Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
He was such a fool. Better yet, a charming fool
“You said you couldn’t make it,” I said softly and turned around to see my billionaire fairytale version of a prince standing in a tux with a blue tie that matched the stars on my dress.
Of course he’d match me.
“I settled the deal with money and hauled ass. I wasn’t missing a dance with you.
” He lifted a hand, and I noticed the tiny wince from the action.
The bullet went through the meat between his shoulder and neck.
Trapezius and levator scapula were a few of the muscles effected if I remembered the doctor’s words correctly.
He would be sore for a while when lifting, but then again, so I was I from the glass incident. We were injured together, but we’d still found fun ways to play without lifting in the bedroom.
“Dance with me, Star.” He didn’t ask and I wouldn’t tell him no. My heart beat rapidly as I placed my hand in his, and he moved us to the dancefloor in beat to an instrumental version of Sky Full Of Stars by Coldplay.
I’d bet all the money in my account that he planned this. Either that or he knew the moment they’d play this song and appeared right on time.
“What a cheeseball.” I laughed as he dipped me.
Rylan’s smile dazzled me as he wiggled his hips and spun around like a professional.
“Can’t wait to see me move like this naked? Eh?” He winked and pulled me close, our lips almost touching, my eyes closed, ready for the kiss, then he spun me out.
Dammit I wanted that kiss. So, when he spun me back into him, I reached up and placed my hand against his cheek. I glanced at his mouth. “I missed you.”
With his free hand lifted to my chin, he nudged my head upwards to where our lips could meet. The kiss was sweet, short, but telling. Something about this moment felt dreamy. Maybe it was the castle, the decorations, and the magic surrounding us.
“I’m not going anywhere, Temperance. I’m here to stay by your side for the rest of the school year.” He kissed me again then turned me in his arms. “Then we go on our next adventure together.”
“You mean…”
“Living to—”
“Swinging?” I joked at the same time he spoke.
I’m pretty sure he was trying to say live together, and I didn’t have any issues with that.
Piper was at college. I was on track to have myself figured out for now.
Moving back to my hometown didn’t have the same level of comfort it did upon arrive at the McKenzie Institute.
Rylan laughed and placed his hands against my hips while I swayed them back and forth.
“I love you, Star,” he said, as those stormy eyes I’ve always been drawn to watched me. Then something blurry floated between us.
I looked up curiously and gasped.
“Snow?” Tiny snowflakes sprinkled down from the ceiling and the whole room lit up with a collection of gasps, giggles, and other various noises of delight.
The flakes weren’t cold as they landed on my nose, and my magic tickled where each flake touched me. Like my magic and the magic in the snowflake were talking to each other.
“You’re amazing. I can’t wait to live the rest of my life with you.” He kissed my nose right after another snowflake landed on it. He was such a fool. Better yet, a charming fool.
“I love you!” I launched myself at him and pressed him lips to his harshly. I so fucking loved this man. He was everything I wanted even before I knew what my desires were.
“Keep the fridge stocked with carrot cake and I’m yours forever.” I didn’t care if we were being cheesy like teenagers in love. We might as well have been by the way we made out on the dancefloor.
The music shifted and we finally parted. Our friends made their way over to us with their own dance partners. Imogene’s man had his hands on her ass while she leaned our way.
“Make sure your mansion has a suite for me to visit, darling.” she said, then returned the grabbing of asses to which her partner hooted.
“A wing for me too. I need space and a spot to park my car,” Remy chimed in before her partner dipped her. When she came up, her eyes sparkled at the man before they started grinding to the beat as one.
I’d probably need to swing by my room and grab Edith before she gets traumatized by Remy’s sexy times again. At least in her doll house she has a door to close and a sound machine to drown out Rylan and my love making.
“Did you get the gift Russel brought you?” Rylan asked and I refocused from my dancing roommate to his curious face.
“He brought me a bottle cap this time.”
He shook his head. “He must have brought you the one I instructed after you left.” He rubbed my left hand, and my heart picked up a few beats.
“He’s been bringing me a lot of extra gifts lately.” I coughed, trying to bring my thoughts down. He didn’t give the crow an engagement ring to give me, did he?
He wouldn’t.
He would.
He so would.
I just said forever, right?
“You saved his person, crows never forget. He’s showing his appreciation,” he answered, and I nodded. I did know that. Remy told me a bunch of facts about crows after Russel dropped off the first trinket.
“Is it an engagement ring?” I was impatient and needed to know. Oh goodness, was there a big ass engagement ring sitting on my window ledge?
“You know I’m not going to tell you the future. Where’s the fun if I can’t surprise you?”
“You know, I’m getting better in divination class. Maybe I’ll just look ahead and see for myself,” I teased, even though divination wasn’t my best subject.
“Go for it.” He called my bluff.
Fuck it.
I held his hands between us and stared into his eyes. The snowflakes falling around us distracted me slightly before I refocused the grayish blue coloring of his irises. It took a few seconds, but I managed to clear my thoughts of all noise, just like we practiced in class.
I didn’t need to look into a crystal ball, or tea leaves to see my future with Rylan. I just needed those eyes.
Flashes of bottles with labels I couldn’t read danced through my vision, and I knew it worked. I didn’t see Rylan before me, but I knew he was there via our clasped palms.
Then I saw it.
Him on one knee wearing the same tux. Piper laughing on the floor by a big Christmas tree near an elaborate fireplace.
A flash in front of us as a family in matching ugly sweaters.
Remy, Imogene, Piper, Rylan, me, Russel, and my noodle all smiled proudly for the camera.
On my finger was a sapphire the size of a blueberry on a white gold band, because of course it was that big.
Then there were the visions of gray hair.
My head ached, and my eyes watered. The visions were beautiful but then my magic snapped like a rubber band, and I cursed.
Rylan was there with a glass of water, ready for me. I kissed him without a thought and gave him an answer to a question he’d ask me later.
“Yes, Rylan. Yes, to all of it, you charming fool.”