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Looking around wide-eyed, I say, “Yes, he’s full of surprises.”
Ascending another flight of stairs, Darin strides forward, his hand on the doorknob. He pauses before opening it. “This is the end of my journey. Continue inside for your present. I’ll see you soon.”
I squeeze his bicep, leaning on my tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “See you soon, big bro.”
Darin opens the door and I step inside to find a huge room, bookshelves lining the wall around a fireplace and a large chaise lounge beneath a huge window. Taking a few more steps inside the room, my hand presses over my heart as I gaze around, awestruck.
“Why do you look so hesitant?” His low voice sounds from behind me.
Whirling around, tears fill my eyes as Will stands there, handsome as sin in his black tux, a huge smile on his face. Flinging myself into his arms, he catches me, lifting me into his arms, just like I knew he would.
“Will. This is breathtaking.”
His voice is husky and emotional. “Not nearly as breathtaking as you.” He grins. “I know you love to read, so I thought I’d give you a library. A place for you to relax.” He places a kiss to my forehead, then pulls back, looking into my eyes. “A place for you to study when you return to college.”
Blinking back tears, I swallow over the knot of emotion rising in my throat. “It’s beautiful.” Cupping his face, I give him a watery smile. “You’re perfect.”
His grin widens as he shakes his head. “No, you’re the one who’s perfect, my love.” Lowering me to my feet, he lightly fingers a curl that hangs around my face.
“When did you do this?”
“I’ve been working on it for a while now. I had Darin, Bryan, and Max help me.”
Squeezing his hand, my heart bangs inside my chest. I’m awestruck by my soon-to-be husband’s thoughtfulness. “Thank you for this amazing surprise, Will. I absolutely love this room.”
His hands tighten on my waist as he rubs his nose against mine. “This is only a small part of your surprise, love.”
“Will. I don’t have anything to give you right now,” I admonish.
He shakes his head. “You’ve already given me what I want. You and your love.” His hand moves over my stomach. “And our two little girls that we’ll meet this summer.” His eyes shine with moisture, enveloping me in his love. “But this, I wanted to do for you. For us.” He steps back, sliding his jacket off. Then he begins unbuttoning his shirt.
I move to help him with the buttons, loosening his tie. “You just got that splint off. Let me help you.”
Will levels me with a look. “If I can’t unbutton a shirt and undo a tie, I’ve got bigger fucking problems than a splint will solve.”
With a laugh, I step back. When he has the buttons undone and his tie loosened, he slides his shirt from his shoulders, his pale, muscular upper body causing me to lick my lips.
“Calm down, goddess.” Winking at me, he turns to the side, revealing a tattoo. My eyes widen as I take in a man and a woman sitting with their arms around one another, facing a giant full moon.
Handwriting in the full moon catches my eye. I gasp, one hand covering my heart. “Oh, Will. You had the words I wrote in that note I gave you tattooed on you.” My fingers reach out, reverently tracing over it. “My handwriting is on your body.” My chin quivers as tears fill my eyes.
“Do you like it?” his voice comes out in a husky whisper.
“I love it. This is such an unexpected surprise. Just when I think you can’t get any sweeter, you do something like this…” Blinking rapidly, tears roll down my cheeks.
Blinking rapidly, Will turns his head away, getting his emotions under control before turning back to me. “I’ll do anything to see that smile I love on your beautiful face.”
“Will.” I shake my head, too overcome to say anything.
He smiles at me, knowing what I’m thinking without me saying it.
Trying to get my emotions under control, I heave in a breath, then slowly exhale. My gaze drops to the tattoo again. Tracing over the letters in the moon, I repeat the words aloud, “To the moon and back. To infinity and beyond.”
Will points beneath the couple, and my eyes narrow, reading the small words etched below. “Willingly. Completely. For a fucking eternity.” My heart bangs against my chest from his perfect characterization of us that marks his skin.
Then the puzzle pieces start connecting and I laugh, swatting his arm playfully. “You told me you were injured from sparring with Bryan.”
He looks sheepish. “I hated lying to you, but I wanted to surprise you. I knew you’d see it unless I kept it bandaged when I was shirtless or naked.”
