Sean refills his glass and Brax's. They swallow all of it again.
Zara exhales through her nose. It's almost a laugh but she suppresses it.
Sean puts his tumbler back on the table and leans back. "Big commitment."
"Love demands it," Brax replies smoothly, sliding his hand higher on my thigh. "You of all people should know."
Zara's mouth twitches so fiercely she puts her hand over it, her eyes beaming bright.
Sean's face hardens. He wags his finger between us. "They're going to push the limits to make sure this is real."
"Oh, it's real," Brax says, his thumb shifting higher.
I force myself not to shift in my seat, and lift my chin, grounding the story. "We're prepared. We'll pass their tests."
Sean's eyes sharpen. He warns, "Make sure you do."
Brax's grip tightens around my thigh. "We will."
Zara hits the buzzer.
The flight attendant appears. "Can I get you something, Mrs. O'Malley?"
"Champagne. The good one, please."
"Yes, ma'am." The attendant rushes off.
She redirects her gaze to Brax's hand on my thigh, then adds, "Never thought I'd see you getting married." She smirks at him.
He slings an arm around me and tugs me against him. "What can I say? Can't keep my hands off my little Minx." He turns his arrogant daggers on me.
Heat rushes through my bloodstream.
The attendant returns with a silver bucket containing an open, chilled bottle. She pours generous glasses, the bubbles rising in a stream. She hands one to Zara and me, then starts to pour another.
"We'll stick to whiskey," Sean interjects.
She puts it back into the bucket. "Very well. Can I get you anything else?"
"That will be all. Thank you," he states.
She disappears, and he pours two more glasses, then hands one to Brax.
Zara raises her flute. "To the upcoming union between Valentina and Brax. May the next full moon bring love, stability, and an eternity of happiness." Her lips twitch with a barely contained laugh.
Eternity.
Brax stiffens next to me.
Sean huffs under his breath, but he lifts his glass. "To the two of you. And to the fact that my heart didn't stop six different times tonight.Sláinte!"
"Sláinte!" Brax mutters and downs his whiskey.
"Salute!" I offer.
"Santé!" Zara adds in French.
I take a slow sip. The crisp champagne adds more heat in my stomach.
