Epilogue #2
He slides the ring onto my finger, and then he's kissing me hard and deep as he starts to move again. The ring feels strange and wonderful on my hand, a physical reminder of the promise we're making to each other.
"I love you," I gasp against his mouth. "I love you so much—"
"Show me," he growls, his thrusts becoming harder, faster. "Come for me, Isabelle. Come for your future husband."
The words send me over the edge. I come hard, my body convulsing around him as pleasure crashes through me in waves. I'm crying and laughing and moaning his name all at once, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all.
Julian follows moments later, his body going rigid as he comes deep inside me.
He groans my name, his face buried in my neck, his arms wrapped around me so tightly I can barely breathe.
We stay like that for a long moment, both of us shaking and gasping for air.
When he finally pulls back to look at me, I see tears in his eyes.
"You said yes," he whispers, like he can't quite believe it.
"Of course, I said yes." I'm crying too, happy tears streaming down my face. "Did you really think I'd say anything else?"
He laughs roughly. "I hoped. But I wasn't sure."
I hold up my hand, watching the ring catch the light. It's beautiful—a simple solitaire diamond on a delicate rose gold band. "When did you get this?"
"Three weeks ago." He kisses my palm, then my wrist, then the inside of my elbow. "I've been carrying it around, trying to figure out the perfect moment to ask."
"And you decided mid-sex was the perfect moment?"
"I couldn't wait anymore." His smile is sheepish. "I wanted to ask while there was nothing between us, while you were completely mine."
Fresh tears spill down my cheeks. "That's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me."
"I mean it." He pulls out slowly and rolls onto his back, pulling me with him so I'm draped across his chest. "Every word. You're mine, Isabelle. And I'm yours. Forever."
I rest my head over his heart, listening to the steady beat, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. The ring on my finger catches the moonlight, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the ceiling. "I can't believe we're getting married," I whisper.
"Believe it." His hand strokes through my hair, gentle and soothing. "You're stuck with me now."
"Good." I press a kiss to his chest. "Because I'm not letting you go."
We lie there in comfortable silence, our breathing gradually returning to normal. Through the open window, I can hear the distant sound of waves and music, and laughter.
"Where do you want to get married?" Julian asks after a while.
I laugh. "I have no idea. What about you? What do you want?"
"I want you. Everything else is just details."
I kiss him, slow and sweet. When we pull apart, we're both smiling. "We should probably talk about the actual wedding at some point," I say. "Guest list, venue, all that stuff."
"Tomorrow." He pulls me closer, tucking me against his side. "Tonight, I just want to hold my fiancée and enjoy the fact that she said yes."
"Your fiancée," I repeat, testing out the word. "I like the sound of that."
"So do I." He kisses the top of my head. "Though I'd like 'wife' even better."
We fall into comfortable silence again, and I find myself thinking about everything that's brought us to this moment. It shouldn't have worked. By all logic and reason, we should have destroyed each other.
But we didn't. We survived. We chose each other again and again, even when it would have been easier to walk away.
And now we're here, engaged and in love and planning a future together.
"What are you thinking about?" Julian asks, his voice soft in the darkness.
"How lucky I am," I tell him honestly. "How lucky we both are."
"Lucky." He huffs a quiet laugh. "I'm not sure luck had much to do with it."
"Then what would you call it?"
He's quiet for a moment. "Fate, maybe. Or just... us. Being too stubborn to give up on each other."
"I like that better than luck," I admit. "It gives us more credit."
And he's right. This isn't luck or chance or some cosmic accident. This is love.
"I love you," I whisper into the darkness.
"I love you too," he whispers back. "Always."
This is the beginning of our forever. And I can't wait to see what comes next.
Thanks for reading!