Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Same, Nix. Same.”
A breathtaking tenderness filters into the dark center of his eyes and softens his expression. Inexplicably, tears sting my eyes again. Before I can even grasp what this is, he slaps my thigh playfully, shattering the mood. “I’m going to slip into something more comfortable and then come back for some run-of-the-mill missionary sex.”
“Bastard.” I swallow the unexpected emotion, forcing a laugh, and sit up to watch him undress.
He crosses over to the dresser and rifles through the drawer for a few moments, back turned to me. My heart might burst, I love him so much right at this very second.
“Dammit,” he mutters, fumbling with his sleeve. “Babe, these stupid cufflinks. Can you help me?”
He walks back to the bed where I’m seated and proffers his wrist.
Removing the gold cufflink monogrammed with MKC, I glance up through my lashes to tease him. “What was so hard about that? Maybe you’re losing some hand-eye coordination in your old age.”
“Think that’ll make people feel better about voting for a young whippersnapper like me?” He laughs, but that look, that breath-stealing intentness, lingers.
“Bet I could spin it.” I smile and start on his left sleeve. When I flip over the cuff, my heartbeat screeches to a halt. My entire being, even my soul, breaks out in a sweat. My next breath queues up in my throat and just waits, suspended. A large cushion-cut diamond juts through the left sleeve’s slit. I drop the sleeve like it’s on fire, my hands flopping listlessly to my lap. Maxim watches me almost warily and drops down to his haunches in front of me. With his eyes never leaving my face, he pulls the ring out by its large diamond, revealing the delicate platinum band, which he takes between two fingers.
“I want the girl who chases stars,” he says, his voice rough, that tenderness now full-blown and overwhelming in the way he looks at me—in the way he takes my left hand and just holds it. “Lennix Moon Hunter, will you marry me?”
My body slowly reacquaints itself with reality. My heart makes up for lost time, going from a screeching halt to a sprint in my chest. I’m aware of tears easing down my cheeks and into the corners of my mouth. I lick them, and I know with my rational mind that they must be salty, but somehow, they’re sweet. Everything about this moment is sweet. The uncharacteristic uncertainty on Maxim’s face. His lips pressed tightly together like he may explode if I don’t answer him soon. I reach for him, sliding my right hand into his hair and leaning forward to hover over his lips.
“Maxim Kingsman Cade,” I whisper, my voice breaking over his name, over the rightness of this moment. I offer my left hand, my fingers spread wide. “Yes.”
Relief and joy stretch the smile on his face, and he slips the diamond, nearly blinding under the lights, onto my ring finger.
“You do know I could be president one day, right?” he asks with a hoarse chuckle. “I’m just making sure we’re on the same page.”
“Yes, I do realize that.” I blink back more tears as I see how perfect the ring looks on my hand and caress the other jewelry he gave me—the compass charm. “I signed on for you.”
He kisses me before I can finish the phrase that has helped me make peace with however our journey ends, but my heart recites the rest.
Whatever that means.
Wherever that takes us.
BONUS EPILOGUE
MAXIM
“This is our first dance.”
Lennix’s statement momentarily distracts me from the announcer addressing the crowd in the glittering ballroom.
“Obviously, it’s our first dance.” I gesture between my tuxedo and her glittering white formal dress. “That’s kind of the point.”
Lennix rolls her eyes and flashes an exasperated grin up at me. “No, I mean, I can’t remember us ever dancing. I think it’s our first time dancing together.”
“Are you sure?” I frown, reviewing the nearly two decades since we met in that Arizona desert. “What about that Christmas party at the—”
“Nope.”
“Did we not dance at that charity event in—”
“We didn’t.” She shakes her head and sighs. “Maybe we were too busy working every room we were in to dance in it, but I’m pretty sure this is our first time.”
I take in the strategically placed diamonds contrasting against her dark, upswept hair, the shimmery white gown, nipped at the waist and flaring out over her hips and to the floor, and finally the large diamond sparkling on her finger. I lift her left hand to my lips and kiss the ring. I murmur, caressing the velvety sweep of her bare throat and collarbone.
“So our first time dancing together will be In front of hundreds…” I peer just beyond the backstage curtain to see the sea of cameras suspended from the ceiling and dotting the perimeter of the room. “Correction, millions of people.”