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As we got into the SUV, my heart jolted when I spotted a small smile on Connor’s face. His relaxed posture, especially his shoulders, made my chest swell with affection for the man. Being a first-time director was stressful because there were a lot of unknowns. But I told him, as did many of the crew, how supported they felt by him and because of that, they worked to make the movie go as smoothly as possible. He was a wonderful example of do unto others, as well as a gracious friend and a wonderful man.

“Did you have fun?”

Without a word, he turned to me and slid his hand behind my head, pulling me in for a scorching kiss. With ease, he drew a loud moan from me in the quiet confines of the SUV as traffic and the world went on around us. As he pulled back, both of us taking deep breaths, I noticed the strange expression on his face.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I want to marry you.”

The statement came across as so matter of fact; it stunned me stupid. My mouth dropped open, and no sound escaped as I floundered to understand his words.

Although we’d expressed our feelings for each other several months back, marriage wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities I saw us headed in because… well, I didn’t know, because maybe being in a committed relationship seemed like a fantasy already. Anything more would demand too much of the fates.

“You… do?” I asked, still floundering.

His look, so exasperated, brought a smile to my face as I ran my thumb underneath his bottom lip.

“Don’t pout, beautiful. It was… I wasn’t aware you ever thought about marriage. Have you thought about wanting to get married for a while?”

“Is it so strange to believe that I love you and desire a committed relationship with you for the rest of our lives?”

My brows drew down, and I said, “No.”

“Then why…”

“Connor.”

“Oh, you don’t want to marry me,” he said, sounding wounded.

I gasped out, “It would be an absolute dream to marry you, but I’m, we’re… this is your first relationship and I’m afraid you’re allowing the newness of it?—”

He cut me off when he pulled me onto his lap and kissed me breathless. I melted into him and when his tongue met mine;I whimpered into his mouth, tilted my head, and savored his dominance.

“Do you love me?” He asked between pants.

“Yes,” I hissed, “Of course I fucking do! With all that I am.”

“Enough to take a chance on me. And I don’t mean until you get sick of me. I mean forever. You are it for me,cariño mío. My true love, my forever. I know you think I’m flighty?—”

It was my turn to interrupt with a huff of disgust.

“The fuck you are! But that’s something we’ll discuss later. No, the reason for my hesitation was because I wasn’t sure if you were ready for the next step in our relationship by committing yourself to me, in a legal sense. I love you with everything I am. No matter how many years pass, I will continue to hold you in my heart. In truth, you own it, beautiful. You own every piece of me. But my instincts want you to be as happy with the decision as I would be. Because you’re it for me, too. The love of my life, for the rest of my entire existence.”

At my words, he gathered me in his arms and held me. I worried for a moment since his entire being seemed to vibrate.

“That’s why I want to marry you.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Because I’m an opinionated bastard who’s has no issue defending you from you.”

“Yes, and so much more. I never realized how closed off I was until you came into my life. I held people at an arm’s length, never letting them close. Even family. Maybe it’s because of my dad, or this industry, but something always held me apart. But you; all niceness and love, support and a true listener, broke down all my walls, allowing me to be different. I’m a better person when I’m with you. A better son, brother, and friend. But marrying you is because I love you, with everything I am.”

After a quick press of our lips together, I blew out a breath and said, “I want to marry you, too.”

He let out a whoop and pulled me closer, pressing his lips to my neck as he breathed me in. His hold tightened as he whispered, “Thank you for being in my life. I thought I knew what love was; my parents being the perfect example, but I’ve never felt it. Experienced it. Closed myself off to the possibility of it. But you with your cheery disposition, positive outlook, and a pure good that people see when they meet you, I know I lucked out finding you first.”

With a bit of distance between us so he captured my gaze with his own shining light hazel eyes, he continued, “But this all-encompassing devotion I have for you, craving this closeness, is what I want for the rest of our lives. I loved making the movie with you, experiencing the camaraderie with the entire production team and actors, and want to direct more movies with you at my side.”

Connor leaned back and studied my face as I watched the byplay on his, as his thoughts lulled him into silence. I reached out and laced our fingers together, waiting for the epiphany his thoughtful expression brought.