I teased. “I’m yours, Declan, and I will do my best to make you happy and never live with any stupid regrets. I promise you I will always focus on the future.” I pressed my lips to his lightly. “I’m not going to judge myself on the past. I don’t live there anymore.”
He studied me as I talked, and when I stopped, his mouth captured mine, his tongue sweeping out and plunging deep. I sank into him, immersing myself in his scent, his warmth, his bulk. He kissed me soft and sweet, then hard and dark, just like I liked it.
I came up for air. “It’s you, always you, my Mr. Darcy.”
“I love you too, Elizabeth Bennett.”
We lay together cuddled up in a tangle of limbs as the sun peeked over the horizon. Two years ago, I’d watched another sunrise and had vowed to never love again, but this, this was different.
This was the beginning of my life.
I’d sensed it from the moment I saw him at that frat party, that movie-worthy experience we sometimes get when we sense a shift in the atmosphere as if something extraordinary is about to happen. It had. I’d found him even with my rules dragging me down. And we’d have troubles like all young people do. Love is never perfect, in fact, it’s the exact opposite of perfect, but that’s okay, because it gives you room to grow and explore. There’d be times when we’d bicker and argue, but we’d have great make-up sex too. And no matter what came our way, I was in this for real. If he wanted to use his fists, I’d stand in his corner and kiss him before he put his gloves on.
He’d do the same for me.
“What are you thinking?” he asked a while later as we snuggled.
I turned my head on the pillow to face him. Some of his color had come back and it made me glad. “My mind is racing, thinking about possibilities. Our future. What I can do with my jewelry. What you can do with your gym. I—I just haven’t been this happy or excited about life in a long time. And you’re in the hospital, which makes it even more weird.” I plucked at the covers. “I feel like I’ve been going through these small yet monumental changes over the past few weeks, and I owe it all to you. Loving you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I bit my lip to keep the tears at bay.
He studied me for a while, his gaze full of complete understanding. “You and me, we got this. I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving you. I’m going to give you whatever you want, Unicorn Girl. I’m going to kiss you every single night. I’m going to fuck you and then make love to you. I’m going to give you kids. A home. Happiness. All of my heart.”
Joy filled my soul. “Will you read Jane Austen to me naked?”
He barked out a weak laugh. “I’ll do one better. I’ll make love to you and quote the whole bloody book at the same time.”
“Mm, I could get used to that.”
“Just making sure you get what you want, love.”
We laughed and held each other close as sun rose higher in the sky.
One year later
I SETTLED IN on the bench and gazed at the garden surrounding one of the water fountains in Hyde Park. I looked around for Declan, but he’d left to grab us water from one of the vendors near the entrance.
It was a chilly yet beautiful October morning and we were in London for the week to catch up with old school chums and family members of his mom’s.
I sighed. It had been a wonderful year considering the hell we’d been through.
I was in my last year of school, but I’d given up my job at the bookstore to work on my jewelry. Meyers had offered me another contracting design job, and when I wasn’t studying, I was working on new creations.
Blake and Shelley were together. Most of the time. They fought a lot, and I didn’t know if it was going to work out, but I had my fingers crossed.
Dax was his usual self, partying at the frat house and sleeping around. I knew the real man though. Underneath that shiny veneer was a guy looking for love.
My mom had left Karl, and the last time I’d seen her, she’d already found a new guy—a drummer