Page 15 of Stolen Hours

She had nice luggage now, her own money, plus Jan’s money. They shared equally whatever they earned, and he never made her feel small for earning less as a waitress than he did as a jeweler.

“I’m safe. I’m happy. I know it. Sometimes I’m just afraid I’ll wake up and find out it was all a dream. Too good to be true.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Jan, letting him pull her into a tight hug. “Especially you. You’re my one wish come true.”

Jan held her, rocking from foot to foot. “I’m not letting you go. You don’t have to worry. If this were a dream, I’d find you in your sleep. Rumple took his true love—who was someone else’s queen at the time—and her child through time and space, crossing demonic portals and earthly oceans—just to keep her by his side. True love is like that.”

Diana blinked up at him, lost in the way her normally laid-back husband could weave images of powerful, death-defying love with just his words, the same way he could weave the finest golden chains out of thin air.

But.

“But she was a queen.”

“She was a farmer’s daughter when he met her. Waitress, weaver, queen... I don’t care about your job description, Diana. I care about the part where you love me and want me. You do, don’t you?”

“Of course!”

Jan nodded, hands sliding around her neck, thumbs massaging the tight knots that formed along her spine.

Diana loved this. This moment where she could just lean into her husband and let her cares melt away.

JAN SIGHED, THUMBSmaneuvering, mind wandering.

Thin gold tendrils caressed his wrists, flowed from his fingers, and laced over the back of Diana’s neck.

No! No, no, no!Jan snapped his fingers softly, and the gold wisps fell to the floor. He didn’t want to scare Diana by making her feel constricted. He shouldn’t wrap his magic around her.

To his surprise, Diana looked up at him, pouting. “Hey. Where’s my pretty net of golden fluff, Mister?”

“Hm? Oh. I... I didn’t mean to.”

“Oh? I liked it.”

Jan’s eyebrows arched in surprise, but he quickly hid it, kissing Diana’s neck as his hands slid down her arms, stroking her wrists. Magic flowed, a light, bright gold weaving around her wrists and binding her to him.

“Jan.”

“Argh. I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Diana licked her tongue over his lips, moving her mouth along his jawline and down his throat.

“Um. Well. Because of what happened with... The past boyfriend who hurt you—”

“Never tied me to him with pretty golden chains while spoiling me and telling me he would move heaven and hell for me. He tried to force me to stay with him through fear and intimidation.”

“I’d never force you to do anything!”

“I know that. Seems like your magic understands exactly what I want. I want to belong to you. With you. And I like that you’re equally attached to me.”

“Equally attached?” Jan shook his head. Did she not understand, even now? “Diana—you’re a human. You could end up with so many people, and most of them would be good for you. Great, even. Any man with a brain would think he was lucky to have you. But for me—one of Rumple’s descendants? Only one woman in the universe could be my one. Only one woman would have to work to learnthe secret of my name, and only my name on your lips could break that curse and lead to true love. You don’t have to worry about me going anywhere, Di. I’myours!” Jan held up his wrist. A sturdy (yet elegant) gold shackle had formed around his wrist—and the delicate thread of gold around Diana’s wrist now sported one old-fashioned-looking key with a heart-shaped head.

“Oh! Oh, Jan.” Diana gasped and gently slid the bracelet over her wrist. Sure enough, the key fit perfectly in Jan’s cuff. “But you’re not m-my prisoner.” She looked horrified at the thought.

“No! Unless you mean prisoner of love,” he winked.

“Ooh. That could be fun.” Diana wiggled her hips, cheeks flushed.

“You think so?”

“With you? I know so. Besides—if I’m your prisoner of love, I definitely will stop trying to text and email all of my various sub-committee people.”