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Summer

“ W hat happened?” Connor asks, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me onto his lap.

I press my forehead to his and close my eyes, exhaustion pulling at me.

“Summer? What is it?” Connor asks.

I pull back and open my eyes, looking at his perfect face and the love shining from his eyes. “I don’t want to wait,” I blurt out.

Connor tips his head. “What do you mean?”

I brush my thumb along his cheek. “Let’s get married. Over the summer.”

Connor’s mouth drops open and then closes. He stares at me a moment in shock before saying, “What? You don’t want to wait?”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to wait.”

Connor’s face breaks out into the most heartbreaking smile. “Well, okay then! Let’s call my mom tonight!”

I force a bright smile. “I would love that!”

Connor’s smile grows wider, if that’s even possible. “We’re getting married.”

“We’re getting married,” I agree with a grin.

“I’m going to marry you. I’m going to be your husband!”

I laugh. “My husband!”

Connor smothers me in kisses, and I bask in the joy and love. I close my eyes, soaking in every second.

Connor sobers and cups my face. “Now, tell me why you’re home early.”

I exhale, my smile dimming a little. “Someone followed me. Or at least, I think they did.”

“Followed you?” Connor asks with a frown.

“I handled it, but then I just wanted to get home to you.”

Connor squeezes me to him, and I tunnel my fingers into his hair, nuzzling into his neck and inhaling him.

“I’m here.”

I smile but pull back. “Let’s call you mom now. I know you’re desperate to tell her.”

Connor smiles and pulls his phone free, starting the video chat with his mom. Farrah’s beautiful face fills the screen. Her cheek has a dusting of flour on it. She’s obviously in the middle of baking, but the way her face lights up when she sees Connor is heartbreakingly wonderful. She loves her boys so much.

“Conbear!” she says. “How’s one of my six favorite boys?” she asks. Uriel comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her. He kisses her neck before smiling at the screen and moving away.

“Mom, we want to move up the wedding,” Connor says, joy in every word.

Farrah screams so loud that Connor and I have to cover our ears. I chuckle and nuzzle into Connor.

“I can have everything ready by…” she thinks for a moment, “next weekend.”

Connor laughs. “No! Not that soon! Just sooner. This summer.”

“Uriel!” she calls. “I won’t have time for intimacy for the foreseeable future!”

Uriel appears back on the screen, wrapping his arms around her again. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist, my love,” he says before nipping her earlobe.

I smile, enjoying how in love they are, but Connor grimaces and covers his face with his hand. “Guys, please.”

“Summer and Connor are getting married this summer, Uri! When do you suggest we have time for lovemaking?” she asks, glancing at him over her shoulder.

Uriel’s eyes darken. “You think you can’t plan a wedding at the same time? I’ve bent you?—”

“Woah, Dad. Please!” Connor groans.

I press my face into Connor’s shoulder, shaking with laughter.

Uriel looks at Connor. “Five boys don’t just appear, my son.”

“These boys have no gratitude. They don’t realize that they get their sensuality from us,” Farrah says, laughter dancing in her eyes.

Uriel nods. “So ungrateful.”

I laugh and watch them gazing lovingly at each other, and I can see this being Connor and me in two hundred years. “Farrah, this will not be too overwhelming?”

Farrah balks at me. “Absolutely not! As Uriel said, I can multitask.”

“Multitasking is a skill,” Uriel agrees.

“Okay, we’re going to go, but sometime this summer. Okay, Mom?”

Farrah nods. “I love you, Connor. Love you, Summer.” My heart warms at her inclusion of me.

“Yes, love you both. Now, where was I…” Uriel kisses Farrah’s neck again, and Connor slams his thumb down on the End Call button.

I laugh. “That’ll be us in a couple of hundred years.”

“Traumatizing our eldest son?”

“Yes, and you will still be desperate for me.”

“Well, that’s true.” Connor brushes his lips over mine.

I lean in and deepen the kiss.

“Why don’t we get our studying done, and then we can put on that movie we’ve been wanting to watch? It’s streaming now.”

I nod, and Connor lifts me, carrying me up the stairs.

