And he'd thanked me and Jaxon in his acceptance speech.
In front of everyone.
On live television.
"You're thinking too hard, sweetheart."
I looked up to find Luca standing in front of me, hand extended. He'd loosened his bow tie, top button of his tuxedo shirt undone. His dark hair was slightly messed up from where I'd run my fingers through it earlier.
He looked perfect.
"Dance with me," he said.
I took his hand and let him pull me onto the dance floor. The after party was in full swing around us. Players, coaches, mediapersonalities, league executives. Everyone who was anyone in hockey was here.
And they were all watching us.
I could feel their eyes. Some curious, some supportive, some still judgmental even after six months.
I didn't care anymore.
Luca's arms came around me, one hand at my waist, the other holding mine. We swayed to the music, and for a moment it was just us. The noise faded into background static.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
"More than okay." I rested my head against his chest, felt his heartbeat steady and strong. "I'm proud of you. So proud."
"I meant what I said up there. None of this means anything without you. Without both of you."
I pulled back to look at his face. His ice blue eyes were soft, vulnerable in a way he rarely let anyone see.
"I've never been happier," he said, and I could feel the truth of it through our bond. "It took so long. Twelve years. But I'm glad you came back to Winter Crest, Reina. I'm glad you came back to us."
My throat tightened with emotion. "Me too."
"Even though you had to give up your job? Even though your mother..."
"Especially because of all that." I touched his face, felt the slight stubble on his jaw. "I found myself when I came back here. Found both of you. Found what I was always meant to be."
He kissed me then, soft and sweet. Not caring that half the hockey world was watching.
When we broke apart, I heard someone clear their throat beside us.
"Breaking up the tender moment," Jaxon drawled, appearing at my elbow with a glass of champagne in each hand. "But I figured our Omega might be thirsty."
He handed me one of the glasses, then deliberately leaned in and kissed me on the mouth. Longer than appropriate for a public setting. Possessive and claiming.
When he pulled back, he was grinning at Luca over my shoulder.
"Yes, I'm very glad our sweet Omega came home to us," he said, his dark eyes glinting with amusement and challenge in equal measure.
Luca's jaw ticked. "You just couldn't let me have one moment, could you, Roarke?"
"Why would I do that? Sharing is caring, Vale."
"You're impossible."
"And you're uptight. Good thing we balance each other out."
