I let my gaze drift over him, taking in his flushed face, the way his chest rose and fell, the strength in his shoulders, and his messy hair, something warm and stupidly fond tightening in my chest.
He noticed and arched a brow in question.
“You’re so fucking handsome,” I said. “Did you know that?”
His smile was equal parts smug and self-conscious. Cute.
So I kept going. “I could spend all day just looking at you.”
Sebastian chuckled, finishing with me before turning the cloth on himself.
I closed my eyes and rubbed at my shoulder, wincing at the dull burn.
“I’ll work it out for you later,” he said. “In bed.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m still going to.”
My eyes opened when his hands settled on my waist, the cold press of metal against my overheated skin drawing a sharp breath from me.
His eyes were gorgeously dark as he looked down at me. “Come here. I want you close.”
I smiled and let him pull me down with him, straddling his lap on shaky legs. Sebastian wrapped his arms around my waist and found my mouth, kissing me the way he always did—slow, deep, and full of heat.
Threading my fingers through his hair, I held on to him as I met every one of his kisses. “I love you.”
“I love you,” he said back, without a moment’s hesitation.
My heart felt too full to contain it. After everything—the distance, the fear, the years we lost, and the work it took to find our way back—we were here. No hiding. No pretending. Just us, still laughing, still trusting, still choosing each other.
Being with him felt like finally exhaling after holding my breath for years.
His eyes were on my face, that soft smile lingering. “What are you thinking?” he asked, because he always knew when something was stirring in me.
“I’m so happy, Ash,” I said. “I’m so fucking happy. With you. With this.”
“Me too.” His fingers brushed slowly along my spine. “I’ve never felt more… complete.”
My hands twisted in his hair, keeping him close. “Let’s not ever let this go, okay? You and me, right now. Let’s keep this forever. Let’s love the fuck out of each other.”
He nodded, eyes steady. “I want that.”
Emotion swelled in my chest, urgent and overwhelming—and I loved that he met me there, that he never flinched from my intensity. He loved all of me. “Promise me.”
His expression changed—set with intent. “I can do more than that,” he said, quietly searching my face. “If you let me.”
“What do you mean?”
His arms tightened around my waist, drawing me in. “I want you to be wearing that ring right now.”
The words were barely a whisper, but they hit me like a blow, my eyes widening—heart stuttering.
“I want to keep this forever too,” he said. “I don’t want to imagine a future without you in it. And I want everyone to know how fucking lucky I am.”
My body felt light, unsteady, like I might drift right out of myself.
“I want you to know that I’m yours,” he went on. “That this is ours, and nothing and nobody is ever going to take it away from us.” His tongue swept over his lips, his gaze dark and unwavering. “Marry me, Ethan.”
