His words sank in, threading their way into all the cracks I’d tried to ignore, weaving together every piece of me that had shattered. My heart
HAPPY ENDING
raced, his words echoing in my ears, and my chest tightened with
something fierce, something desperate. “I don’t ever want to let you go again,” I whispered, the words spilling out. My hands reached to cup his face, feeling the rough scrape of his stubble under my fingers. “I love you. Luke.”
A slow, disbelieving smile spread across his lips, and he turned his head, pressing a soft kiss to my palm. “God, Jess,” he murmured, his voice heavy, “I love you too.” And then, his mouth was on mine again, hot and possessive, his kiss open and unrestrained, pulling me closer like he couldn’t bear an inch between us. Every ounce of restraint crumbled, his hands moving to my back, drawing me into him until there was nothing but him–his touch, warmth, and breath.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes blazing. “One more thing,” he said, his voice serious but edged with a faint smirk. “We’re getting married. No more games, no more doubts. If either of us forgets this, forgets what we have, I want the whole damn world to make sure we’re stuck together until we remember every last moment.”
I leaned forward, smiling against his mouth, my fingers tracing his jaw. “I’ll marry you, Luke. But because I want to, not because you told me to.” I teased him back. My words left him stunned for a beat, his eyes flashing with something fierce and determined.
And then he pulled me in, his mouth capturing mine, and every inch of me melted into his touch, into the fire between us that had been waiting far too long to burn again. A soft moan escaped my lips, and his hands. skimmed over my shoulders, the straps of my dress slipping down with ease. I felt my head tip back as he pressed his lips to my neck, every kiss leaving a trail of heat across my skin.
He lifted me with ease, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. I couldn’t stop laughing as he spun us around, my fingers tangling in his hair. “Which way am I headed?” he asked, turning in playful circles until I pointed him in the right direction.
