Page 6 of Conquering the Skies
Marcus groaned. “You’re not making this easy for me, you know.”
“I do know. But you’re the one who showed up on my doorstep wanting to talk, so you might as well come out with it.”
He flopped back against the cushions. “Way back when you first returned to Pasurea after all your years away and we reconnected, and no one wanted to make you have to choose between Ash and me, we all explained everything by saying we were young, we were having a good time, we didn’t have to make any long-lasting decisions…but everything seems so different now.”
Geneva tapped her chin. “Aside from the addition of Adele, I don’t think it’sthatdifferent.”
“Exactly.” Concern creased his forehead. “But marriage is a big step.”
“To some people, sure. To others, it’s just a formality for a relationship which is already solid.”
“What if she changes her mind about our relationship with you and Ash? What happens when we want to start a family? How long can we really keep doing what we’re doing?” Marcus rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger. “You’re right. For some people, getting married is little more than a symbolic gesture or a change in legal status. But what if, since the stakes are higher, it marks the end of our bit of youthful fun, or whatever we’re calling it?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “Again, I don’t think I’m the one you should be talking to about all of this. I certainly don’t know what Adele is going to want in the future.”
He peered at her through his fingers. “Yes, but it rather spoils the romantic aspect of a proposal if we’re listing all our terms and conditions like we’re closing a business deal, no?”
She snorted out a short laugh. “Having never been in the position, I can’t say for sure, but I would think there’s a lot you have to discuss and agree upon before marrying someone.”
“True.” He leaned against the arm of the sofa and propped his chin up with one hand. “What about you and Ash? Have you ever talked about—”
“No, not really.” A smirk curled one side of her mouth. “We’re still living our sordid life of carefree indiscretions…whenever we’re on the same planet for long enough anyway.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “I know you mean more to each other than that, but I’m not going to pry.”
“Thanks.” Geneva rested one foot on her opposite knee and picked at the cuff of her sock. “Talk to Adele. It doesn’t have to be part of any grand gesture; frame it as making sure you’re on the same page moving forward. Depending on what she says, you can plan accordingly.”
He averted his gaze again. “What if she doesn’t tell me what I want to hear?” he mumbled.
“Then you’re going to have some other decisions to make, ones I can’t help you with.”
Marcus looked at the rug, saying nothing.
She blew out a long stream of air. “Hypothetically, if she did tell you once you’re a responsible distinguished married couple, the utmost paragons of high society, Ash and I will no longer be invited into your bedroom, would you still want to marry her?” When he didn’t answer right away, she rolled her eyes. “If it helps any, don’t forget how you basically made the same choice already when Ash and I were stuck on Kasarad, and you were prepared to devote yourself to your new exclusive relationship.”
“I probably deserve that,” he said. Straightening, he swept the hair away from his forehead. “Yes. Yes, I think I would. I do love her, and I’d do anything for her.”
Geneva extended her arms and turned up her palms. “So, I’ll ask you again—what’s the problem here?”
His brows knit together. “We were joking around about it earlier, but since I’m giving it more careful consideration, maybe I did come here to ask for your blessing.”
She drew back from him, scrunching up her face. “Seriously? You don’t need to ask my permission to get married, of all things.”
“No, but…” The corner of his mouth twitched. “I guess I wanted to make sure everything’s okay between us. Thatwe’reokay.”
“Aren’t we?”
With a wave of his hand, Marcus indicated the space between the sofa and her chair. “I mean, considering how you won’t even sit next to me, you can’t deny there’s been some distance between us lately.”
She stared at him for an endless moment. Sighing, she pushed off the chair and shuffled across the rug. He inched over to give her more room, and she wedged herself between him and the arm of the sofa. Angling his head toward her, he offered her a shy smile and, in an instant, it seemed as if every dilemma or obstacle they’d ever faced during the entire time they’d known each other dissipated into the growing shadows.
Geneva reclined against the corner and draped one arm across the back of the cushions. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he snuggled alongside her, resting his head on her shoulder. “I love you, too, you know,” he said, his voice partially muffled by her chest. “As a longtime friend, former partner, intimate companion…every form you’ve taken in my life.”
“Careful, there.” She tried to keep her tone airy. “I don’t know if your future fiancée would appreciate hearing you say those things.”
“It’s nothing I wouldn’t say in front of her.” His grasp on her tightened. “You’ll always be special to me, and Adele knows and accepts that.”
She combed her fingers through his hair in lazy strokes. “I suppose there’s a part of me which will always love you as well.”