My legs start moving, one after another, blindly, toward the house, but I stop dead when she inches back far enough to look me in the eyes.
“I love you, and Iwillmarry you.”
I inhale a sharp breath and hold it, lost in her brown irises. “Say it again.”
“I’ll marry you.”
“Not that. I don’t need that. I don’t need you to sayyesright now. I just had to know there’s a possibility. That one day—”
“You don’t get it, do you?” she cuts in, wiggling in my arms, pressing herself closer, fingers weaving through my hair. “I love you and—”
I close her lips, sealing that confession so she can’t take it back. Sliding my tongue in, I kiss her, taking everything she has to offer and pouring in everything I have.
“I love you more,” I whisper, taking her mouth again. “So fucking much I don’t know where’s up and where’s down, baby. I’ll make you happy. You’ll see.”
She stops me, bracing her hands against my chest. “You already do. That’s why I’ll marry you tonight if you ask, but no kids... not until after I graduate.”
“Anything you want.”
A big smile breaks across her face. She parts her lips to say something, but desire steals her voice, and we’re kissing again, pausing just long enough to get the door open.
A moment later, I drop her on the bed.Mybed.
“You’re the first woman in this room,” I say, arching back to tug my t-shirt off. “First and last.”
I’ve never brought a girl here. I had plenty in my bedroom while I lived at Nico’s, but once I bought a house, my bedroom became sacred. I promised myself I’d never bring a woman here unless she was mine. Unless she’d stay.
“I’m not letting you leave.” I climb over her, one hand twisting her hair into a ponytail, the other holding her waist. “You’re moving in tomorrow.”
“As soon as we’re back from Vegas,” she says, knotting her fingers on my nape to pull me down. “But sex first. I missed you.” She tugs my neck, trying to get my lips on hers.
“Why Vegas?”
“So we can get married,” she deadpans. “Tonight.”
I smile down at her. “We’re not getting married tonight.”
“Why not?” She pouts, moving her hands to my face. “You want to, don’t you? Let’s do it.”
She’s crazy. My kind of crazy. A big part of me wants to sayfuck itand drive to Vegas right now, but the part of me that’s waited so long for this wants to do it right.
“Of course I want to, but not tonight. Not until you’re wearing a big rock on your ring finger. And—”
“I guess it’s too late in the day for that rock, isn’t it?” she cuts in with a contemplative look on her pretty face. “No jewelry stores will be open at this hour.”
I fall silent, studying her features, those beautiful dark eyes staring me down. “Why do you want to rush?”
“I just want you to know you’ve got me. You don’t want to go to Vegas, so—”
“Definitely not in fucking Vegas, baby. My mother wouldn’t survive another secret wedding; Theo had one years ago.” I flip us over so she lays on top of me, and my hands roam her thighs and hips. “I want you in a beautiful white dress. Your dad deserves to walk you down the aisle.”
She beams, dipping her head to kiss my nose. “I never wanted to think about it before, but... maybe I do want a big wedding.”
“You’ll get everything you ask for, baby. Every single thing. Always.”
“Obviously not.” She wiggles her ring finger at me, chuckling as she dips her head to stop my lips with hers, small hands traveling under my t-shirt. “Enough talking.” She trails open-mouthed kisses down my neck. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more.”
