45. Chapter 45
Chapter forty-five
Remington
After dark, bonfires are lit, their glowing flames scattered across the beach, the embers floating above them like tiny scarlet fairy lights.
The chaos of the day has settled into hushed peacefulness. Everyone is relaxed. We’re being serenaded by the sound of the waves rolling in and out, and muted voices drifting in the air.
I’m sitting between Colton’s legs, my back against his chest, his arms wrapped around me. He’s toying with the fingers of my left hand. I run my palm over his forearm, letting my body sink further into his, and sigh in contentment.
His chin hooks over my shoulder, resting against mine. “I love you, Remington James,” he whispers in my ear.
Not expecting it, the declaration catches me off guard. My lips part in surprise, and I twist to face him. He shifts me sideways on his lap and cradles my face, kissing me slow and languid. My arms loop around his neck as his tongue sweeps against mine over and over again in a sensual rhythm.
When it ends, I’m breathless. I feel drugged. For a long moment, I tumble untethered into his penetrating blue-green eyes.
He strokes my cheek with the pad of his thumb.
“I love you,” he whispers again. “I think I knew it that first night in your hotel room. The entire time we spent together, I kept thinking, she’s mine.
Every second I’ve spent with you, I’ve fallen harder.
I love you, Remi. I don’t ever want to let you go. ”
Without dislodging me, he leans to extract something from his pocket.
My heart flutters, beating wildly.
He takes my hand and slips a ring onto my finger.
The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh, my heart trying to leap out of my chest. My gaze strays to the beautiful ring sparkling on my finger.
“Between your job and mine, I know it won’t be easy.”
I lift my tear-filled eyes to his.
His thick, husky voice wraps around me like a caress. “But together, we’re unstoppable. Unbreakable. You’re my one true love. Marry me and be mine forever.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat and lay my palm against his chest, directly over the steady beat of his heart.
“I never expected you. You came along and I fell heart first. I love you too, Colton. There’s nothing I want more than to be your wife. To become Remington James-Ryback. I belong to you. You belong to me. For always.”
“For always,” he echoes, sealing the promise with a tender kiss.
From around our bonfire, cheers and whoops erupt from our family and friends. We’re dragged to our feet, passed from one person to another, being hugged and congratulated.
Afterward, Colton wraps me in his arms again.
“Unless you have your heart set on a big wedding, I don’t want to wait to make you my wife.”
“I don’t need a big wedding.” I glance around us at the people I love most. “I only need this. Just you and our family.”
“What do you think about a honeymoon in Fiji?” he asks through a cocky grin.
A wide smile spreads across my face. “That, Mr. Ryback, is an excellent idea.”
“I love you, Remi.”
“Love you back.” His warm, full lips brush against mine in a lingering kiss. “Now take me home and love me slow.”