Chapter

Jase is smiling at me when I wake up all cuddle up and warmly tucked in his arms as the daylight threatens to disappear.

"I love this. Waking up to you is by far the best time of day."

I smile as his lips find mine, and the night finally overtakes the day as the sun sets completely.

"We've really got to get back on daytime schedule," he snickers out, while pulling back and kissing my forehead. "I'm starting to feel like a vampire."

I laugh ridiculously hard, and he joins me in the chuckling fest. Keeping my mind blank, I smirk as I rise up and step free from the bed.

"Why am I getting a blanket from your mind right now?" he asks, playful suspicion in his tone.

"I'm very slowly learning to block you out. I've been working on it here and there, and as long as I concentrate really, really hard, it seems to work well enough. Otherwise it's hard to surprise my mind reading fiancé."

He sits up, excitement beaming in those mismatched eyes that give me butterflies and push me off balance. He's so perfect.

"Am I?" he cockily releases, giving me a dazzling smile and a devious wink. I nod while giggling, and he continues. "Then come back to bed and let's spend some time getting tired. I'd like to get us back on the right hours."

I laugh a little, and then I shake my head.

"Get dressed," I say while tossing some of his jeans to the bed.

Melania and Rex were kind enough to go buy us some new clothes, since we never could locate ours before we burned it all to the ground. This city is probably ready for the United fleet to get the hell out of it.

"Where are we going?" he asks, his boyish grin intact. "To pick out a ring, perhaps?"

This time my grin is the one to look foolish. I shake my head, going to sit down beside him while pressing a sweet kiss to his soft, plump lips.

"Nope. You can pick out my ring. I prefer to be surprised. Right now, we're going to do something that I've planned for you."

His eyes narrow as his grin spreads even wider. "How did you keep a secret from me ?"

I shrug, laughing lightly when his eyebrows bounce mischievously. With his eyes mismatched like that, I can feel his emotions even clearer than I can when he's sporting his hybrid blues. At this moment, his excitement is giving me the giggles.

"It wasn't easy, but like I said, I've been working on shutting you out."

He frowns, though it's not a serious look of dismay. "I don't like you shutting me out. I love reading your mind."

I turn toward him, my brow raising skeptically. "Oh? I tell you what, keep your mismatched eyes and let me read your emotions all the time, and I'll let you read my mind all the time."

He purses his lips as he falls into thought, and then he tilts his head from side to side as if he's weighing that option.

"Touché. So, when are we leaving?"

I'm not very good at shutting him out on everything, but I can conceal a thought or two. This one in particular is especially important.

"Right now. You ready?" I ask as I finish pulling on the last of my ensemble.

He looks me up and down, seeming to be pleased with my daringly low shirt that shows the inside lines of my breasts. He smirks when he sees the skintight leather pants that are neatly tucked into my rich black boots as well.

"I do love it when my sister shops for you."

"You love it when anyone besides me shops for my clothes."

He laughs while finishing up with his clothing as well. He looks good with his suit-and-tie attire. Too good.

"Hey. That I heard," he seduces, smirking salaciously.

Crap.

"Let's go. I'm apparently becoming too distracted to shut you out."

He chuckles while taking my hand in his, and he kisses the back of it as we walk through the hotel, leaving our room far behind on our venture outside. He checks each corridor for a clue as to where we're going, and I strain to keep him out of my head.

"You're going to break something if you keep working that hard," he jokes, motioning to the mirror to show me my very ugly face of concentration.

Ew. Do I always look like I'm constipated when I'm trying to keep him out?

He bursts out laughing, letting me know he just overheard my mind's slip. Stupid blabbermouth head.

"Funny," I grumble, smiling when he pulls me to him and forces me to walk backwards while his lips consume mine.

The back of this shirt is out, and his touch on my skin is almost painfully arousing.

"Painfully arousing? I like the sound of that," he murmurs menacingly, making me blush.

"Get out of there."

"Never. I love being in your head, besides, I already told you I can't shut you out. So, stop trying to force me out."

"You can be in my head when I don't have a surprise. Let me have this."

He sighs, mocking frustration while unsuccessfully stifling an excited grin. He's like an excited teen right now, and I can't seem to stop giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Fine," he murmurs, releasing me so I can walk on my own.

We head outside to where one of the larger tents is set up, and he tilts his head.

"What's this one? No one told me about this one," he says while inspecting it.

