Page 36 of Not His Bride

“I can do that.”

Whatever happens next, I want her choosing it.

Lilith studies me for another second. Then she closes the last few inches between us and kisses me.

I freeze for maybe half a heartbeat, making sure I haven’t imagined it.

Then my hands find her waist. I pull her against me, and whatever restraint I’ve been living on disappears. Her arms slide around my neck as I kiss her back harder, and she rises until there’s no space left between us.

I cup the back of her neck, careful around the black velvet choker, and kiss her again. Slower, but somehow worse for my self-control. She makes a quiet sound against my lips and grabs the front of my shirt, pulling me closer when I’m already holding her as tightly as I can without hurting her.

When we finally separate, neither of us goes far. Her forehead rests on mine. My arms stay locked around her waist.

“Gallagher.”

“I know.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Doesn’t matter. Give me a second.”

She hums, and I close my eyes. I almost lost her before I ever really had her. Worse, I’m the reason it happened.

I open my eyes and stare directly at her. “I’m not losing you again.”

“That sounds suspiciously like you’re getting ahead of yourself.”

“Probably.” I tighten my arms around her. “But I mean it. I’m not talking about keeping you married to me or deciding anything for you. If you want the annulment, we finish the annulment. If you want to date me for six months before you even think about anything else, that’s what we do. But if you’re giving me another chance, I’m not wasting it. I’m never going to make you feel like the woman I settled for. I’m never putting a deal, Debbie, or anybody else ahead of you. I already know what losing you feels like.” My thumb moves once along her waist. “I’m not doing it twice.”

Her hands loosen around my neck. “You can’t promise you’ll never screw up.”

“No.” I shake my head. “But I can promise you’ll never have to wonder whether I chose you.”

That does something to her. She kisses me once more before I can say anything else. This one is shorter, but there’s nothing hesitant about it. When she pulls back, she finally steps out of my arms and heads for the office door. I follow her into the hall.

“I’ll text you.”

“That sounds suspiciously like you’re planning our date.”

“Mmm, and you’d be right, mister.”

She presses the elevator button. A second later, the doors slide open. Lilith steps inside, then turns around.

I stop outside the elevator.

She shakes her head. “Seven tomorrow, Gallagher.”

“I’ll be there.”

The doors close. I’m still grinning when I head back into my office. Tomorrow at seven, I get to take Lilith on a date. From now on, I know exactly who I’m choosing.

Chapter 15

Lilith: Epilogue

Eighteen months ago, I walked out of my first wedding to Gallagher Cortez. We then had an annulment and dated like normal people. Today, I’m marrying him again.

Truth is, the theater always did feel like the right place for a marriage. So naturally, Gallagher and I chose The Majestic. The house lights are killed except for the chandelier.