“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, nudging open the door of his bedroom with his hip before placing her on her feet before him. Instead of standing with her, however, he knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Juliet. We’ve been through so much together.”
Her eyes widened as she realized what he was doing, but she simply agreed, “we have,” before allowing him to continue. She assumed he had spent some time on this speech, and she wanted to enjoy every minute of it.
“When we were together… before… we were young. I was stupid. You weren’t. You were never stupid. But I made a lot of mistakes. The biggest one, of course, was leaving you.”
“You can stand if that’s more comfortable,” she said, and he nodded, getting to his feet before drawing her over to the bed, sitting her down upon it while he took her hands in his and held them in his lap.
“Thanks,” he said, grinning sheepishly. “It didn’t take quite so long when I said it in my head.” He cleared his throat and continued. “I thought I was doing the right thing, I really did.”
On that, Juliet couldn’t help but interrupt him. “I know, Xander, I do. You don’t have to apologize anymore, really. I understand.”
“I still have to say it,” he insisted. “I thought I was doing it out of love. I thought you would be better off without me. But I should have chosen instead to leave the life and go with you. Because life without you… well it was not anywhere near as beautiful as it was with you. I didn’t realize how much you were a part of me, how much I needed you. Loving you was not something that I could turn on or off. It was not a decision I could make. It was — it is — as natural as breathing.”
Juliet’s own breath caught in her throat at his declaration. She understood — oh, did she understand — and yet, she had never thought Xander would be able to put it so eloquently into words.
“I feel the same,” she said, squeezing his hands, loving everything he was saying and yet also wanting to know what the end result of this speech was going to be.
“When I saw you again, I realized just how much I missed you, how much I needed you, how important it was that I never let you go again. I was a fool, Juliet, but at least I have learned from my mistake.”
He slid from the bed to both knees now, kneeling between her legs, looking up at her earnestly with her hands still clasped within his.
“You are the perfect woman.”
“Oh, Xander, I am anything but perfect,” she protested, unable to help herself, but he shook his head.
“Very well. You are the perfect woman for me. You are courageous and headstrong, loyal and determined, and you care for people more deeply than I could ever imagine. What you did for Annabelle, the fact that you are willing to forgive Arie for everything he has ever done or said to you — it says so much about who you are, Juliet. And I love you for it. I love everything about you.”
He inched ever closer to her now, wrapping his arms around her hips, interlacing them behind her.
“I cannot imagine the rest of my life without you. Will you be my wife? I promise I will never leave you. I promise I will be true to you, and choose you above all others. I love you with every part of my being, and I will spend the rest of my days making you happy, if you will only say yes.”
Juliet’s eyes were so covered in tears that his visage had become quite blurred below, but it didn’t matter, for she would always find him — no matter what. She leaned down and took his cheeks between her hands.
“I love you too, Xander,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “And yes, of course I will marry you. You are mine as I am yours. I welcome all of the other people who will enrich our lives along the way, but you — I cannot live without you. I tried, and it didn’t turn out very well.”
Xander let out a whoop of glee as, in one motion, he stood and lifted her up in his arms, turning around and around, swirling her in the air until they both fell upon the bed in such a tangle of limbs that it was hard to know where one of them began and the other one ended.
Which, Juliet felt, represented how the two of them, their hearts and souls, were intertwined. They had always been so, but they had allowed others to convince them they were better off apart. While Juliet would never want to relive her experience at the baron’s again, she would do so if it meant bringing her back to Xander. She was just grateful that they had found one another once more, and she would never lose sight of what was important.
Xander’s lips found hers, and there was no soft teasing or tasting, but rather an onslaught of all the emotion within him as his lips pressed against hers with a hunger that Juliet felt in equal measure. She kissed him back fiercely, hardly able to believe the ferocity of her need for him, as he completed her in every way possible.
She loved him more than words could say, which was why she was so grateful that if she couldn’t tell him, she could show him — and he seemed more than eager to do the same.
Juliet couldn’t have said how they lost their clothing, but soon enough it was in a pile on the floor next to them, and she was laid out on the bed before him as he stared down at her, looking at her as though he was feasting his eyes on the crystal necklace itself.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head at the seriousness that had overtaken his usually affable face. “It’s not as though you have never seen me naked before.”
“No,” he said, smoothing a hand down her face, her neck, then along the side of her body, leaving tingles in his wake. “But I’ve never seen you like this with the knowledge that I will always be able to do so — that I won’t have another day in which I will be wondering where you are, if you are all right, if you miss me in the same way that I long for you.”
Juliet could feel the tears now sliding down her face as she stared at the planes of his, replete in the knowledge and the trust they now shared. She could hardly believe that she had so adamantly denied him, had convinced herself that she didn’t need him, that she would be fine without him. How wrong she had been.
