Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
A Few Minutes Later
The applause after my toast rolls like a wave breaking against the stone walls.
For a moment I stay where I am at the podium, glass still in my hand, letting the moment settle.
Julian and Marisol kiss passionately. Sixty cheer. Laughter weaves through it. The band begins to play again somewhere behind me.
Good vibes everywhere.
Over by the bar—Sky.
She stands beside Miranda with her champagne glass hovering halfway to her lips. Watching me.
Good.
I lower the glass and start over.
People catch my sleeve as I pass. Fred claps me on the back hard enough to jostle my shoulder. Irving whistles because he’s waited years for this exact moment.
None of it slows me down.
Sky doesn’t move. She watches me walk over until I’m close enough to see the color in her cheeks.
“Hi.” My eyes bore into hers.
Her laugh escapes before she can stop it. “Hi.”
I slip my hands around her waist without hesitation, drawing her against me before either of us can retreat back into the careful restraint we’ve been practicing all evening.
“Zach—” Her eyes widen the moment she understands exactly what I’m about to do.
Because life is too short. Waiting is over.
For a heartbeat she looks up, eyes bright and breath suspended between surprise and surrender.
Then my mouth meets hers. A real fucking kiss. Not a careful version for the sake of the wedding.
Her lips part under mine. Warm from champagne. Sweet from frosting. The first slow brush sends heat through my chest. A spark catching dry wood. She inhales sharply, fingers clutching the lapels of my jacket as she pulls herself closer instead of stepping away.
Time and space disappear.
Sky’s mouth opens to mine and I follow instinct, tilting slightly, letting the kiss deepen until her breath slips across my tongue and she answers with the same hunger. Her hand combs through my hair and curls around my nape, tugging gently. The small pull makes my heart ignite.
My palm spreads along the curve of her back, silk straining as I draw her closer.
Sky surges into me. Her mouth moves against mine with growing urgency, lips soft then firmer. Teeth graze my lower lip before she soothes the spot with a slow sweep of her tongue, sending a quiet jolt through my core.
Three sleepless nights flood back in fragments.
Fucking her senseless in my jet crossing the ocean. Burying myself inside her every night since. The sound of my name when she comes apart.
I chase the memory by kissing Sky harder. My tongue sweeps along the seam of her mouth and she welcomes me with a quiet gasp. A quiet mewl escapes her throat. Not meant for anyone else.
My thumb traces the soft skin of her chin while my other hand guides her closer until our bodies line up completely. She answers by rising slightly on her toes, lips moving faster against mine. Her tongue flicks lightly across mine before retreating, only to return again with playful insistence.
I answer with a slow sweep of my own. When we finally break the kiss she doesn’t step away. Her forehead rests against mine while she catches her breath. I wrap my arms around her firmly.
After fifteen years of almost, letting go of Sky is no longer an option.
Ever.
Somewhere beyond the edge of the moment a sound breaks through. A low ripple of laughter. Then a whistle.
Sky freezes.
“Subtle.” She brushes her thumb along my lip before glancing past my shoulder. “So this is how we’re doing it now.”
The reception hall rushes back into focus. Guests have turned in our direction. Glasses raised. Grins spreading across faces looking far more amused than shocked.
“Well,” Irving’s voice is thick with wicked amusement, “about damn time you two stopped pretending.”
A smattering of laughter moves through the dancers.
Sky searches my face, equal parts stunned and delighted. “You realize, you made us the main event.”
“Fifteen years.” I keep her close enough to notice the quick rhythm of her breathing. “Marisol and Julian will understand. The moment was long overdue.”
As if summoned by the thought, Julian and Marisol appear through the crowd.
His hand lands on my shoulder with a solid thump. “Finally.”
“Oh thank God.” Marisol steps beside him and her whole face lights up when she looks at Sky. “You two finally pulled your heads out of your asses.”
Sky lets out a breathless laugh, pink spreading across her cheeks. “We weren’t planning to make it a whole…moment. At your wedding. I’m so sorry.”
“Sky, half the people in this room have been waiting for this since law school.” Marisol takes her hands. “No thunder stolen. If anything, you gave everyone the ending we’ve all been hoping for.”
Julian nods beside her, pointing between us. “Honestly, this might be the most predictable surprise in the history of weddings.”
Sky glances at me again, relief and disbelief flickering across her face.
Behind her Irving appears looking smug. Or, a man preparing to deliver commentary to a jury.
“For the record,” he raises his flute, “I’ll remind Zach I encouraged this exact development including the red-eye rendezvous.”
Sky closes her eyes briefly. “Please don’t tell me…”
“Oh, I absolutely will.” Irving tilts his head with unmistakable satisfaction. “I figured seven hours alone on a jet with one Skylar Morgan and he’d finally stop pretending.”
“You said what?” Julian looks from Irving to me, eyebrows climbing.
Irving lifts one shoulder. “Please. I’ve been watching you two circle each other since Contracts.” He raises one finger for emphasis. “Without my push, you’d still be in purgatory. My adjoining bedroom wall spent the last three nights confirming my theory.”
“Please stop talking.” Sky groans and hides her face briefly against my shoulder.
Irving only looks more pleased with himself. “I’m not even halfway through my victory lap.”
“No, you leave them alone.” Marisol bumps his arm aside. “They figured it out. That’s the most important part.”
Sky squints at me. “For fuck’s sake. Apparently we’ve been very predictable.”
I take her hand. “Only to people who know us best.”
The band strikes up something upbeat and Julian grabs Marisol’s hand. “Dance floor.”
Within seconds the reception transforms into a full celebration. Chairs scrape back. Couples gather in clusters. The twins spin across the floor. Tween hurricanes in pale-blue dresses.
Sky looks at me, eyes bright. “Well, now we’re out and proud. We might as well dance.”
I take her hand. “Lead the way.”
The next few hours dissolve into music and motion. The band plays everything from classic swing to ridiculous pop. Miranda drags Irving into a dance looking suspiciously like punishment. Fred attempts something resembling a waltz with Véronique while Jose cheers them on.
Sky and I rarely separate. Every time the music changes I pull her back into another turn. Eventually the band slows the tempo and we match the pace as the music softens. I ease my arm around her waist and bring her against me.
“Everyone is staring,” she giggles.
“They’ve waited almost two decades for this. Let them enjoy it.” I kiss her forehead.
She studies my face for a moment. “You seem very pleased with yourself.”
“I am.”
Her smile widens. “Good.”
We sway slowly with the music while other guests move around us.
Behind us Irving’s voice cuts through the quiet. “You know what this whole thing proves.”
“Please stop,” I growl.
Irving gestures dramatically. “Never underestimate the power of proximity and questionable decision-making on private aircraft.”
“Oh my God.” Sky laughs against my shoulder.
“Hey,” Irving taps my shoulder, “I’m just saying. If every romance required a transatlantic jet and three sleepless nights, the divorce rate would plummet.”
Sky shakes her head. “I can’t him.”
“You love it.”
“I absolutely do.”
Afterward, the night continues in waves. More dancing. Wine. Stories. An amazing night with friends and family. Hours pass without either of us noticing.
Eventually the band begins packing instruments. Guests drift toward the doors in laughing clusters.
Sky slips her hand into mine. “Ready?”
“Always.” I lace my fingers through hers.
Together we leave the ballroom while the castle settles into night.