"That's because I had it specially placed, and I even went through the channels and got it authorized by a general. I imagine you know which general I used," I joke, pulling back the side panel for him to enter.

"My sister was your coconspirator? She's been blocking me out too?"

"She can't," I murmur while following him inside. "But she knows how to make you tune out. All she has to do is think about my brother and her, and she feels you running out of her head."

"That's disgustingly crafty," he grumbles in distaste, shivering after.

He takes in the small tent's surroundings. Everything is covered by a sheet except for a lone chair in the middle. He studies it and starts to peel back a sheet when I pop his hand like a he's child reaching for a cookie before dinner.

"Sit down," I say while pushing him backwards to the chair.

He laugh as he obliges, and once he's seated, I go to straddle him.

"This is my surprise? Outdoor sex? Perfect."

"Stop," I chuckle out when he jerks my ass to force my center against him. "That's not what this is. This is something you've secretly wanted for years, possibly centuries, but you've probably never told anyone. I don't have to have to be a mind reader to read your mind."

He tilts his head, leaning back while keeping me pulled to him. "I can't seem to think of anything I've wanted for that long. Are you sure you know what you're doing, Ms. Banner?"

"Positive. You see, you're a hybrid, and like me, you're exceptionally gifted, more so than what you give yourself credit for. But you've had to hide it for far too many centuries. You've felt like you were in limbo, never belonging to a group. After your sister's gifted secret came out, you felt even more alone because she joined the hybrids. Yet you somehow managed to become this amazing man despite all the isolation you must have felt."

He swallows hard on the unexpected emotion I've provoked. His mismatched eyes shift to pale so he can shut me out. I kiss him softly, running my fingers through his hair as a show of affection.

"Don't shut me out," I murmur softly, kissing his cheek. "I want to feel you like you want to read my mind."

"I didn't realize your abilities were that extensive," he murmurs while clearing his throat from the surprise. "I only assumed you could read me here and now, not in the past."

I smile as I kiss him, feeling so connected to him right now even though I can't feel him through his pale blue eyes.

"They're not that extensive. I didn't feel that, I just know you. I feel like I've always known you. That's how I know this is the best birthday present I can give you."

"I forgot it was even my birthday," he mutters with a huff of a laugh.

"I didn't. I also haven't forgotten all the times you traced the lines of my sparrow, staring at it with a secretive gaze I didn't understand until recently. Now, you'll have one of your own, and I'm going to be the one to give it to you."

Tears try to form in his eyes, but he quickly blinks them back, refusing to be this emotional in front of me. I was very right about this, and I love the fact that I get to be a part of it.

I start to stand, but he pulls me close, pressing his lips to mine with a crushing force as he breathes me in, thanking me for giving me the one thing he's always wanted but could never have as a false full blood.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," he murmurs against my lips, making me smile more.

"Now, where do you want it?" I ask while standing up and staring down at him.

He smirks while pulling his shirt off, and then he points to his shoulder, the one I bled just earlier before we crashed all day.

"Here. The place you bled before agreeing to marry me."

I smile victoriously, feeling very vindicated in my choice of gift, as I walk over to the machine hidden by the sheet. Then I walk over to the table and pull back the sheet to reveal the uranium-laser tips.

When I turn back around, I catch him quickly wiping his face while hiding the tear he just cleared from his cheek.

It's heartwarming and exciting to be the one who does this for him. He's been there for me, helped me survive something I couldn't have lived through without the magic of his touch. Now I get to help him with the pain he's endured for much too long.

"Ready?" I ask when I finish loading the machine.

He nods, leaning back as I push it over and line the lasers up with his choice of placement. I step back and watch the machine go to work, quickly drawing the black outline of the sparrow all gifted hybrids have.

Then the shading process begins as the black outline is joined with the black coloring - the dark sparrow. For many centuries now, only the strongest hybrids get the dark sparrow. Jase is a strong hybrid, and now he has a place with all strong hybrids. He's no longer a lone wolf with no pack.

The machine finishes, and I unveil another table that holds the uranium sealant, the only way to keep the sparrow intact without letting it be healed with the taste of blood. I dip a rag into it and head back toward the man admiring his new mark. He cringes slightly when I press the burning poison against him, but he smiles when I pull it back to reveal the permanent product.

"It took twenty times to get my sparrow to stay. My body heals even against uranium, so my Uncle Clay actually had to trick my blood into not healing in order to keep the damn thing in place."

