“That depends,” I say, tilting my head. “Will you keep the glasses on?”
He grins, and I grin back.
I jump over the barrier as the door opens.
“Get in, Cookie.”
I don’t think, I don’t hesitate, I move. I could get shot, for all I know.
The door barely shuts before I’m in his arms, my body reacting before my mind can catch up. His scent engulfs me, familiar, intoxicating, grounding,home. Suddenly, I’m straddling him, his fingers threading through my hair, gripping me like he’ll never let go again.
“You quit!”
His chest rises and falls beneath me, his breath warm against my cheek. “I quit.”
I pull back just enough to search his face, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Why?”
“Because I did what I set out to do.”
“I don’t understand.”
His thumb brushes my cheek, and it’s only then that I realise—I’m crying. Silent tears slip down my cheeks, carrying every moment we lost.
“Cookie.” His voice is gentle. “I never wanted to be Prime Minister. Nothing I did was ever about sitting on top. That was never the goal.”
“Then what was?”
“You.” His hands tighten at my waist. “Just you.”
“Don’t lie,” I whisper, a shaky smile tugging at my lips.
He exhales a quiet laugh. “Okay, change. But the day you walked away? Everything that followed? All I ever wanted was for you to be by my side. And I hated that you couldn’t be.” His hands cradle my face, eyes burning into mine. “But now you can. Nothing stands in our way. I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”
His pinkie extends between us. A silent vow, our silent promise.
I swallow hard, my chest tightening, everything narrows. To this, us. I hook my pinkie around his, my grip trembling.
“You’re my past, present and future, Owen King.”
Then I kiss him. Desperate. Messy. Wet with tears, and dare I say, snot. But perfect. Everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I never let myself hope for, or have.
“Now you get it, Cookie,” he says grinning.
“Nothing insignificant.”
His smirk is cocky, his eyes tired behind his glasses. “God, I’m unemployed. What do ex-Prime Ministers do nowadays?”
“Apparently, there’s a trend where they spend some time in prison.”
“Been there, done that.” He grins, kissing me again.
I hesitate, then whisper, “I sold Apex Security.”
He nods like he already knew. Of course he knew.
“You weren’t the only one watching, Cookie.”
“Did you always know?”
