As soon as I get back to Heath’s apartment, I unbox the beautiful dress Mandi bought me. I can’t stop looking at it. I want to try it on again, but I’m afraid of getting it dirty. I can’t believe we found the dress of my dreams and it was half the price of the one Arora paid for.

I’m admiring it with the box lid off when there’s a knock at my door. I open it and find Heath leaning against the door-jam with his hands in his pockets. His lovely smile makes my heart flare up every time.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

“It’s your apartment. Your rules. You can come and go as you please.” My words come out snarkier than I meant them to. I guess I’m fed up with all of this: the harassment from his siblings, the lies. But mostly I’m sick of having to hide my feelings from him. This has become more than a job for me and I need him to know that.

He tilts his head watches me a moment before coming in. He shuts the door behind him. He motions to the couch and we sit.

I’m about to spill everything, all of my feelings, when he says, “I’m sorry what my brother and sister did to you. What I did to you. We shouldn’t have been looking into your past. It was a violation of your privacy and it’s clear whatever happened between you and your ex is still painful for you.”

A lump forms in my throat. I swallow it down so I can speak. “It’s fine. I’m fine,” I lie.

He shakes his head. “No, you’re not. What happened between you two?”

“I was a stupid kid. I thought he would take care of me, but it seemed he was looking for more of a pet than a partner—actually, no. That’s not it. People treat their pets far better than he ever treated me. I just wanted someone who would be there for me. I kept trying to change him, and I was too embarrassed to admit I’d messed up, so I stayed.”

“What made you finally decide to leave?” he asks.

I look off to the side, away from him. I can’t face him when I admit the truth of what happened.

“He came home one day and I didn’t have his clothes washed and ready for a football game he was going to. He punched me in the face and gave me a bloody nose and black eye. I called Mandi after he left for the game and she came over and helped me pack. I left that night and I never went back.”

Heath’s hands are shaking. It’s obvious he’s trying to hold back his rage. “I’m going to make sure no one ever hurts you again.”

“You can’t make sure of that. After this job, when we go our separate ways, you can’t protect me.”

“Marry me,” he says.

“Isn’t that already the plan?”

“I mean for real. I’m in love with you and I want you to marry me.”

My eyes nearly jump out of their sockets and my mouth springs open. “What?”

“It sounds crazy, I know, and I might actually be losing my mind. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with the woman I paid to marry me. All I wanted was to run my company without my family lurking over my shoulder, but … then you came into my life and shook everything up. I love you, Sylph.”

Tears stream down my face. When the hell did I start crying? I honestly don’t remember.

“I love you too,” I admit, my voice thick from crying. “I’ve been holding it in because I didn’t think you felt the same, but I fell for you the moment I kissed you in the park and it’s been a downward spiral ever since.”

He kisses me so softly out lips barely touch. “Marry me,” he whispers.

“Okay.” I’m nodding and laughing and crying all at once.

He kisses me again, but this time he does it with urgency. It’s as if I’ll slip out of his hands if he doesn’t kiss me hard enough. The desperation between us grows and this kiss feels different than all the others that came before. Our confessions have changed everything.

He breaks our kiss, leaving me breathless and lightheaded. Then he gets down on his knees and pulls something out of his pocket. When he opens his hand, it’s a velvet box.

My entire body starts to shake and suddenly things feel a whole lot realer than they did just a few seconds ago. He opens the box and inside is the biggest princess cut diamond I’ve ever seen. Jesus Christ, will my finger even be strong enough to hold that thing up?

My hand is shaking so badly it blurs when he slips the platinum band on my finger. “I hope this is okay. My mom helped me pick it out.”

His mother has expensive taste, but there’s something sweet about him asking for her help in picking it out. It makes me feel so much better about his family. She wouldn’t have helped him if she objected to this marriage, would she?

“It’s perfect.” I put my hand to my chest and hug it tightly.