Jase chuckles lightly, his eyes staying on his proof of belonging. "Thank you, Aria. This means more than you know."

I wobble and feel the shift of his eyes before I see the mismatched beauties in place. He lets me feel him, his depth of gratitude, appreciation, excitement, and... love. It's breathtaking, and his lips are on mine when I almost fall.

He holds me steady as his body lets me feel him deeper, all of his love for me is overwhelming, and it feels more incredible than I thought possible.

"I love you, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you," he murmurs softly against my lips.

"You mean eternity," I quickly interject, making him smile more.

"Eternity."

"Knock knock," Simone says while popping in.

She seems to be feeling a lot better. Lately she's looked like she was absolutely miserable. Right now, she looks like the perky, vibrant girl I've known as my sister.

"Hey," Jase says while kissing my forehead.

"Did you like Aria's gift?" she asks.

"Best birthday ever. The girl I love agreed to marry me and I finally get to just be me. Not to mention, I'm still the commander. All in all, today's the first day in a while where I've had so much go right. Please don't tell me you've got bad news."

She smiles, but it's forced.

"You do have bad news," I grumble, wishing she'd save her bad news for another day. "Can it wait?"

"Um... I don't know if this is something I can hold off telling. Rex and Melania are waiting for us in their room."

Rex and Melania?

"Did something happen to them?"

"I'll tell everyone at once. This is a closed-circle conversation."

I sigh out, feeling my moment of happiness soured once again by the fatal blows of reality. Jase intertwines our fingers as he follows me out with the same reluctant stride. I wish I could just have some time alone with Jase without the world needing our undivided attention.

"Maybe soon, babe. Maybe soon," he murmurs, reading my mind since I no longer care to shut him out. It's too hard to shut him out anyhow.

I feel his disgruntled emotion matching mine as we briskly follow Simone back into the hotel. As we round the last corner, my stomach turns to knots. I wish she'd just tell us and end the suspense.

She rings the box, and Rex swings the door open to usher us in. Apparently he's tired of the suspense as well.

"What the hell is so important, Simone? We've been on edge since you called. What's so fucking secretive?" Rex rapidly releases, his anxiety running over him and feeding my own.

I'm feeling his emotions with so much clarity right now. I can feel Melania's as well, almost to the point where it's materializing over me. This is new. Maybe I'm finally getting a handle on it.

From Simone, though, I feel an empty ache. It's almost as if her heart is breaking, but I haven't known of her dating anyone recently. Did I miss something?

"What's going on?"

Simone checks the windows, and then she draws the shades, as though she's worried someone will be reading my lips.

"The hounds," she murmurs while turning back toward us, "we know they were fused with emergents, and I think I know how."

She pulls out a small screen from her purse and connects it with the larger one on the wall of Rex's room. It pops on to show us an assortment of internal icky stuff, which means absolutely nothing to me.

"What're we looking at?" Melania asks.

"This is the blood of an infected. You can see all the damaged cells and the destroyed membranes that should never grow back. All hair follicles are destroyed, and their retinas are discolored to the point it changes the color of the iris to red. If, however, you fuse it with emergent hybrid blood, some repairs start. If you fuse it with both emergent hybrid and full blood hybrid blood, then the process deepens, healing the damage caused by the infection."

Everyone gasps, and Jase's hand tightens on mine. Simone lets it sink in for a second before continuing.

"This is something I think they were hoping to do to humans. The problem lies in the makeup of the human evolution. The human body is far more complex than that of an animal. They lack certain variables that make this process simple, and they have several different variables that make this process even more complicated. That's why they need Aria's blood. It's the missing component that will complete the code and turn infected humans into... well, something immortal. I don't know what to call them.

"They will be more like actual emergents than emergent hybrids, that much I know. The gory part, it took me the full sample of Jase's blood, along with the sample of blood I had from Kellan to complete this process on just a small amount of blood I took from the hounds. In order to do this to a human or an animal, it would take all the blood inside the body of both breeds in order to change just one infected human."

Jase grips his head and sits down in a chair as he tries to process this. His voice is low when he finally attempts to speak.

"That explains why they had that girl strapped down and draining her. Then they fed her blood so they could bleed her again. If they wait two hours, the blood she drinks turns into her own blood. They're bleeding them like cattle. That's what they were going to do to those children too. They were grooming them to survive the process so they could turn them into cattle for their twisted science experiment."

