Richard gave a low, disbelieving laugh.
"Flirt with other women, you know." she added.
"That is never going to be me, love," he said. "Never. I do not want freedom from you. I want you in every room I enter. I want to wake and find you beside me." His thumb brushed lightly along her cheek. "I want to know you are safe. I want to be the man you look for without thinking. I want to always see you light up whenever I am around."
Livia's smile trembled. Richard leaned in then. Then his mouth met hers in a hopeful kiss. She kissed him back with equal passion, and Richard nearly broke apart from the relief of it.
God.
She kissed him like she had missed breathing and found it in him. Richard's hands tightened carefully at her waist.
When she leaned into him, when her fingers brushed his coat and her mouth softened beneath his, hope rose in him like a fool.
