Best of 2017

“In ten years?”

Kiss

“Fifteen years?”

Kiss

With that he spins me around and places his lips on mine, robbing me of my breath. “I’ll love you until forever and a day,” he mumbles against my mouth. “Don’t you understand by now? I want to kiss you till forever. I want to love you until forever, and when forever ends, I want to start all over again.” His voice touches places within me I had almost forgotten were there. It touches the place in my heart where dreams do happen. “Because I will never have my fill of you. Even eternity won’t be enough. I want to be the reason you smile today. I want to be the reason you smile every day.” He pauses and gently opens up his closed hand revealing a beautiful solitaire diamond.

Crystal blue eyes gaze back at me. They speak to my soul, to every facet that I am. In his eyes, I see a future. I see hope, and I see love. It doesn’t matter where we started.

Or how many obstacles we’ll have to overcome.

All that matters is where we’re going, and that we go there together.

“Will you marry me? Will you give me all of your forevers?”

“Yes,” I say through joyful tears that drip down my cheek. His arms encircle me as he sears me with his kiss.

I have learned so much over the last two years. I’ve learned that I'm more than my past. I'm more than the nightmares that haunted me. I’m able to forgive and move forward and have a second chance.

Life does provide a second chance.

This is ours.

The End

BONUS EPILOGUE

Lying in my bed, I can’t help but stare at the empty space next to me. God, I wish Preston was here. But he’s not, and he won’t be for a painfully long time. A strict rule issued by Sydney. Apparently, the bride and groom cannot spend the night together the day before the wedding. Seems like a ridiculous and jaded practice if you ask me. One only a single and evil friend would come up with. How can she possibly think this is a good idea?

Preston looked so damn sexy tonight that I practically begged him to take me in the coat closet during our rehearsal dinner. But alas, there will be none of that. So instead, I close my eyes and picture how beautiful he’d look if he were standing before me. How his hands would feel if he was touching me. How his lips would feel if he was kissing me. A smile spreads over my face. Tomorrow we will finally be married and no one will ever separate us again, not even Sydney with her prehistoric traditions.

Knock.

A bang on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. Grabbing my robe, I walk to the door.

“Yes?”

“It’s me.” The sound of his husky voice is unexpected. A warm heat spreads through my body. What’s he doing here? I swing open the door—

Preston’s lips are on mine.

He kisses me with abandon before eventually pulling away and pacing around the room. Something is obviously bothering him. The muscles in my stomach tighten as a familiar panic weaves its way through my bloodstream.

I close the door. “Preston, what’s going on?”

Preston strides over to me in two steps and pulls me against him. “It’s not you, Eve. I’m just concerned about Jace.” A small line forms between his brows.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” I ask, knowing full well that after the sudden death of his wife, Jace might never be okay again.

He pulls at his hair. “I hope so.”

“Should we do something?”

“There’s nothing we can do,” he answers, lifting my jaw with his hand. “But enough about my brother. I want to make love to my wife.”

“Future wife.”

“Future wife,” he agrees. “But in less than 24 hours you will be all mine.”

“I have been all yours since the moment I met you.”

“Well, that’s not entirely true.” He grimaces.

“Oh God, Preston, can we just stop talking already? Sydney is going to kill me if she knows you snuck into my room before the wedding. According to her, and I quote, you aren’t supposed to see him until you walk down the aisle.” I say in my best Sydney voice. “So please, can we stop talking so you kiss me again?”

“It’s a good thing Sydney’s not here right now. I’m not she’d approve of what I’m about to do to you.” He winks.

I bite my lip. “Promise?” Dropping my robe, all I’m left wearing is a black silk camisole.

“Oh I promise,” he growls. With one fast move, Preston lifts the camisole off my body, leaving me with only a pair of black lace thongs. His hand pulls at the material until it shimmies down my thighs and falls to the floor. Now fully naked, Preston guides me toward the bed, laying me down in front of him. His gaze is predatory. His pupils dilated with desire.

Warm hands reach out and spread my legs open. He swipes his tongue against his lips like I’m a feast laid out before him. Before I can even breathe, he starts to devour me. His tongue finds me hot and ready as he licks and sucks me like a starved man until I find myself hanging on by a small thread. His pace becomes so maddening that all I can do is grip the blanket to steady myself as I fall over the edge.

When I finally return from my orgasmic high, he places one more kiss on my sensitive skin before climbing up my body. As his hard length teases my entrance, my body trembles with anticipation, growing reckless with need. His mouth finds mine, and in perfect synchronicity, he thrusts inside me. I part my lips on a gasp, and he takes full advantage, thrusting his tongue into my mouth to meet the tempo as he fucks me.

Stretching me…

Teasing me…

Owning me.

The pattern of his movement has every nerve ending in my body coming alive. I can barely find my breath as I feel myself start to come apart. Desperate for the release, I meet his thrust.

I’m teetering on the edge, about to come apart when Preston halts his movements. A groan escapes my trembling body. But he continues to hold still. Every breath I exhale becomes choppier. My hips try to lift but he won’t let me move. He won’t let me put out the fire burning inside me.

When I think we both can’t take anymore, he starts the pattern all over again.

In…

And out.

Still.

In…

And out.

Still.

&nb

sp; In…

A primal moan escapes my mouth as I chase and find my release. The sound fuels him as he picks up his pace, fucking me harder and faster than I ever thought possible. With one final push, he empties himself inside me. Together we cling to one another as our breaths regulate. With our bodies still connected and are limbs still entwined, he looks into my eyes, his blue iris penetrating my soul.

“Forever . . .” he trails off, the one word speaking to every part of my being.

“Forever.”

When the early morning sun peeks in through the drapes, I'm all alone in the bed. Preston must have snuck out in the middle of the night. A smile pulls across my face as memories of his late night visit replay in my mind. My cheeks warm and gentle laughter escapes my mouth. Sydney would give me hell if she knew. Good thing she won’t find out.

Stretching my arms over my head, I ring out the last bit of sleep still harboring in my body. As I move to get out of the bed, I notice a small box sitting on the side table with a little-folded note underneath it.

My Dearest Eve,

As I sit here next to you while you sleep, I can’t believe how lucky and blessed I am.

I never thought I would ever love again. I never thought I would ever feel so complete. But then you came into my life, and everything changed. I still remember the first time I saw you. How beautiful and serene you were. I didn't think I would see you again, but luckily, fate had other plans. It’s been a long road to get here, but I would weather the storm over and over again just to have you by my side.

I know I tell you this every day, but I love you. You are my heart, and you are my soul. I can't wait to make you my wife.

All my love,

Preston

My vision fogs from the tears collecting in my eyes. With a swipe of my hand, I dry them and then open the box. Inside is the most beautiful pair of diamond and pearl earrings I have ever seen. I smile softly to myself while placing them in my ears. They are perfect. Now all I have to do is get up, shower and prepare for the biggest day of my life.