"Imagine how many cycles they had to complete to change that army of mutts," Rex murmurs softly, his voice as frail as his ashen face.

"Fuck!" Jase shouts while standing up and flinging his chair against the wall, turning the small wooden thing to splinters. "From this point on, Aria is not allowed out of sight. She's to be guarded at every point of the day by no one less than a level seven. Got it?"

"Jase," I murmur in exasperation, "they haven't gotten to me yet. Don't freak out. We have to worry about the United as a whole, not just me."

The look he gives me is incredulous, and he pulls me to him in a grip so tight that I'm worried he'll never let me go.

"They're not after the whole United . They're after you. They need you. I'll be damned if I don't do everything in my power to keep that from happening. I can't and won't lose you."

I sigh out, understanding his emotional outburst since I can feel the depth of his desire to keep me safe. I don't bother arguing since it's pointless.

"There's something else," Simone says, her eyes apologizing to me.

"What?" I prompt, my own anxiety matching everyone else's.

She turns to face my brother and Melania, sitting down in a chair as she devotes her attention to them completely.

"Melania has a span. It matches yours exactly. Another thousand years," she says to my brother, making everyone gasp.

"What?" Jase asks. "That's impossible. We had our blood checked for spans when we children. We're immortal. That's why we went full blood instead of hybrid."

Rex seems saddened, but Melania seems to be incredibly fine with the revelation.

"Apparently you're immortal until you find your counter," Simone says while sitting back. "Also, I've learned that not all full blood hybrids are immortal at all. Some of the children seem to already be showing signs of spans, though their lines read as immortal. It's complex and hard to find. You have to know you're looking for something to find it. The only reason I knew to look was because of Melania's change."

"That's fine," Melania interjects, cancelling out whatever Jase was about to say. "I don't want to be here when Rex is gone. I love knowing we'll have the same time and I won't have to feel the pain my mother did when her counter died. I doubt I have a perfect soul mate out there for me. Nothing has ever felt as strong to me as the love I have for Rex. Watching him die would destroy me."

I swallow hard, knowing how destroyed I felt just hours ago when I watched Jase die. I can understand her reasoning behind her words. She went from immortal to having a span, and she's relieved to hear such a thing.

"Jase's blood?" I ask, feeling sick and worried suddenly. "Is it going to change?"

She shakes her head, her lips tightening as I await the answer about the eternity we just promised each other.

"I don't know. Jase's blood is much more complex than the children's or Melania's. Right now it reads immortal, and I can't find the lines that showed the change the children might experience. I think it's because of his age and his lineage. Unlike Mel, he has a level seven hybrid father and a full blood mother whose blood was pure and infected with an injection back in the early days of inducing the change. Like Nicholas Hawkins. It makes him stronger in more ways, and it makes reading his blood nearly impossible past the point of the basics."

I swallow hard, looking at him and feeling the dread growing in the pit of my stomach.

"So... do you think the immortal full blood hybrids adopt a span when they find a counter?" I ask, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

Jase sits down, lowering his head to his hands as he reads the heartbreak my mind can't hide from him. It's all I can do not to fall down and burst into tears right now.

"I don't know. I think that's what happened with Melania's blood, but I can't be sure until..."

Her voice trails off, leaving her unspoken sentence slicing through me with its intended message. Until he meets his counter .

"Aria, I'm yours. Regardless of a span, no span, a counter... it doesn't matter. None of it does. I'm yours and only yours."

Tears finally fall free. I just heard that there's a mob of monsters who are desperate to get my blood so they can play mad scientist, but I'm struck with more fear by the revelation that my eternity with the man I love will most likely be taken away.

"Please don't, baby. Let's just... I don't want to think about this. I want to celebrate the fact we're getting married. I want to enjoy the fact my girl and I have a chance to be together despite all the odds. Don't let this ruin us. I love you."

My heart breaks more, but I fight off the monsoon of tears that are begging to drip.

"I love you, and it's not going to ruin us . It's just... you're right. Let's enjoy our moment."

I block him out with all my strength as I let his lips find mine. It really isn't going to ruin us . It's going to ruin me. My span will end when his does. I'm not as strong as my mother. Please let him be able to deny his counter the way I did.

"Come on. Let's go grab some champagne, some food, and some more clothes. We'll be leaving out tomorrow," he murmurs against my lips. "We'll stay on the move."