It takes a few hours, but we finally get caught up on our studying and assignments. I shower and slip into my panties and one of Connor’s jerseys before putting my wet hair into a messy bun.

“Want some popcorn?” I ask, and Connor nods before heading to the bed to make it all cozy for movie-watching.

Alice is in the kitchen, drinking a smoothie, and I put the popcorn into the microwave before pulling her into a hug.

“Hi. What’s wrong with you?” she asks, loudly slurping her smoothie over my shoulder.

“I’m going to marry Connor,” I say with a dreamy sigh.

Alice relaxes into the hug and finally hugs me back. “Yeah?”

“Yes! I’m going to marry Connor Morningstar. This summer!”

“No hesitation, huh?” Alice asks.

“None!” I say, smacking a kiss on her cheek. “I need to just… let myself be happy and loved. I deserve to be loved like he loves me.”

Alice nods and squeezes me once before swatting at me. “Well, you know I’ll be here for all of it.”

The popcorn pops away in the microwave, and then the microwave dings, alerting me it is done.

“Go love on your fiancé,” Alice says, managing to worm away.

I slide my hand into hers. “And you’re my maid of honor.”

“Madness of honor,” Alice corrects.

I grab her face and smother her in kisses. The microwave beeps angrily, reminding me it’s done. Alice gently pushes me away, and I pull the popcorn out of the microwave and dump it into a bowl.

When I get back upstairs, I smile at how Connor set up the room. He has fluffed the pillows and perched his laptop on his bedside table, the movie ready to play.

“Hi, gorgeous,” he says, his loose pajama pants slung low on his hips. I groan and put the bowl on his desk. I slip onto the bed and straddle him, slamming my lips to his.

Connor deepens the kiss, his tongue exploring my mouth. “Maybe orgasms first,” I moan against his lips.

“The popcorn will get cold.” Connor moans even as he cups my ass and rubs my core against his cock.

“I can rune it,” I moan breathlessly.

“Well, in that case…” Connor thrusts against me. “It would be a crime to waste such a perfect boner.” He pushes his pants down just enough to free himself, and I move my panties to the side before slamming my pussy down on him. Connor arches, digging his fingers into me, and I hiss at the burning pleasure.

“I’m going to be Summer Morningstar,” I moan, rolling my hips. “I will be Summer Morningstar.”

Connor groans and grips my hips hard, moving me up and down on him. “Fuck, I love you,”

I lift my hips and slam them down, my wet pussy stretching for him as I take him inside me over and over.

“I’m going to marry you,” Connor moans, biting my lower lip.

Connor lifts me off him and turns, laying me down on the mattress. I pull his jersey off over my head as he grabs the front of my panties and rips them off. He kicks his pants off, leaving both of us naked. He fits himself between my thighs and slams back into my welcoming heat.

“Oh, big guy. I’m going to marry the fuck out of you,” I gasp out as Connor moves his lips to my neck and bites me hard. The ache makes my core clench, and I can feel the bruise already forming. His fingers trail up my body, and he cups my breast, dragging his calloused thumb over my nipple. I shift beneath him and wrap my legs around his hips. He groans, and his thrusts turn almost brutal, the bed groaning beneath us.

Connor braces himself on one forearm and lifts my hand, bringing the engagement ring to his lips. He kisses it before interlocking our fingers and pressing our joined hands against the pillow above my head. I lift my hips, meeting his rhythm and taking him even deeper.

“I love you. I love you. I love you,” Connor says, punctuating each word with a hard thrust.

“I love you, too,” I moan, my toes curling.

“I’m going to come,” Connor hisses.

He claims my mouth again, kissing me hungrily. I cry out into his mouth, my pussy spasming around his cock. Connor deepens the kiss, muffling his shout as he spills inside me. I come a beat later, and he swallows my cries of pleasure. He slows his hips and presses his slick forehead to mine, our panting breaths mingling.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“My Summer,” he whispers back. We stay like that for a long moment, basking in each other before he moves off me. I moan when he rolls me onto my side and curls behind me, spooning my body. “Movie time,” he says, pressing a kiss to the mark he left on my neck.

I nod and wave my hand, summoning the popcorn. Of course, it has gone cold, so I slice my finger and draw a rune on the bowl. It glows faintly, and then the popcorn is once again fresh and hot.

