“Are you okay?” he grunted out and she nodded.

“Yes,” she whispered when she realized he couldn’t see her.

When he suddenly tilted her pelvis up, she moaned softly as he started to thrust in and out of her faster and a bit harder. Each thrust felt as if it had more meaning, his body shaking even more, and it felt better and better. She never wanted him to stop. It felt so damn good, and soon she was asking herself why she had waited so long to do it. But she knew why.

Because she only wanted him.

When he stilled, coming with a guttural moan, she captured his mouth, drawing out the kisses as he thrust once more and then again before he finally stopped, his fingers biting into her hips. Their hearts were pounding as their breaths came out in whooshes, but all Mekena could do was smile as she really realized what she had just done. Leaning her head into his, she wished she could look into his face to see if he saw the hilarity in this.

“Did that really just happen?” he asked, and she had to hold back her laughter.

“You attacked me that time.”

“I did.”

“Does this make me risqué?”

He scoffed. “What?”

“You know? Like those super naughty girls? Am I naughty, Markus?”

That had him laughing from his gut as she fought back her own laughter. “I used to think you were too innocent to be naughty, but then you let me take you in a coat closet. So, really, what do I know?”

Grinning, she leaned her nose into his chin as she breathed, “That you love me?”

“Oh, that’s a given,” he whispered, gathering her in his arms as she closed her eyes. “And that will never change.”

“Good.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her nose, but they both stilled when they heard Lucy’s voice.

“Huh? I thought Mekena was out here.”

“Shit!” she whispered, and he chuckled softly. When the closet door opened, she almost screamed but then Markus popped his head out.

“What the hell, Lucy? You said ten minutes!”

She wasn’t sure what Lucy was doing, but soon Mekena heard her and Benji laughing. “We rushed,” Benji said, and Markus jerked his head to the side.

“Go back in there, give us five.”

As the newlyweds laughed, Markus shut the door. Mekena shook her head, her face beet red. “If I get fired, I’m going to kill you.”

“Eh, you’ll have a new job in a few days.”

“Oh, so no big deal?”

“Right? You’ll be good in a couple days.”

“So you’re basically promising this will never happen when I work for the Assassins?”

Markus laughed as his lips moved against hers. “No way in hell I’m promising you that. Tell me something, Mekena Preston. Have you ever wanted to join the Mile High Club?”

Mekena’s brows pulled together. “What’s that?”

She was met by his laughter. “Oh, I’m so excited to live my life with you.”

“While I feel the exact same way, I really need to know what that is.”

She could see his grin as he gathered her in his arms. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”

The reception was something out of a fairy tale.

Everything was picture-perfect and flawless, even Mekena had been swept away by all of it. Or maybe it was the hot closet-sex high she floated on through the whole event and well into the next morning. One thing was for sure, she aspired to have love and be loved the way every single one of the Sinclairs loved in that building. At one point, all the couples took the floor, swaying and looking into each other’s eyes, and all Mekena could do was stand there, fighting back the emotion that wanted to escape.

It was so beautiful. Jace and Avery, the young ones, who were totally unrestrained in their love. They were sickening but oh so beautiful. Baylor and Jayden, the reserved ones, but so much in love that no matter how much they held back, it still burned anyone who stood around. Jude and Claire, the ones who fought to make their love perfect. Nothing would come between them, not even space, and the way they looked at each other was awe-inspiring. Then Lucy and Benji, the last to be married but the older and wiser ones. The ones everyone looked up to and strived to be. They were the definition of relationship goals, and Mekena wanted everything they had.

She wanted it all.

She wanted Markus.

It was a beautiful reception that ended way too late, and Mekena was surprised she had woken so early. Rolling over in the bed, she pressed her chest into Markus’s back as she sighed softly. She felt so refreshed, so relaxed, and she knew it had everything to do with him. She had been attracted to him for a really long time, but he was the hot jock and she was the nerdy, smart girl who thought he wouldn’t even see her. But he was more than the hot jock; he was kind, smart, and he made her realize she was more than what she thought she was. She was beautiful.

The time apart had done them both good. While, yes, they were miserable without each other, they grew. The pain of the circumstances and the separation made them realize how much they really wanted each other and how much they missed each other. How she would now follow him to the ends of the earth, when before, she would have held back.

He excited her. He made her want things she hadn’t even dreamed of. She was ready to live. To love him unconditionally. As her hands snaked around his waist, tucking into the waistband of his shorts, she let out another sigh as her heart beat for him. She never wanted to leave this bed, his side, nor did she want to face the world.

In only a few short hours, they’d have to leave and go to the hotel she had booked for the remainder of the week. Since she didn’t know what would happen the following day, she didn’t want to rush to get an apartment, which was really all she wanted to do. She wanted to replant roots in Tennessee, but it wasn’t time for that yet. She had to be patient, even if she wanted to rush in and live. With Markus.

God, she loved him.

From the depths of her soul.

“Your nose is cold,” she heard him mutter against his pillow. She smiled, nuzzling her cold nose into the crook of his back as he groaned in distress, though he didn’t move away. “Why are you up?”

“’Cause I want to hold you.”

“Do that and sleep,” he mumbled and she smiled.

“I don’t want to, I want to be awake. I don’t want to sleep when I’m with you.”