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I climb over him, straddling his hips, my thighs wide as I position myself just above him.

We hold each other's gaze, breathless, hearts pounding in sync. My hand wraps around his length, guiding him to my entrance, the thick head nudging against my slick folds. I lower myself slowly, gasping as he fills me again—inch by inch—until he’s buried deep, stretching me fully, perfectly.

“Fee,” he groans, head falling back for a moment before his eyes snap back to mine. His hands find my hips, gripping tight as I begin to move, rocking my hips in delicious circles, savoring the deep fullness.

Leaning forward, I capture his mouth in a hungry kiss, our tongues meeting as my hips roll over him, drawing moans from both of us.

As our mouths tangle, my hands move to his chest, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.

One by one, I undo them, exposing his warm skin beneath, running my palms across the hard planes of his chest.

His arms wrap tightly around my back, pulling me even closer as I ride him, my breasts pressing against his bare chest, nipples brushing his skin with every movement.

He thrusts up into me now, matching my rhythm, his hands roaming up my spine, holding me as if he can't bear even an inch of distance between us.

“You drive me crazy,” he pants against my lips, voice breaking with raw need.

Still straddling him, my hands thread through his hair, guiding his head lower. His eyes darken, understanding my silent command. As I arch my back slightly, I bring my breast closer to his waiting mouth, my nipple brushing his lips.

“Take me,” I whisper, breathless.

With a low groan, he opens his mouth and draws my nipple inside, sucking gently at first, his tongue flicking against the sensitive bud. My lips part in a soft cry as a bolt of pleasure shoots straight through me, deepening the heat already coiling low in my belly.

He sucks harder, greedily now, his tongue swirling as his hands grip my waist, holding me firmly while I ride him.

Each time I grind my hips down, I feel him filling me completely, his thick length pressing against every swollen, sensitive place inside me.

The steady drag of him stroking my walls, combined with the wet heat of his mouth on my breast, sends my body spiraling closer to the edge.

My hips roll faster, more desperately now, chasing the growing tension that burns hotter with every stroke. He groans against my skin, the vibrations from his mouth making my nipple pebble harder under his attention, sending shivers down my spine.

He releases my breast with a wet pop, his eyes hooded, pupils blown wide with lust. “You’re so fucking perfect like this,” he rasps, his voice rough as his hands tighten around my hips, helping guide my movements, thrusting up into me as I ride him harder.

The slick sounds of our bodies meeting fill the air, my arousal coating him as I grind down and swirl my hips, taking him as deep as my body will allow. My thighs tremble with the effort, but the overwhelming pleasure drives me forward, building faster, hotter, closer.

I love him. Oh, I love him so damn much.

^^^^

The garden is breathtaking. The warm gold of the late afternoon sun spills across the estate grounds like honey, brushing the white roses, glinting off crystal glasses, and illuminating the long silk ribbons tied to the polished white chairs.

A soft breeze whispers through the tall hedges, carrying the delicate scent of roses and freshly baked pastries.

The fountain in the center of the garden hums quietly, its cascading water sparkling under the light like thousands of tiny diamonds. Even after everything we’ve survived, this place still manages to feel like a dream.

I sit, my hands clasped neatly in my lap, my honey-colored bridesmaid gown hugging my frame.

The silk feels soft against my skin, but my stomach still knots in a way that fabric can’t soothe.

I glance sideways and catch Serevin watching me.

His lips curve faintly, that familiar, knowing smile tugging at the corner.

His dark eyes hold me there, and I swallow softly, my chest tightening.

It’s been two years, yet sometimes, I still feel like I’m walking through someone else’s life. I never fully got back to who I was before everything, and I admit, I wonder who she truly was.

At the altar, Emilia glows. The ivory lace of her wedding gown shimmers under the sun. The fitted bodice flares into a sweeping train, and the delicate crystals stitched into her veil glitter like falling stars as she turns her head toward Cassian.

Cassian gazes at her with wide eyes and a soft smile that I never thought I’d see on his usually sarcastic face. His thumb strokes the back of her hand as if he’s grounding himself, and she lets out a nervous breath, blinking up at him like he’s her entire world.

The officiant's voice carries across the lawn.

“Do you, Cassian Bellandi, take Emilia D’Angelis to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Cassian barely lets him finish before answering, “I do.”

The soft chuckles that ripple through the guests feel like warmth passing through the air.

“And do you, Emilia D’Angelis, take Cassian Bellandi—”

“I do,” Emilia answers, her voice cracking slightly but full of certainty.

Their lips meet in a tender kiss that lingers longer than tradition might allow. The applause is gentle but heartfelt as they finally part, breathless but smiling.

As the officiant steps aside, Emilia signals to a staff member who brings her a microphone. The gentle buzz of feedback hums before she steadies her voice.

“Today is about love.” Her voice shakes for a second before she gathers herself. “But not just about me and Cassian. It’s about the people who taught me that love can bloom even in the darkest corners. Even in places where light was never meant to reach.”

Her eyes sweep across the gathering, but then they lock with mine. She smiles softly, almost shyly. My throat tightens, and I fight back the burn rising in my chest.

“Fioretta.”

I feel my breath catch. The lump in my throat swells, and I fight the moisture threatening my eyes. Serevin’s hand finds mine beneath the table, his thumb tracing soft circles across my skin.

Emilia steps back, still smiling.

From the corner of my eye, I see Serevin rise from his seat, slow and steady. My heart jumps as he approaches, his eyes fixed on mine like I’m the only person in the world.

He stops in front of me, and for a brief moment, the entire garden seems to hold its breath.

In his hand is a small velvet box.

I stare at it, my pulse hammering in my ears. My chest rises and falls heavily, trying to contain the storm swirling inside me.

He opens the box slowly, revealing a simple but stunning platinum ring. The diamond in the center glimmers under the golden light, like a single star burning bright in the afternoon sky.

His voice lowers to a whisper, but I hear every word as though he’s speaking straight into my soul.

“You are my wife already,” his voice wavers, but his eyes remain locked on mine, “but I want to renew our vows. Not because I have to…but because I need to.”

The world tilts slightly as his words hit me. My eyes sting as tears brim and slide down my cheeks before I can stop them.

“I love you,” he breathes. “I will love you until the end of time.”

The lump in my throat breaks as I whisper, my voice catching, “I love you too.”

His hands tremble slightly as he slides the ring onto my finger—this beautiful promise wrapped in a circle of light. As the ring settles in place, he gently lifts my chin, his thumb brushing away a fresh tear sliding down my cheek.

The moment his lips meet mine, the world vanishes. His kiss is tender but fierce, like he’s trying to pour every unspoken word, every regret, every second chance into me. My fingers clutch at his jacket, pulling him closer as the guests around us fade into nothing.

Applause and soft gasps ring out, but none of that matters. In this moment, there’s only him and me—two broken souls who found each other in the wreckage and learned to hold on.

It always has been us.