"Love conquers all things; let us surrender to love."
Virgil

Cindy

After being diagnosed with a mild concussion and receiving a few stitches to my head, Sam and I returned home from the emergency room. The only medication recommended by the doctor was Extra Strength Tylenol and rest.

Sam is hovering and taking care of my every need. Most days, his constant attention would annoy me, but not today. We both need to be close to each other after the horrific ordeal that we just experienced.

I feel the warmth of Sam's embrace from behind me. "Your bath is ready, Babe."

He gently pulls my hair away from my neck and brushes his soft lips against the sensitive spot behind my ear, causing me to shiver at his touch.

My breath hitches, and a soft moan escapes my lips, "Mmm, Sam."

I tilt my head to give him full access and encourage him to continue his sweet assault.

Sam slowly removes my clothes right where I stand. "As much as I would love to continue this in the bedroom, you have a bath waiting."

I release a lustful purr as his hands touch my bare skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

I slant my head back and bat my eyelashes unashamedly. "How about you join me in the tub?"

I can feel Sam's deep chuckle through his chest against my naked back.

He kisses my shoulder with loving tenderness. "You're to be resting, my love."

I sigh with resignation. "Can't we both rest?" I plead, sounding like a whining child.

Sam places his calloused hand on the small of my back and steers me into the candle-lit bathroom. The dimness and bubbles filling the tub calm me immediately. He takes my hand to keep me steady as I step into the tub; I sink into the welcoming warmth and get lost in the bubbles.

Sam laughs as he waves bubbles away from my face. "I think I might have used too much soap."

"You think?" I giggle as I blow bubbles out of my line of sight.

"I'll be right back," Sam promises as he continues to laugh down the hall.

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, careful not to breathe in the suds still surrounding my face. Relief fills me as my tense muscles relax from the stress of the last twenty-four hours. As I soak, I can't help but play it all back in my mind.

What a waste! It crushes me that it ended the way it did. A wife is now without her husband, and a child is without her father. If only Robert had made different choices, he would be close to getting out of prison for involuntary manslaughter. Instead, he went after my family and me. Would he have gone through with killing me? I would hope not. I know how torn he was about it and kept claiming not to be a murderer, but he did show up with a gun and told me that it was time. Robert was a desperate man, and desperation caused him to do reckless things.

Sam returns naked; my eyes go wide, and my jaw drops when I gasp in surprise.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," I say as a pleased grin spreads across my soapy face.

I take my sweet time gazing at my man, who's wearing nothing but a sexy smirk. I love how his lips curl slightly up, and his gray eyes sparkle with mischief. My eyes slowly move down his well-defined muscular chest when I am rudely interrupted.

"Like what you see?" He says as his lips turn up more, morphing into a flirty smile.

"Yup!" I confess, popping the 'p' with my puckered lips.

"Did you even notice the refreshments?" Sam quirks an eyebrow and pushes his hands forward, displaying a tray with a bottle of Merlot and a charcuterie board of cheeses, meats, fruit, and crackers.

My eyes go to the tray. "Perfect."

Sam's brows furl. "Me or the refreshments?"

"Both!" I declare happily without hesitation.

Sam chuckles as he places the tray on the corner of our oversized garden tub. I shift my body forward to make room for him. He brushes away bubbles, glides in behind me, and wraps his strong arm around my waist while kissing the back of my head. I lean back into him, place my head on his shoulder, and emit a contented sigh.

He removes a hand from my waist and reaches for the bottle of wine, then hands it to me.

I grab the bottle around the long neck. "No glasses?"

"I think this occasion calls for a drink it right out of the bottle kind of night," he explains, and I couldn't agree more.

I bring the bottle to my lips and take an un-lady-like gulp. "Good call, Babe," I praise while handing him the bottle.

While he takes a swig, I grab a handful of grapes and pop them into my mouth. We had a quick sandwich at the hospital while waiting for the doctor, but I was still hungry.

Sam and I take turns sipping from the bottle while we silently eat. Just feeling the rise and fall of his chest is all I need at this moment. His one hand is still hidden under the water, securely placed around my waist, and he is drawing circles on my slick, wet skin with his thumb.

After several minutes, Sam breaks the silence. "I was so fucking scared that I lost you today," his voice cracks with emotion. "One thing that this experience has made me realize is that life is too short, and I don't want to waste another minute of it without making you mine."

Snuggling in closer, I give his arm a reassuring squeeze. "I'm yours, Sam. Always and forever."

I feel his heated breath upon my neck as he exhales, causing me to shudder.

"What I'm saying, Cindy, is that I want to make you my wife and give you the world because that's what you have given me with your love."

His other hand comes out of the water covered in suds. I see a glimmer on his pinkie finger as the bubbles gradually dissipate. I stare in shock as a stunning princess-cut solitaire diamond ring slowly emerges.

Sam places his lips so close to my ear that I can again feel each breath he takes before he speaks barely above a whisper, "Cynthia Anne Powell, will you make me the happiest man in this tub by saying yes to marrying me?"

Love and excitement burst from my heart that only beats for him.

"Yes!" I shriek my answer to the man who has just made me the happiest woman in this tub.

Sam maneuvers his other arm across the front of my body. He slips the ring off of his pinkie before taking my left hand into his. He gently slides the perfect symbol of love and devotion onto my ring finger.

"It's beautiful," I murmur breathlessly.

Sam brings my newly jeweled hand to his soft lips."Not nearly as beautiful as you, Babe. Not even close."

I turn my body to face him, straddling his lap, and cup his handsome bearded face with my soapy hands. Pulling his inviting lips to mine, I pour everything into this kiss. Sam releases a sinful moan as I nip at his lower lip, then slip my tongue across to soothe it. He takes this opportunity to plunge his velvety tongue into my mouth while grasping my ass and squeezing it, resulting in me squealing with delight.

Our bodies move languidly with just enough friction to ignite the heat pulsing through me while our tongues dance to the rhythm of our movement.

Sam tangles his hands in my hair, tugging at it while deepening our kiss. We're unwilling to let this moment go until no more air is in our lungs.

I whimper when Sam grudgingly pulls his lips away and places his forehead against mine, both of us panting for much-needed oxygen.

"I love you so damn much and can't wait till you become Mrs. Cindy Kidwell." His husky voice resonates deep within my heart.

"I love you, too," I choke out as my emotions take over and happy tears run down my heated cheeks.

Sam wipes my tears with his wet thumb, and we laugh as he pulls me into a tight hug.

Sam releases me and slides me off of his lap. I whimper from the loss of contact with his warmth and shiver from the cooling water surrounding my body.

Sam stands and reaches his hand down to me. "Come on, Baby. I want to show you just how much I love you."

My eyebrows lift as my mouth twists into a smirk. "What about the doctor's orders to rest?"

"Trust me, all you have to do is lay back and let me do all the work."

I take my future husband's hand, and he leads me to our bed, dripping wet with suds sliding down our bodies.

Sam lays me down gently, bestowing me more passionate love than I ever thought possible. I am one of the luckiest women alive to have a man who cherishes all of me: my mind, body, and soul.