“This seems to be a pattern with us, doesn’t it?” I can’t help but tease. “You fucking up and then apologizing and presenting me with jewelry.”
Asher lets out a half laugh, then clears his throat. “It does. Luckily for me, I have a vast amount of jewelry at my disposal, so I have lots of wiggle room for future apologies.”
I shake my head. “You’re shameless.”
“Always.”
He nudges the box, eyeing me expectantly. “So, will you?”
“I’m not sure.”
Asher startles, blinking at me in surprise.
“But maybe if it was an official dare, I could.”
Asher’s eyes flash with relief and then narrow. He pinches my side and leans in to nip at my earlobe, his favorite little form of correction.
“Ella Hale, I solemnly dare you to accept this Langford pendant, and to be mine in every way possible. For forever.”
I smile at him, and it takes me no time to decide. “Yes.”
Asher crashes his lips to mine.
A moment later he pulls away, and I almost whimper at the loss. He smirks as he clasps the necklace around my neck. The pendant settles on my chest, and Asher runs his hand along the chain and stops his fingers on the pendant, admiring it almost as if he’s in awe at seeing it back on me. His eyes meet mine, and just like that, everything settles back into place, as it shouldbe. As if the last six weeks hadn’t happened. As if there’s nothing that can keep our future from us.
Asher takes my face in his hands and kisses me again. Slowly, reverently at first, but within seconds, the kiss evolves. The weight of all we’ve been through these last few weeks lifts, and that consuming need blooms between us. The kiss turns frantic, and soon his hands are in my hair, on my back, skimming all over me, as if he can’t touch me enough.
Our hands clash and tangle with each other as clothes go flying between our gasps and panting breaths. Asher kisses down my neck and chest and takes my breast in his mouth with a groan. A second later he slides inside me with one thrust, and now it’s my turn to groan. We both still for a moment, reveling at the feel of it. At the rightness of him inside me.
I run my hand along his jaw, and he keeps his eyes locked on mine as he trails his fingertips over the pendant around my throat again. “You’re mine,” he whispers as he starts to move. “Forever.”
“I’m yours. And you’re mine.”
“Always.”
As we move together, all our hurt and fear crumble away. And once again, there is nothing that exists beyond him and me and our love. He rests his forehead on mine, and my fingertips cling to his back as he threads his fingers through my hair. This is more than just making love. This is an apology. This is an admission. This is a vow of life to come—a promise of our future as one.
“Mine,” he whispers again.
I look into those beautiful blue eyes that once intimidated me. And then everything changed. Now all I see is home.
“Yours.”
EPILOGUE
ELLA
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“Why is the party being held at Langford Holdings?” I ask as we pull up to the building.
Asher takes my hand just as he used to when we worked here together and leads me to the elevator.
“A change of pace. This isn’t a party for the entire company, it’s a small affair. Why go through the fuss of a big ballroom?”
“And what’s this for again?”
“A celebration. We’re having a fantastic first quarter, and we decided to throw our management a thank-you party.”