The buzzing box sounds out loud and annoyingly to announce a guest outside. Does it never end? Maybe it's someone looking for my brother or Melania since this is their room.

Simone opens the door as I wipe my tears away, and Captain Fricks steps in. "Commander Ericson, we need you. There's been a development you're definitely going to want to hear about."

Jase groans inwardly, letting me feel his emotions of agitation before his eyes shift pale blue.

"Very well," he says dryly, pulling me with him. Then he looks over his shoulder to Rex. "Make sure the protection detail for Aria gets instated."

Rex nods, grabbing his phone up as Melania leans into him, seeming a little excited about her life changing news. I wish it was something that excited me. I just feel defeated right now.

"Stop thinking like that. You're my girl. You'll always be mine," Jase murmurs as we walk out.

Captain Fricks keeps a respectable amount of distance between us as he follows, so I'm able to keep my words soft and out of reach.

"I am, and I will be, but that doesn't mean you'll always be mine."

That's right. I'm pathetic and whiny now. I wish Simone had held off on telling us that last part.

"Aria, for as long as I live and breathe, I'll be yours. There's no question in my mind, so don't doubt me. You've felt it. You know how much I love you. Don't ever question that love."

I sigh out, accepting the fact there's no point in worrying about the unknown. I really have to steady my emotions. I'm not in the clear yet, and my savage is foaming at the mouth to escape.

Jase's grip on my hand tightens, letting me know he's not going anywhere, and we head outside to join the very highly ranked officials all waiting for their fearless commander.

I'll wait out here.

"Why?" he asks, stopping short of entering.

I almost laugh. It's as though he's forgotten who I really am. "I'm a tracker... nothing more. This looks very official."

"You're my fiancée, and they know I'll share everything with you anyhow. You know that too. You might as well come in."

"Jase, it's unprofessional, and right now you need to make it clear to them you're not distracted. I'll be fine. Just go on in."

He looks around, not seeming too pleased with my stand. "Not with you being so unguarded."

"Jase, I'm in the middle of the United fleet. There are hundreds of gifted out here. I'll be fine. Not to mention, I happen to be gifted as well. It's a tent, not a soundproof room. You'll hear me if I need you."

He frowns, but he's being way too overprotective.

"Very well then. Just stay close. I doubt I'll be long, and then you and I will go back to the room, celebrate, and start planning our wedding. I'm ready to call you my wife."

I smile, though it feels forced. It's been a rough day, and we slept through most of it. Emergent hounds came out to kill, Jase died, he cured me with his special blood, a group of merciless fiends want my blood, Jase might have a secret span, and worst of all, if he does have a span, it'll depend on his counter. What if she only has a few years left?

"Stop thinking. I'll be back soon. Just wait out here for me, and I'll make you forget it all by doing things to you that will keep you too occupied to think," he murmurs seductively, forcing a genuine smile to my face.

"I'll hold you to that."

He kisses me before disappearing into the tent, and Captain Fricks comes to join me.

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

I shrug, looking from the tent to him. "I don't know. You tell me. You seemed to know what was going on when you came and got us."

"That's not what I was talking about. Jason put a heavy detail on you. Rex just sent out a text that says you're not to go out alone at any time."

Whoa. That was quick.

"Um, yeah. Jase is just being a little overzealous. I'm glad to see you made it out of that fight."

"Well, I got pushed back when we realized the ammo was useless against them. It was enough to drive them back the first time. We took our shots and they bled. They regrouped and came back almost indestructible. I've never seen anything like that."

I have. My mother. She has that ability. Damn, I wish I did.

"I suppose it's a never-ending battle. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he says while sitting down, offering me the chair beside him.

"I know you were close with my dad. Did he ever say anything to anyone else about who or what I was?"

The more I know about my mystery enemies, the better. They knew about me. They knew about me enough to stalk me at my father's funeral. They took pictures of my mom and me. Dad could have trusted the wrong person, and if so, Captain Fricks could be the right man to put on the trail.

"Never," he murmurs, squashing my hopeful lead. "He wouldn't have just confided in anyone with such a thing. Why do you ask?"

"Just trying to piece a puzzle together."

He nods, being polite by not probing further. "I heard the good news. Congratulations on your engagement."

A smile spreads, but it's so weak right now. I'm apparently not allowed to be happy.

"Thank you."

