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How could I ever say no?
“As long as we’re quick.” Smiling, I slip my fingers into his and let him pull me to my feet and out into the night.
It’s lovely out for late June.
Hot and sticky as a cinnamon bun, sure, but with the sun down, it’s a pleasant warmth, almost like a hot tub that wraps you up. We’re silent as we walk hand in hand through the trees.
I tilt my head up at a break in the branches, trying to pick out the constellations.
“Close your eyes, lady,” Lucas whispers, bringing me to a halt next to him.
I give him a curious look and comply, closing my eyes and trusting him to lead me through the night.
Honestly, I trust him with so much more than that.
It’s just a few more steps, right past the feeling of leaves brushing against my bare arms before he says, “Okay. You can look now.”
I do—and the sight steals my breath away.
We’re standing in an open field surrounded by thick forest, tall grass dotted with little juniper bushes and blooming fronds of lilac.
But the entire field is lit up with a galaxy of green-gold stars.
Fireflies.
They burn so bright and luminous and pretty my chest goes tight with awe. My lips part on words that never come as I turn slowly, taking in the light show.
“Holy hell,” I whisper.
There must be hundreds of the little bugs out here. The whole night glows with this miracle of nature.
Lucas caresses my chin, gently tilting my face to the sky again.
“As above, so below,” he whispers.
My heart flips over at the beauty.
It’s like the stars have come down to Earth, and I can reach out and hold them in my hands.
“I knew you’d love it,” he says proudly.
I’m too awestruck to even sass back.
Laughing with delight, I gently cage a firefly with my fingers so I can watch its glow light up my palms before letting it free again.
I’ve never been this much in love.
Spinning with sheer exhilaration, I spread my arms out—only to stop as I face Lucas again.
He’s watching me with his heart in his eyes, so clear it makes my throat knot with a shiver of sweet emotion.
“Lucas? What’s up?”
“Lilah, you make this so hard when you’re that damn pretty,” he breathes, and then, “Delilah.”
He steps closer, catches my hands, taking them in his own and squeezing so tight.
“I’ve been working up to this for a good long while,” he says, looking at me intently, his hands so warm in mine. “Just didn’t know how to do it. I didn’t want to just throw you a ring—”
A ring, oh God!
My heart soars, so high and bright, bursting with color like the fireflies.
“That makes me think of them. Of how they use shit like that bracelet as marks. I want to possess you, woman, but not like a thing stuck with my gold. I want you to be mine because you want to be. Because you chose me. Because you trust me.” He swallows roughly, a hint of nerves breaking through that almost blows me down. “I also wanted you to have something to remember this by, too. So every time you see fireflies, you think of this—of what I know is right for us, when you’re the only thing that’s ever been true and real in my heart.”
Oh. My. God.
Even as my answer flutters on my lips, shivering with the thrill of it along with the rest of me, he drops down to one knee.
I’m freaking shaking as he holds my hands in his, looking up at me with so many promises so bright they shame the stars.
“Marry me, Miss Delilah Clarendon.”
I can’t tell if it’s a question or a statement.
I don’t care.
“Took you long enough!” I rush out—then throw myself against him, sealing my high-pitched “Yes, yes, yes!” to his lips with a kiss.
His startled joy is drowned out by the messy crush of our mouths.
We kiss like we’re dying of thirst. Like we can never get enough.
“Pace yourself, darlin’. We’ve only got the rest of our lives.” He chuckles.
I barely let him finish before attacking his mouth again.
Oh, the heat feels so wild, so frantic, exploding with wonder and beauty and sheer, overwhelming happiness.
It’s a kiss that feels like closure. The end of the worst chapter of my life—and the beginning of a book that can only be my new favorite.
His mouth moves hard against mine, claiming and desperate and yet so reverent. I know he’ll never hurt me.
Not this man.
Not on his life.
Not the one who touches me like he can see how fragile I really am.
Not the beast who shows me he’s the one who’ll never throw me away.
He loves me.
And I flipping love Lucas Graves.
Enough to trust him with my heart, my soul, and my future.
I could never be happier than I will be as his wife.