I slide off the couch and get on my knees so we’re face to face. “We’re going to fuck now and I don’t want to hear any bullshit about you waiting until our wedding day. Okay?”

He laughs. The sound fills every empty part of me until I feel whole again. “Not a chance.”

“Good.”

I kiss him hard. His mouth devours mine. He wastes no time getting my clothes off of me, practically ripping my panties off my body. He bends me over the couch and I know this isn’t going to be gentle love-making. This is weeks of built-up lust and tension that’s been begging for release. This is going to be like two caged animals going at it. The anticipation of it is so excited I’m shaking.

He gets behind me and grabs my ponytail, pulling my head back so he can kiss me. I moan into his mouth as he slides deep inside my pussy. I close my eyes as the sensation of being filled overwhelms me. Heath fills me like no silicone dildo can. I’m stretched and loving every second of it. He starts to pound into me. Our skin slaps together and the friction of our fucking makes a loud, wet squelching sound.

He lets go of my hair and grabs my ass cheeks, pulling them apart. He groans, obviously liking what he sees. He has the perfect view of him entering me. I’m jealous that he gets to watch, but too lost in my own pleasure to be too upset about it.

He pulls out of me, leaving me with a lost, empty feeling. He sits on the couch and grabs my hips, pulling me toward him. I climb up on the couch and sit on his dick, impaling myself hard and quick. At this angle I can feel him in the furthest depths of my pussy. He’s so deep it almost hurts, but with the pain comes immense pleasure that’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

“Your pussy feels so good,” he says as I bounce on his cock. He stokes my clit and it feels so good I let out a loud moan. He strokes faster. If he keeps that up, I won’t last much longer.

I start to ride him faster, harder. I’m so close. But before I can come, he pulls me off of him lays me on the couch. This time he lays on top of me and I like it like this because I can look into his perfect face and see those beautiful eyes. I love the way his mouth parts when he slides into me. He kisses me, and bite’s my bottom lip softly, then licks it. He nibbles on my nipple next and a fiery sensation shoots straight from my nipple down to my clit and I gasp.

“That perfect pussy belongs to me now,” he says, thrusting harder.

“I’m all yours,” I tell him, barely able to get the words out.

I feel my muscles clinch, and it’s here. I can’t hold back my orgasm any longer. He plunges into me hard and deep one more time and I scream and writhe beneath him. He fucks me like a piston, grunting and growling until he too loses his battle of self-control.

He pulls out and his cum drips from my opening onto the couch.

He leans over and brushes the hair off my face. “I can’t believe I get to have you all to myself. I’m the luckiest man alive,” he says.

I lay there, basking in the afterglow of having sex with the most beautiful man I’ve ever met. He’s going to be my husband. That thought no longer scares me. Not with Heath. He’s changed everything. I never thought I would ever wear a wedding ring again, or pledge myself to anyone and now I can’t wait to walk down that aisle and be Mrs. Heath Starre.

He stays on top of me, brushing my sweaty hair out of my face. He kisses my forehead, the tip of my nose, my chin, my lips.

“I’m going to be the perfect wife for you,” I tell him.

“I know. You’re already perfect.”

“I can’t believe this is real. I didn’t think I could every love someone as much as I love you.”

“I feel the same way. Before I met you I was sure I would be alone forever. I wasn’t about to enter some loveless marriage like my friends. I can’t wait to start my life with you and have a family.”

The way he’s looking at me makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst, and the mention of a family, I don’t know why, but that part didn’t occur to me until just now.

“You want kids?” I ask. It surprises me a little. He lives this high-powered, structured life. It never occurred to me that he might want children. I bet he would be a great dad.

“With you, absolutely. My dad wasn’t there when I was growing up. Most the time I can’t understand why he even bothered. I’m going to change that. My son or daughter is going to have all the love in the world with two parents who adore each other.”

I tear up. I can’t help it. “I want that too,” I say.

He gives me a devilish grin. “Maybe we should start trying now.”

