He palmed my ass, hands running up my sides as he lifted me higher, his head rocking back as he moved and grasped the back of my head, forcing it down as he continued that frenzied assault of tongue, teeth, and mouth.
“Need you forever. Need you wearing my name and showing off my ring.” It was all a slur of desperation.
Shock sifted through me, and I froze as what he said penetrated.
I edged back a fraction, still holding onto his shoulders.
It felt as if the world were trembling around me when I took the chance to peer down at him.
He met my gaze.
Raw and severe and honest.
“Marry me.”
Hope flashed like wildfire, image after image of a fantasy life I’d never thought possible.
Simple, simple dreams.
They burned from within.
I swallowed around the emotion lodged in my throat and forced out the words. “Are you serious?”
“With all I got…with all I have to offer. Marry me, Shea Bentley.”
I blinked frantically. “Right now?”
“Right now. When things settle down, we’ll do the big ceremony thing. Have my guys stand up as my best men. Make April and Tamar wear the ugliest dresses you can find.”
One cheek twitched as he said that. Breathing quickly, I tried to catch up to what he was asking me.
The words just got rougher as he continued. “We’ll have our Kallie tossing petals down in front of you because she’ll be the cutest damned flower girl to ever walk an aisle. Have everyone we care about there to witness it. I want all of that, Shea,” he emphasized as he grasped me a little tighter. “I want to give it to you. But now? Celebrating my birthday? Want to make you my wife. Just you and me and a future that’s wide open in front of us.”
Hopeful eyes searched my face. “Tell me you want that, too.”
“Yes.” It rushed out from somewhere deep within.
“Yes?”
“Yes…yes…yes,” I whispered almost frantically. Or maybe it was just my frantic kisses I couldn’t stop. Kisses of joy, something whole and beautiful and absolute.
I could feel him smile beneath my lips.
Find love and bring it here. My grandmother’s voice echoed through my mind.
I found it, Grandma.
I found it.
He pulled back. “I promise you, Shea, I’m gonna love you forever. I’m going to protect it and never let it go. Be the husband you deserve and the father Kallie needs.”
“Sebastian,” I breathed, and he cupped my neck, thumb brushing under my jaw.
“You are the one I’ve been waiting for.”
My thoughts flashed to my Kallie.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the wonderful things Sebastian wanted, the things I wanted, she’d want them, too.
No questions lingered.
This was right.
He kissed me hard, then moved me to my seat, slanting me a lopsided grin as he threw the car back into drive, and made a quick U in the middle of the road. He pressed the voice recognition on the navigation for the Marriage Bureau.
He drove quickly and purposefully while I flew, my spirit far and fast in front of us.
Touching that future wide open ahead.
We found a spot to park, and Sebastian jumped out and ran around to meet me. Again I found myself struggling to keep up with him as we ran into the building, filled out the form, and paid the fee for a marriage license.
All of this seemed so insane, yet so entirely perfect.
I was getting married.
To Sebastian Stone.
We raced back out to the car. Sebastian’s melodic laughter clashed with the night as he threw the convertible back into reverse, and there was nothing I could do. I was back on my knees in my seat, leaning across the console, kissing his face. His neck. Touching him everywhere.
I bounced when he slanted the car into a lot. My smile that seemed unending somehow managed to grow.
We didn’t even get out of the car. Sebastian just maneuvered around to the drive-through lane where we paid another fee and handed over our license. The officiant began to speak. We nodded our understanding as he asked a couple questions to ensure we understood we were entering into a legal marriage.
Yes.
Yes.
And yes.