a step closer and reached out and touched her wet cheek. He immediately knew she had misunderstood what he’d said. “The reason it’s not good enough anymore, Sage,” he decided to clarify, “is because I think we would be shortchanging ourselves if the next level is all we’re aiming for. If you love me the way I love you, then you would agree.”
Tears ran down Sage’s cheeks. “Agree to what?”
“Agree that there won’t be any levels between us. I want a solid relationship, one built solely on love and trust and not levels. You are the woman I want in my life forever, till death do us part and all that good stuff.”
Sage smiled through her tears. “And I want you in my life forever, that till death do us part and all that good stuff, too,” she said softly. “You were right, Gabe. We do belong together. I don’t want to belong to any other man but you. I love you so much.”
Gabe took another step forward, bringing her thigh to thigh with him. “And I love you so much, too.” He placed his finger under her chin and lifted it to meet his lips. Sage melted into him, needing his touch as much as she needed to breathe.
She mated her tongue with his hungrily, realizing that eleven days apart had caused a wave of desire to consume her as well as him. His mouth was hot, his body aroused, and he was sending signals to her that she interpreted. He needed to make love to her just as much as she needed him to make love to her.
When she heard the clearing of someone’s throat, she pulled away and blushed, wondering who had caught them in such an overindulgent situation. She almost dropped when she turned and saw it was Gabe’s mother.
“I see you found him,” Joella Blackwell said, smiling brilliantly at Sage.
Sage nodded, clearly embarrassed that the woman had come upon her and Gabe literally kissing their mouths off. Before Sage could think of anything to say, Gabe pulled her closer into his arms, wrapped his hands firmly around her waist and answered in a voice that was filled with deep emotion, “No, Mom, I found her. I found the woman I’ve been waiting my whole life for, and she’s my perfect fit.”
EPILOGUE
One year later
“Welcome to Eden, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell.”
“Thanks, and we’re glad to be back,” Gabe said to the smiling hotel receptionist.
Sage glanced around the immaculate hotel, completely in awe. Everything was beautiful, pristine, impeccable and elegant, from the rich-looking carpeting on the floor to the expensive curtains adorning each window. She glanced up at her husband and smiled, proud of both of their contributions in making Eden a reality.
They had married two weeks ago in Charlotte and had immediately left to get lost at sea when they took an Alaskan cruise where they had watched from their private balcony as eagles dived for fish in Alaska’s Inside Passage and marveled at the Alaskan glaciers they passed. Seeing a glimpse of Glacier Bay and the orcas at play in the icy waters had been breathtaking. But nothing, Sage thought, was more breathtaking and beautiful than the man she was now married to.
And now they were in Eden and would be staying a week preparing for the grand opening celebration. John Landmark had spared no expense for the huge gala affair. Then a week after the official opening, her resignation from the Denmark Corporation would go into effect, leaving a capable Malcolm in charge. She would be spending time traveling with Gabe and acting as marketing manager for the Regency Corporation, a position she looked forward to.
But no position, she thought, was more important than being Gabe’s wife. The wedding had been an extravagant affair, which had made her mother, as well as Gabe’s mother, extremely happy. It seemed that Joella Blackwell had been looking forward to the day her son married just as much as Delores had been looking forward to hers. The two women had become good friends over long distance and even visited each other during the year Sage and Gabe had given them to plan the event.
Sage had had eight bridesmaids which included her cousins, Ginger and Cinnamon,