Page 205 of Lovers Like Us

Farrow takes a tight breath. “What are yousaying?”

“I’ve been fucking stubborn, but I’d rather be stubbornwith youthan without you.” I’m more assured than I’ve ever been. “I’m not standing in my own way anymore. You’ve given me the courage tomove.”

His eyes push through me.Intome. Excavating parts of my soul that belong tohim.

He’s wanted more, and I saidnoout of a moral obligation to protect his privacy. I’m finally ready to let go. I don’t want to drag us down when a greater happiness is in reach. All I need to do is move towardsit.

So I say, “I know your life will drastically change if we go public. I know the media will hound you. I know your job will be harder. I know there’s a chance it could fuck everything up, but I’m willing to take that giant risk with you and onlyyou.”

Farrow rubs his mouth, and his overcome smile lights my core. “Damn.”

My pulse is racing. “So that’s a yes?” I need to make sure he hasn’t changed hismind.

He doesn’t look away from me. “It’s always been a yes.” We draw towards one another, no longer stopping, and I take out myphone.

He notices the cell, understanding what we’re about todo.

And Farrow cups my face with one hand. I grip the back of his neck. Our mouths a breath apart, he whispers, “Ready, wolfscout?”

Unequivocally, fucking wholeheartedly, yes. I commit a thousand-and-one percent, and our mouths meet, the sweltering kiss zipping through my veins and scorching me. I clutch his hair and remember to click aphoto.

He nips my lip,fuck me.God, it takes all my energy to lean back, to part for a second. My pulse thumps hard, breath knotted and wanting for more. Deeper and longer. Farrow holds my waist, and we both train our eyes on myphone.

In the picture, his tattooed hand clasps my sharp jaw and my hand grips his black hair. Chest against chest, our eyes stay closed and our lips are pressed together in a cinematic-worthyembrace.

It’s too affectionate to be calledfake.

I already know what to type in the Instagram box. When I finish, I angle the phone to Farrow. Making sure he’s alright with this before weupload.

His smile stretches, and with one more glance at me, he pressespost.

Instantly, our photo pops up in the feed. Only three words beneath the picture. Three words that announce we’re a couple. Three words that I’ll never forget. Three words that’ll changeeverything.

Lovers LikeUs.

His hand returns to my jaw, mine to his neck, and we fucking kiss again. And again. My muscles pull taut, burning for more, and his smile rises against my lips. My back digs into the barrel, and I’m holding him in a strong grip that pulls his firm body against my hard chest. Our breath hot andshallow.

The garden explodes with buzzing. Pinging notifications. Texts andcalls.

People realize what’s happened, but I’m not looking. I’m not watchingthem.

We’re in our ownworld.

Our ownuniverse.

No one can have it. No one can breakit.

This moment belongs tous.