Under the Stars

“Lara,” I groan, biting the soft skin of her shoulder.

“Oh!” She moans, spasms breaking out all around my dick. “Mark… Oh!”

She’s coming hard, and I feel the shimmers moving like waves through her body. She pulls me under with her, and I close my eyes as the surges of ecstasy race up my thighs, centering in my pelvis, as I come, pulsing and filling her, following her through the stars to that blissful place of oneness.

I wrap my arms around her and hold on as we drift through the clouds. Memories of putting a ring on her finger, dreams of our future life together…

It’s so good.

She sighs and holds my shoulders tight. Her legs are around my waist, and my cheek rests on her breast. She’s my angel, and I’m in heaven.

“I love you.” Her voice is so soft and happy.

With every heartbeat, I’m whole. “You’re mine,” I say, lifting my head to kiss her lips. “You’re always mine. I’ll protect you now and forever.”

“It’s all I ever wanted.”

I wrap her in my arms and hold her.

Dangerous times are ahead of us, but right here, in this moment, I’m confident we’ll slay the demons. Holding her right now, I can see the future.

Happiness is just within reach.

16

I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.

Lara

Molly meets us at the charter lot.

After agreeing Jillian should stay at Roland’s, with Evie and a man from Armand’s private security taking over when he has to go out, Armand insisted we take his private jet.

Mark surprised me by accepting quickly.

One of the perks is it can be ready to go in as little as twenty minutes—or however long the pilot needs to file the flight plans. So after an endless night, we slept most of the day, and flew out of the city at three.

Traveling back in time, we arrive in Seattle after six, quickly leaving the plane with our small carry-on bags.

Molly’s lips are tight. She won’t meet my eyes, and while I have no idea what it could be, I can tell something has happened. She’s wearing a short-sleeved black sweater and black pants. Her silver hair is swept over one shoulder.

“You’ve lost weight,” I say, giving her a brief hug she doesn’t return.

“I don’t have time to eat much.” She takes the handle of my rolling case and walks ahead of me, leading us quickly to the waiting Lyft.

We can’t talk about anything important with a stranger driving the car, and I spend most of the time chewing my lip in frustration. So much needs to happen in such a short period of time, and the pressure of what’s hanging over us, what’s to come, makes it difficult to think of anything neutral.

“What’s this?” Molly lifts my hand to study the engagement ring on my finger.

“It’s an engagement ring.” I manage to smile. “Mark and I are getting married.”

She nods, dropping my hand. “It’s different. Pretty.”

Her face turns to the window, and I lift my hand, studying my ring. The branches and tiny twigs that compose the band shine with newness. I haven’t had time to think much about the fact we’re getting married. We haven’t even set a date.

“It’s a moonstone.” I tilt it to the side, allowing light to filter through the iridescent gem. The lavender-blue heart glows deep in the center like an opal.

“Not a diamond.”