“Never,” she swore vehemently, and with that he let out a growl of need and descended upon her, his lips taking hers as his hands seemed to be everywhere at once.
“Xander,” she gasped as he left her mouth and began kissing his way down her body, finding all of the places that became sensitive at his touch — the side of her neck, the groove of her hip, the soft skin behind her knee. “I need you.”
“I know. I need you too.”
She reached down and grabbed his face, bringing him up to see her.
“But right now — I need you.”
His eyes turned dark as understanding dawned, and he grinned at her wolfishly. “Oh do you now?”
She nodded, her throat thick with desire.
“Let me check,” he said, and she groaned when his hands found her, working into her so slowly that she thrust up to meet him, demanding more.
“Xander!” she gasped. “Not like this. I need you.”
“Oh, very well,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “If you insist.”
He withdrew his fingers, but before she could bemoan the loss of them, he swiftly plunged into her, stretching her, filling her so completely that she cried out at the wondrous sensation of it.
She met his gaze, which was no longer teasing but hungry, the tight, toned muscles of his chest and neck straining as he held himself just above her while he thrust into her over and over, as she met him each time, her arms coming up to hold tight to his biceps.
He was hers. And would be for the rest of their lives. It was near impossible to believe, after everything they had been through.
He seemed to be thinking the same as she was, for he leaned down and took her lips with his, as passionately as he took her body. They were fused together in every way, and it was that very thought that threw Juliet over the edge, as there was no slow build up but rather an explosion as she came around him, which sent him right along with her.
Juliet didn’t know how long they stayed
in the same position, unmoving, both astonished at the depths of what had just occurred between them, until Xander finally lowered himself down, framing her face between his arms before he turned over onto his side and lay there, gently stroking the hair away from her face as he studied her.
“How soon would you like to be married?” he murmured, and she smiled at the question.
“I suppose it doesn’t overly matter, for not much will change once we are wed, will it?” she scrunched up her nose, thinking on it.
“Of course it will!” he surprised her by exclaiming with much passion, lifting himself up on an elbow as he stared down at her. “Everything will change. We will be tied together — for life.”
Juliet tried not to smile at just how much it meant to him, but it did fill her with an unimaginable warmth. “I know, and I agree. I just meant… I suppose I will be living here with you now, even before we are married? We are promised to one another.”
“We are,” he said, lowering himself back down again, “and I have to tell you, that in every way besides in the church’s eyes, I am married to you. But I still long to see you share my name, to hear your vows in front of God and all those who love us.”
“Then I suggest we get married as soon as possible.”
“I will contact the vicar about the banns tomorrow,” he said, settling himself back down on the pillow.
“What do you suppose Arie will think about all of this?” she asked hesitantly.
“It doesn’t matter,” Xander said vehemently, as she knew he would. “We will be married regardless.”
“Yes,” she said carefully, appreciating what he was saying and yet knowing that there was more to it. “But I know how much it would mean to you to have his blessing. And the truth is, it means much to me as well. He is your family, Xander, and no matter what, you will always have a hole in your life if he isn’t there.”
Xander sighed and threw an arm up over his face.
“I suppose you’re right. You usually are. But if he has anything to say to the contrary, then it is his loss.”
“Very well.”
“Calli is going to be shocked once I talk to her.”
Juliet smiled. “I can hardly wait to see her again.”
Xander nodded, before he became somewhat contemplative. “What are we going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“With our lives,” he said. “I don’t know that I want to keep up this business for the rest of my years. It’s a young man’s game, and I don’t know that either of us want to continue to worry about what’s going to become of the other.”
“No,” Juliet said slowly, “You’re right about that. Though after this long, it’s hard to imagine living a life on the straight and narrow.”
“And then there’s children to consider.”
Juliet placed a hand on her stomach, smiling at the thought. “There is.” She thought for a moment. “What about this. Perhaps we try to find a way forward, to build a life without the constant danger. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t help your family when required. What do you think?”
“I think… that sounds like a fine idea,” Xander said before leaning down and kissing her again. “Now, I think we’ve done enough talking for one night.”
Juliet let out a little squeal as he wrapped his arms around her and began to show her once more just how much he was done with the discussion.
* * *
Xander was pleasantly surprised to find that Arie, in fact, did not need much convincing.
“So,” Arie said as they sat down together at the breakfast table the next morning. Unlike what they had witnessed in the baron’s household, the family here took the meal together, not whenever each of them felt like rising, “when are you going to be married?”
Xander and Juliet exchanged a look of surprise. “Ah… as soon as the banns are read, I suppose,” Xander said, overcome by Arie’s apparent change in attitude. “How did you know?”
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” Arie said in annoyance. “I am aware that the two of you are determined to be together, and I am not about to stand in your way. You might as well be married.”
“Thank you, Arie,” Juliet murmured, but Xander considered him for another minute.
