Ryan moved up her body, his lips tasting of her release, and pressed a deep kiss to her mouth, capturing the aftershocks of her climax.
Unable to hold the question back any longer, Emily pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "Do you love Sloane?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Ryan did not speak for a long moment. He looked at her, his expression unreadable, and then he shook his head. "No," he murmured, his thumb brushing a stray tear from her cheek. “You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
"Did you ever tell her you loved her?" Emily pressed, her chest aching. "Even if it was a lie?"
"No," Ryan promised, his tone fierce. "I will never speak those words to any other woman. I love you, Emily. Only you, and no one else. It is with you that I want forever. It is with you that I make love. It is with you that I am happy."
A wave of profound emotional relief washed over Emily. She smiled, fresh tears pooling in her eyes. Ryan dried them with his thumb, leaning down to kiss her with profound love and affection.
"I wish you could make love to me right now. I miss having you inside me," Emily whispered against his lips, resting her hands on the heavy, late-term swell of her belly.
Ryan smiled, his expression warm and patient. "Soon, our son will be here," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "And then I can finally make love to my wife again.”
Chapter Sixteen
Julian
Julian navigated the crowded hotel ballroom, sidestepping a group of laughing guests near the bar. He and Sarah hadn't wanted the traditional, separate bachelor and bachelorette parties. They wanted everyone together in one place to celebrate the life they were building. He had rented the entire top floor so their friends could drink and dance without worrying about getting home.
He spotted Lily near the ice sculpture, absently swirling a martini. As Sarah's best friend and business partner, Lily had become like a sister to Julian over the last year. But tonight, a distinct melancholy clouded her dark eyes.
"You're a million miles away, Lily," Julian said, stepping up beside her and handing her a cold glass of water. "Drink that. Is everything alright?"
Lily forced a bright smile, waving a hand to dismiss his concern. "I'm perfectly fine, Julian. Just thinking about next week. I cannot wait for the wedding."
"You're deflecting," Julian observed gently. "Ethan?"
"He sent flowers to the office today," Lily admitted, her voice tight. "A 'congratulations to Sarah' bouquet, but it's exhausting. I keep blocking his attempts, and he finds a new angle. I just want him to leave me alone."
"Do you want me to have a word with him?" Julian offered.
"No," Lily managed a smile. "I don't need my best friend's fiancé fighting my battles on his bachelor night. I'm just trying to focus on next week. I cannot wait to see Sarah walk down that aisle and finally get the happily ever after she deserves."
"Neither can I," Julian agreed, his chest swelling with anticipation. "I spend every hour wishing the days would move faster so I can finally call her my wife."
The warmth drained from Lily’s face. Her expression twisted into pure anger. She glared past Julian's shoulder. He turned his head, tracing her line of sight toward the polished brass elevators.
Stepping out of the elevator car was Emily. She wore a daring, skin-tight red dress that screamed for attention, completely out of place among the elegant attire of their friends.
Lily took a step forward, her hands balling into fists. "I am going to throw her out myself."
Julian reached out, placing a firm hand on Lily’s shoulder to stop her. "No. Let me handle it. Go find Sarah and keep her distracted. I'll get her out of here before Sarah even knows she arrived."
Lily gave a curt nod and vanished into the crowd.
Julian navigated through the guests, intercepting Emily before she could reach the center of the room. He blocked her path, keeping his posture rigid.
"What are you doing here, Emily?" he asked, his voice a flat line of disapproval.
Emily offered a saccharine, fake smile. "Julian. I came to congratulate my sister on her upcoming wedding. Since she didn't even bother to send me an invitation, I figured I had to deliver my well wishes in person."
"She didn't forget your invitation," Julian replied coolly. "We only invited friends and family. We only invited people who truly love us."
Emily placed a manicured hand over her chest, feigning injury. "That hurts me, Julian. It is very clear that I love my sister."
"Leave, Emily," Julian commanded, stepping closer to block her view of the room. "Leave right now, before Sarah sees you and you ruin her night."
