Page 156 of To Tango, with Desire

“Our marriage contract?” My heart trembled.

“Not quite. It’s the annulment clause. The stipulation that after twelve months, we could end this and walk away.”

Before I could react, he ripped the document in half.

“Zane!” I gasped. “What are you—”

Zane continued ripping until the pristine white pages fell to the floor.

He stepped over them, closing the distance between us. “I don’t want this hanging over our heads. I don’t want a fucking clause to our marriage, damn it. Don’t you see, Amira? I don’t want any of this bullshit between us. Not anymore.”

“But, what—”

I could barely hear him over the rushing of blood in my ears. So I stood, gaping at my husband, stunned to silence.

Zane gripped my shoulders. “Do I have to make myself any clearer, woman?”

“Why?”

“I want you. I want all of you, all of this. Goddamn it, Amira. I want you to be mine. Forever.”

I couldn’t stop the sudden trembling in my heart. I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

“I think I need a minute.”

“Amira.” He cupped my face now, his body so warm, so close.

“Why? Zane, why would—”

“Because I love you.”

I stared at his lips, not certain that I’d heard him correctly.

“You—”

“I. Love. You. Every day spent with you makes me love you more. These past few months have been agony.”

“Months?”

“I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. I know you might not feel the same way, but I needed to tell you. You deserve to be loved. You’re smart, kind, brave, beautiful. You deserve to be cherished and cared for, and I want to be the man to do it. Ever since I saw you, that very first time we danced, I knew there was something about you. Something that drew me to you. I know I’ve not been the best of husbands, but I promise you I want to be better. For you. For this marriage. I love you, Amira Hadid-Nasser. I don’t want any contract coming between us.”

I sobbed now, the emotions so overwhelming that I buried my head in his neck.

“Happy tears?”

“Yes.”

I shifted, suddenly needing to see his face. My heart was so full, because of him.

“I love you, too.”

Zane’s smile could have powered all the Christmas lights in town. He picked me up, twirling me around.

“You mean it?”

“I do.”

“You’re not just saying it because I said it first?”