He looks away, acting as though there's something he wants to say, but then he stops. He seems to reconcile his hesitation, and finally lets his words escape.

"Be careful. If he's hybrid, he'll have a counter. All hybrids do. The way you refused Kellan is the first time I've ever heard of such. I know how sensitive your emotions are. That's the only thing your father ever did share with me. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

My tears drip, but then excitement breaks free from inside the tent as cheers roar out, corks pop free from bottles, and celebratory chants start up.

"What's going on?"

Captain Fricks smirks. "It's over apparently. The Unaligned called to speak with the Commander. They had terms they wanted to offer. I suppose Commander Ericson found the medium to end the war."

"What?" I gasp, feeling relief flood through me. "The war is over?"

"This war is," he says, sighing out while motioning to the mess of destruction made by a threat far more severe than the Unaligned.

"At least our focus won't be divided."

"You should know, you're the reason it's over."

"Me? Why?" I ask, feeling confused.

He bends over in his chair to scoop up a pile of ashes. "These same hounds shredded through their armies near the border. They were picked apart - gifted, ungifted, full blood... everyone. You destroyed the majority of these beasts by yourself. Do you really think the Unaligned wish to continue a war against a side that has this sort of power?"

For the first time ever, I feel like a real threat. I really hope I can live up to the hype.

"And their hybrids? What happens to them?"

"They go free," Jase says while walking out, apparently overhearing our hushed conversation. "Their blood farms will close, which will free their humans who will more than likely defect to live here. The hybrids will be released from servitude, and they'll live just as we do. I spoke with a man who isn't the tyrant who was running the show. They killed their leader when he said he wasn't scared of a hybrid - meaning you. I suppose word travels fast.

"The rest of the Unaligned decided they weren't ready to become a pile of ash, so they rose against him. They're free. The war is over. Now we have one problem to deal with."

Two, Jase. The Scorpions and the big bad bitch blowing shit up.

He nods, realizing he misspoke, but he doesn't correct himself aloud. Captain Fricks stands and salutes Jase before dismissing himself in his usual classy fashion. Jase sits beside me, soaking in the win as champagne spews free from bottles all over.

"We'll deal with it, babe. Let's enjoy the night."

I smile, blanketing my mind once more, and his eyebrow cocks up, reading nothing but silence.

"What are you up to?"

"Let's go back to the room. It looks like everyone's taking the night off. We should get to as well, birthday boy."

His smile spreads, and he pulls me up from the chair before lacing our fingers together. We pass through the wild crowd as they roar out their cheers, their excitement, and their relief.

He doesn't know what else I mapped out for today. I'm just glad we get to enjoy it.

The door opens to the room, and the candles glow around a table that has been set up. Jase smirks when he sees the small chocolate cake in the center of the table.

"You really did get me a cake for my birthday."

I smile, and then I follow him to the cake and the several candles lining it. "I couldn't fit all the candles you needed on there, so I just covered it the best I could," I tease.

"Let's not play the age game. Keep in mind you were the first hybrid child born from actual hybrids. That makes you older."

Well that backfired.

He chuckles when he overhears my little retort, and then he blows out the candles, playfully closing his eyes as if he's making a wish. I smile when he hands me a piece he's cut, and then we just sit there, enjoying the peace of the soundproof room as the chaotic celebration is blocked out.

"When do I get to meet your parents?" I ask curiously while tasting the velvety soft texture of the most delicious cake I've ever eaten.

Definitely digging the bakery here.

"As soon as possible. They both want to meet you. It's just a matter of timing our meeting. They can be together now... no more lies or secrets for fear of someone finding out the truth. They're eager to meet you and your mother, since she sort of made it happen, and then you saved my life. You'll definitely be a very welcomed daughter-in-law."

Mmm.Daughter-in-law.I'm getting married.

"Yes you are," he murmurs with his sweet grin while pulling me up from the chair.

"Should we join the celebration?" I ask while kissing his chest through his shirt.

His fingers slide through my hair as he strums the strands, and then his soft, luscious lips find my forehead. Without a second of hesitation, he pulls my shirt over my head, revealing my body to him in full.

His eyes rake over me as he breathes a little heavier, and I stand there fearlessly, letting him take me in because I belong to him. He smirks as he pulls me to him, making my legs wrap around his waist when he picks me up. The seduction he uses when he speaks gives me chills and tingles all throughout.

"Let's have our own celebration."