“Let’s do this,” I say, popping a piece of popcorn into my mouth.

Connor taps the spacebar, and the movie starts. He pulls the comforter over us, and I snuggle back into him. I pick up a piece of popcorn and hold it to his lips.

“I added extra butter.”

Connor takes the bite and moans softly. “And that is why I’m marrying you.”

I playfully bite the arm my head is resting on. “I believe what we just did is why you’re marrying me.”

“One of many reasons.” Connor laughs.

When we reach the halfway point of the movie, I have to admit how terrible it is. I glance back at Connor, who is scrunching his nose in distaste.

I laugh. “This movie is awful.” I look back at the screen. “Maybe it’ll get better?”

He pops another handful of popcorn into his mouth. “This is nowhere near as good as Alice’s show. Maybe we should put that on?”

I roll my eyes. “Watch the movie, Con.”

Connor nuzzles into my neck. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” I grumble. Connor playfully nips at my neck. “Okay! I love you!” I laugh and he nuzzles again, happily.

“No matter how bad it turns out to be, this movie will always be close to my heart.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

He pulls me tighter against him. “Because it will always remind me of tonight.”

I laugh, looking at him over my shoulder. “Connor, this cannot be our movie.”

Connor smirks. “Why not?”

“It’s complete garbage!”

“But it’s ours. Our garbage,” Connor says, kissing me softly.

I smile. “Gods, you’re such a mush.”

“The mushiest,” Connor says. I return my attention to the movie, and Connor tightens his arms around me, resting his chin on my head. “Bad movie nights should be our thing.”

I brush my fingers along his arms.

“Oh, I have something to show you.”

I shift until I’m lying on my back, looking up at him. He grins, and then his wings appear behind him. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands. Every single feather is gilded. Awestruck, I shake my head and reach out to run my fingers through them, and Connor shivers in response.

“You’re an archangel,” I whisper.

Connor’s smile brightens. “Yup. Full archangel.”

“My archangel.”

“All yours.”

I smile and brush my lips over his, and he hides his wings again. “Okay, concentrate on this awful movie. There will be a quiz after,” he teases.

I laugh and turn back onto my side, nestling my ass against him.

We finish watching the movie in comfortable silence. As the credits roll, we both burst out laughing. I roll to face him.

“That movie was just… awful.” Connor laughs, stroking his thumb along my stomach.

I laugh, looking up at him.

“It’s still my favorite, though,” Connor says.

“Well, you’re my favorite,” I counter, and Connor leans down to kiss me deeply.

When he breaks the kiss, I look up at him and cup his cheek. “Con?”

“Yeah?” Connor says, stroking my stomach with his thumb.

“You’ll love me forever, right?”

Connor smiles. “Even longer than that.”

“Thank you for offering me a sandwich that first night.”

Connors’ gaze softens even more. “Thank you for giving me a second chance after my brothers almost ruined everything.”

“Thank you for loving me like you do,” I whisper, and Connor kisses me again, this one soft and warm. “Let’s go to Eden this weekend? We can help your mom plan the wedding and see your new apartment!”

“ Our new apartment and I’d love that.”

“I got you a housewarming gift,” I say with a grin.

“You did?” Connor asks, tilting his head.

“Wanna see it?”

“Of course!” Connor says, his skin glowing a little brighter.

I climb out of bed fully naked and grab my bag, pulling out a box. I slip back into bed and hand it to him. Connor tears into the gift, his eyes widening when he sees the framed photo of us. It’s our engagement photo that Alice took.

“It’s perfect,” Connor says, brushing his fingers over the date engraved into the frame, his voice full of emotion.

“You like it?” I ask.

Connor nods, his eyes misty. “It’s perfect. Our first picture for our new place.”

I grin, kissing him deeply.

Connor smiles. “It’ll look perfect with our wedding photos next to it. My pre-wife.”

I run my fingers through his hair. “Pre-husband.”

Connor props the photo on the bedside table, and we lie down, looking at each other. I’m not sure how long we lie there, but when I eventually fall asleep, I sleep, knowing I have never been loved like this.