“Felt like you were trying to break it off.”
“Are you complaining?” I narrow my eyes, and his smile softens. He rolls us over again so I’m on top, then he runs his fingers through my hair.
“I’d never complain about the way you fuck me. I think I saw stars that time.”
“Whatever,” I grumble.
His body shakes as he starts to laugh.
I can’t hold back my smile.
“You’re marrying me,” he says suddenly, the humor leaving his voice. My throat starts to get tight. “Libby Moretti. I really fucking like the sound of that.”
“Me, too,” I whisper, leaning up and touching my mouth to his. “We’re getting married,” I say when I pull my mouth from his and his expression softens.
“We are.”
“How long do you think we have before our moms start pounding on the door, demanding to know when and where?” I ask, resting my head against his chest.
“Since my mom texted this morning before the sun was even up, I’d say not long.”
“Didn’t think so.”
I smile as I feel his fingers trail lightly down my spine.
“We can elope,” he suggests.
I pull away to look down at him and frown. “No way.”
“So Vegas is out of the question?”
“Vegas isn’t even an option. I want a dress—a big, puffy dress. And a church. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle, and I want to see you waiting for me at the end of that aisle. Where you tell me I’m the most beautiful person you have ever seen. Where we promise to love each other in front of our families.”
“Whatever you want, Princess.” He grins, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and pulling me forward for another kiss.
When I lean back and look into his eyes, I can tell that he will always do whatever he can to make me happy. We both might have been tossed around a few times, but in the end, we caught each other. That’s all that matters.
Epilogue
ANTONIO
One year later
Watching my wife from across the room, smiling at something Palo is saying to her, my chest fills with pride, love, and possessiveness. Six months after I asked her to marry me, we had a small ceremony at a church in the city. The event was elegant and classy, and I surprised Libby that day with a horse-and-carriage ride to the church to give her a little more of her fairy tale. I’ve learned over the last year and a half that my wife might like nice things, but she doesn’t do over the top unless over the top can be done on a budget. She’s perfect for me in every way. I couldn’t be luckier.
“Two minutes till midnight!” someone yells.
Libby’s eyes find mine across the space.
I close the distance between us while grabbing a beer for myself and picking up a glass of champagne for her off the table.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look?” I ask when her front is tucked against mine and she smiles up at me.
“You might have mentioned it a time or two.” She takes the glass of champagne I hand her and holds it down at her side.
“I really love this dress.” My eyes roam over the tight red dress that hugs every beautiful inch of her frame while my hand slides around her hip to her back, pulling her closer to me.
“You mentioned that as well.” Her fingers dig into my sides as she grabs hold of my shirt.
“One minute!” Hector calls out into the roomful of people.
It’s our friends and family—a group of people that has seemed to grow over the last year.
“As much as I love it, I really can’t wait to take you home and get you out of it,” I whisper against her ear, feeling her shiver.
“Ten!” people start to count around us.
“Five . . . ,” I say as I lower my mouth to hers.
“One . . . Happy New Year!” everyone shouts while I kiss my wife.
She pulls her mouth from mine, and I watch her eyes as they open.
“Happy New Year, Daddy.”
Those four words spoken against my lips cause my lungs to tighten—along with my grasp on her.
“You’re pregnant?” I search her gaze as I stare down at her in disbelief.
“Yes.” She smiles as she nods.
Picking her up off the ground, I spin her around in a circle and listen to her laugh. “We’re pregnant?”
“Yes.” I watch her nod again as tears fill her beautiful eyes. “Are you happy?”
“God, yes.” I gather her against me and feel my throat close. I never would have guessed that the woman in my arms would give me everything I ever needed and then some. That she would show me what love is, show me that it’s okay to trust another person, show me that it’s okay to go after my own dreams.