Page 251 of Things We Hide from the Light

“About time he got his head out of his ass,” I heard the mayor say as I walked away from them.

Lina pushed away from the car and launched herself at me.

I caught her and boosted her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist.

“Hey there, hotsh—”

I didn’t let her finish. I dragged her mouth down to mine and kissed her like it was the first time. Like it was the last time. Like it was the only time.

She went soft in my arms and I went hard. The taste of her, the feel of her, the reality of her was too much. I was never going to get enough.

I pulled back from the kiss. “It’s after.”

“Yeah, and you’re still buying me a ring.”

“You didn’t change your mind?”

“I told you. You’re stuck with me. I drafted my letter of resignation on my phone while I was waiting for you to kick Dilton’s ass.”

“How’s your arm?” I asked her.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. I don’t even need stitches.”

“I said you could probably use a few stitches,” one of the paramedics yelled from the open window of their vehicle.

Lina shrugged and grinned at me. “Eh. Same thing.”

“I fucking love you, Angel.”

Her face softened. “I love you too, hotshot.”

“You gonna marry me?”

There was so much love in her eyes that I felt like I almost couldn’t breathe. “Yeah,” she whispered.

“Good girl.”

I pulled her mouth down for another kiss, then winced when she dug her heel into my ass cheek.

“Are you sure you didn’t get shot in that perfect ass?”

“Shot? No.”

“What happened?”

“I’ll show you later. First, why don’t you give me a ride home?”

She let out a little squeal and unwound her legs from my waist. “I thought you’d never ask.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I tugged it free.

I grinned and turned the screen toward Lina.

“Why is my mom calling you?”

“I’m guessing you missed a few calls.”

“I figured we could tell them about our night together,” she said, looking guilty.