“Not that you would stand between us anyway — would you?” he said, arching an eyebrow, and Arie took another bite of eggs before he answered them, staring at them without expression.
“No, I don’t suppose I would. Not anymore,” he said, and Xander nearly chuckled. Apparently, that was all they were going to get out of Arie. But it would have to be enough. “Besides,” Arie continued, “I wouldn’t want anyone living in sin under my roof.”
Damien nearly choked on the piece of bread he was stuffing into his mouth at that, and Xander pounded him on the back to help him get it out as the door opened and they looked up to find Calli walking through the door, alone but for her growing stomach.
“It seems I have interrupted something,” she said, before her eyes alighted on Xander and the woman beside him. “Juliet!”
She rushed around the table as quickly as was possible given her condition and reached down, wrapping her arms around her. “Oh, goodness, it has been far too long. I’ve missed you. As has Xander, although I do hope he has told you that already. What are you doing here? Did you finally decide to forgive my foolish brother? Oh, Xander, Damien, what happened with the jewels at the old baron’s house?”
She seemed to realize herself that there was no possible way they could keep up with her questions, for she laughed and clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I just… it’s all quite surprising. Perhaps begin by telling me how you came to find one another again.”
She pulled out the remaining empty chair from around the long table, settling in for the story as she filled her plate.
Juliet looked to Xander, and between the two of them they began to share all — well, nearly all — that had happened since they both found themselves seeking out the baron’s jewels. Calli’s eyes were wide by the end of their tale, which took until she finished her breakfast.
“That is utterly romantic,” she said with a smile as she placed her hand on Juliet’s arm. “And now?”
“Now we are going to be married,” Xander said with a wide grin.
“Oh!” Calli exclaimed, clasping her hands together, “how soon?”
“A few weeks after the banns are read, I suppose,” Xander said, leaning back in his chair.
“Oh, good,” Calli said. “Before the Season is finished, then, which means we will all still be here in London. How perfect. Now, if there is anything you need…”
As his sister continued talking to Juliet, now basically ignoring him, Xander sat back and took it all in. His family. The love of his life. All here together. He didn’t think he could ever be happier, nor had he ever expected anything like this to come to pass. Now he just had to decide what the future might hold.
Epilogue
Juliet looked around the small shop. She wanted to make sure everything was just right.
She began one last walk around the room, running her hands over the top of the glass of the display cases, inspecting each and every jewel to ensure it was perfect.
Her heart fluttered as she hoped beyond all reason that this would work, that they would find success, that people would trust a trio of jewel thieves.
But then, most who frequented the store would have no idea who they really were.
“Ready?” The smile was already on Juliet’s face just at his voice, and she turned as Xander walked into the showroom from the back, wrapping his arm around her waist and squeezing her tightly into his side.
“Where’s Annabelle?”
“Hiding,” Xander said with a laugh. “She said she’s too nervous to come out. She doesn’t want to see the expression on people’s faces when they look at her work.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Juliet exclaimed. “The only expressions they will be
wearing are those of pure awe at the work of the finest jeweller in London.”
“I agree with you,” Xander said with a shrug. “But try telling her that.”
“Not to worry, I will,” Juliet said sternly.
“But first,” Xander said, holding up a finger, “it’s one o’clock. Which means—”
“It’s time.”
Juliet let out the breath she had been holding. “Are you going to open the door?’
“I think you should do it.”
“But—”
“This is all because of you,” Xander said. “You know that I would have worked to support you had that been what you wanted. But you told me, idle hands and all that, so here we are. Now that I see it — and see you — I know this is what you were meant to do.”
“What we were meant to do.”
“Exactly. I still think you should open the door.”
Juliet nodded and then walked over and unlocked the door, before flipping the sign in the window to “Open.” Before she could return to Xander, the door creaked open, revealing a horde of people waiting to enter. People Juliet recognized.
“You came!” Xander said, walking forward and shaking the hands of his brothers, sisters, and brother-in-law.
“Of course we came,” Calli said, holding the hand of Mary, one of the two children she had taken on like her own when she had married the duke.
Juliet immediately sank into a curtsy at the appearance of said duke, who she had only met briefly at their wedding. “Your Grace, thank you so much for coming.”
“I could never miss seeing Xander enter into a legitimate business,” said the duke, who’s face remained stoic, although Juliet didn’t miss the twinkle in his eye when he regarded his brother-in-law. She had been astonished when Xander revealed that he and his brother-in-law had developed quite an amiable relationship. From what she could tell, they were as different as two men could be — but they both loved Calli, which is what mattered most, she had come to realize. “As to where the money came from to back this business, I would rather not know,” he finished grimly, and Juliet had to keep from laughing as Arie snorted behind him.
A Jewel for the Taking: Thieves of Desire Book 2 Page 17