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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

AMELIA

I shove Elliot’s chest and spin, taking off at a run. My lungs burn as the frigid air fills them from my rapid breaths, and I know it will take nothing at all for him to catch up with me—the man runs every single day while the only exercise I do regularly is lifting a coffee mug.

But in this moment, with the sound of my rapid breathing in my ears and the deep soul knowledge that there’s nowhere I could run where Elliot Wyles wouldn’t come and find me, I am elated and wild and absolutely free.

I would laugh at the joy of it if I wasn’t already out of breath. I really need to exercise more.

I hear Elliot’s pounding footsteps before I feel him, and in a split second, he passes me, turning around and grabbing me around the waist, lifting me off my feet.

The move surprises me enough that I lurch to the side, throwing us off balance just enough to take us both down.

In a feat of fuck-hot superhuman strength, Elliot spins so he lands first with a grunt, and I end up sprawled on top of him, my arms crossed over his chest.

Lifting my head, we stare at each other for a beat before we burst out laughing. Elliot wraps his arms around me, and we laugh until our sides hurt and tears stream down our faces.

And then suddenly, as if a switch flips for both of us, we’re not laughing anymore.

We stare at each other, and what I see in his eyes has my breath hitching, my heart slamming against my ribs. The hustle and bustle of the winter festival around us fades away and it’s just Elliot and me, lying in the snow, twinkle lights overhead, and the hum of possibility between us.

Elliot reaches up, tucking my hair behind my ear and stroking his hand down my face, cupping my cheek to keep my eyes on his.

“Amelia,” he whispers, my name soaked in reverence, his eyes filled with a love so deep tears blur my vision.

I blink them away so I don’t miss a single expression on his gorgeous face as we pause on the line between what was and what will be, not out of fear or hesitation, but to memorize this moment that I know will be etched into my memories for the rest of my days.

And then.

“I love you.” Elliot’s words are laced with awe and wonder, his smile spreading as he looks up at me, his own eyes glossing over as my heart takes flight at the happiness on his face.

“Fuck, I love you so much. As crazy as it is, I think I’ve loved you since the plane.

Since you asked me if my dog had a dildo in her mouth, and told me I stole your seat and shared your gummy bears with me, but wouldn’t let me eat the red ones.

I didn’t think I believed in things like love at first sight, but it’s like I saw you and my heart yelled mine , and that was it for me. ”

He strokes his hand down my face and slides his fingers around to cup the back of my neck, his thumb gliding back and forth along my jaw and his other hand gripping my waist in a gesture of possession that has my blood thrumming.

“You’re it for me. I know we have things to figure out.

My job, and when or if you want to tell Gabe and your family what you’ve been up to, and my brain that can sometimes be a dark and twisty place, but Amelia, those are all just details.

Today I learned that my great-grandmother loved in secret for more than three decades.

I don’t want that for us. I want our love to be big and bold and to bring everyone we know into its orbit.

Be mine, Mystery Girl. All the way out loud, as soon as we can.

Let me be yours. I will only ever be yours. ”

“I love you too,” I manage, tears filling my eyes and spilling over at the dazzling grin that breaks out across his face.

He cups my face in both his hands, wiping my tears away.

“I love you so damn much. I’ve never felt anything like the way I feel for you.

You swooped into my life with your cute dog and your family full of brothers and your freakishly good memory for all the things I love, and it was like you saw all of me.

I didn’t realize how badly I needed to be seen.

We do have things to figure out, but we will—I’ve always been good with details.

No part of me wants to keep us a secret either.

And what matters right now is that I love every single inch of you.

I love your big heart and your twisty, brilliant brain, and the parts of you that probably shouldn’t be mentioned at this very family-friendly festival. ”

As if such a thing were possible, his grin gets even bigger, and he rolls us so he’s hovering over me.

The chill of the snow seeps into my jacket, but I don’t feel any of it because Elliot loves me and I love him, and no night has ever been better than this one.

He dips his head, pressing his mouth to mine in the most perfect kiss of my life because it’s an I love you kiss, and it turns out that those are the best kisses of all.

“Tell me more about those parts of me,” he murmurs against my lips, smiling when I reach behind him and pinch his ass. “And I’ll tell you about all my favorite parts of you.”

I laugh, absolutely consumed by the sheer joy of this moment. “Sounds a whole lot like we better get somewhere private—fast.”

Elliot dips his head and sucks lightly at the spot behind my ear, laughing when I gasp. “You sure? We didn’t even have time to check out the food trucks. I know how you get when you’re hungry, and you’re going to need all the energy you can get for what I have planned for later.”

“That punishment you promised?”

His eyes go dark and a little feral. “Oh, you can count on it. You are in so…” He leans in and kisses me, hard and quick.

“Much.” Presses a line of kisses down my neck.

“Trouble.” Nudges my jacket and the neck of my sweater aside and nips at my collarbone then flicks it with his tongue to soothe the sting.

I brush Elliot’s hair off his face, then wind my arms around his neck, pulling his mouth back to mine again. “Then feed me, El, and then take me back to the hotel and fuck me. I’m pretty sure I love you sex is going to be the best sex of all.”

A groan rumbles from his chest, and I feel his cock jerk between us. “It will be. And we’ll get there, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to be doing some begging first. Bratty girls still get punished, even when I love every damn inch of you.”

I grin at him, even as need snakes through me.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” I roll my hips up against his rapidly hardening cock, feeling a deep satisfaction at his low moan, the way his hands tangle in my hair, pulling slightly.

Then I do it again, and it’s like I hit Elliot with a cattle prod.

He jumps up, pulling me with him, wrapping his arms around me and tucking his hands into the back pockets of my jeans, plastering my body to his.

When he speaks, his voice is low, mouth brushing my ear.

“Amelia, you are sexy and gorgeous, and I love you so damn much I’m shocked my heart doesn’t just explode with it.

I’m also so hard and so fucking close to coming in my pants right now you have no idea, so here’s what’s going to happen.

I’m going to feed you, and then we are going to go back to the hotel so I can get my hands and my mouth and my dick on every single inch of you, all night long. How does that sound?”

I lick a path up his neck and then bite his earlobe, chuckling at the whimper that escapes his throat. “I can’t think of anything I would like more.”