“Absolutely,” I tell him as he slips back inside of me for another round.

* * *

Heath is full of surprises. Before the wedding he flew my parents in. They were shocked, to say the least, when they found I was getting married. Luckily Heath filled them in about everything, how it was all supposed to be fake, but then we fell in love. It didn’t take my mom long to be smitten by Heath. She’s upset I didn’t tell her, but she understands. I’m so happy to have my best friend and my family at my wedding. This day couldn’t get any better.

But it seems it could get worse …

As I’m walking into the hotel room to get dressed, I’m cornered by the twins and Heath’s parents.

“What is this all about?” Heath’s mother says to the twins. She and Heath’s father both look nervous and I realize this is some kind of set up from the twins. They’re up to something. They want to sabotage my wedding and this time I don’t have Heath to back me up. Where’s Mandi when I need her? She has a knack for talking herself out of any situation. It looks like I’m on my own and I’m not sure what to do.

“I’d like to know the same thing,” I say, even though I already know what this is about. Now I have to figure out a way to get myself out of it. These two little trolls aren’t going to ruin my wedding day or my happiness with Heath. Not if I can help it.

“I guess if Heath isn’t going to say anything, we will,” Arora says.

“Say what?” Heath’s dad says, annoyed. He’s a handsome older man and has aged well. It’s like looking at Heath in the future. I just hope Heath isn’t as stern, though I doubt he will be. The person I’ve come to know and love might be hard on the outside—in more ways than one—but he’s a big teddy bear within and I don’t see that changing anytime toon.

“Sylph was married before. She’s been lying to everyone this entire time,” Theo says.

Heath’s mom looks at her children, then at me. “Is this true?”

I stand tall and hold my head up. I’m not going to let those punk twins make me feel guilty for a mistake I made when I was eighteen. Especially when it wasn’t my fault the marriage ended. I did nothing wrong. I tried to be a good wife, but I was hit in return. No one is going to shame me for that.

“I didn’t lie about anything,” I say. “It’s true, I was married before and it was the biggest mistake of my life. All I’m guilty of is picking the wrong man to love. I’m about to fix that right now.”

I look at the twins, challenging them with a glare to say more. They look shocked. They are used to me playing nice and hiding behind their brother, but not anymore. I’m going to stand up to these rich snobs from now on.

“Shame on you for trying to sabotage your brother’s wedding,” Heath’s mom scolds.

“Get your asses back on that lawn and stop meddling where you don’t belong,” Heath’s dad says.

The twins look like they got spanked and I couldn’t be happier.

Heath’s mom gives me a reassuring hug and says, “Welcome to the family, dear.”

Heath’s dad gives me a straight-faced pat on the shoulder. I’m guessing that’s the closest thing to affection I’ll get from him. Then they leave and I feel so much better. I may never have the twins’ approval, but at least his parents are happy for us.

My mom and Mandi help me get dressed. My hair and makeup are flawless. When I stand in front of the mirror when everything is done, I’m thankful for waterproof makeup. The end result is better than I could’ve imagined.

“You look like a princess,” Mandi says, shedding her own tears. There’s not a dry eye in the room.

“How do you feel, honey?” my mom asks. I can tell by the wrinkle between her eyes that she’s nervous. She hasn’t had much time to get used to the fact that I’m getting married.

“I feel happy,” I say, my smile lighting up my face as I stare at her through the reflection in the mirror. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been this happy before.”

Her smile mirrors mine.

There’s a quiet knock on the door and a woman comes in. She’s the wedding planner Heath’s parents hired. “It’s time,” she says.

I take a deep breath and we make our way to the lawn.

I’m so nervous that my entire body is shaking. I’m afraid my voice will do the same once I’m standing at the altar, saying my vows. But once I walk out onto those stairs and see Heath waiting for me, any traces of fear I felt dissipate. He is my future, my life, my love. He’s my rock and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.