“Elli! What in the world are you doing here?”
Elli Adler flashed a wide smile over at Wren as she reached out, hugging her tightly. “I wanted to come to all the boys’ days with the Cup, and let me tell you, I didn’t realize how much I’d be traveling,” she laughed, and Wren beamed back at her. “I’ll be in Sweden for the rest of the week until I come to Colorado for Johansson and then off to Chicago, New York, and then home for a week. The kids are pissed, but Shea is amazing. No one knows, but this is like a mini vacation for me.”
Wren giggled as she nodded. “You’re probably one of the best owners in the league, Elli.”
Elli shrugged. “I try.”
“It shows.”
Squeezing Wren’s arm, Elli looked out to where Jensen was in the middle of a huge street hockey match. “This is amazing.”
“His dad did it all. He planned everything for this day, and then his mom planned the party for tonight.”
Elli snapped her fingers. “I’ll miss the party, but seeing all the kids, Lord, look at them all,” she gushed, and Wren couldn’t stop grinning as she looked around at where the whole town had gathered for Jensen’s street party. The town was very small, only about nineteen hundred people, and Wren was sure they were all there. Which made closing the street even easier, she guessed.
The Cup was set up to the side, with two big dudes guarding it, as the match happened in the middle of the street. The children looked at Jensen like he was a god. It was beautiful to watch him with all of them. He was having a blast, for sure. “This is awesome. Best party so far.”
Wren scoffed. “Wait till you see what Vaughn has planned at his hockey rink. It’s going to be ridiculous.”
“I’m sure, in true Vaughn form.”
“Very true.”
Elli looked back over at her. “You look great. Like, really.”
Wren looked away bashfully as her hands came up to hold her belly. It was a warm day, so she was wearing a pair of shorts and an Assassins tee with Jensen’s number on the back. It was his and was massive on her shoulders, but her belly fit perfectly. “Thanks. I feel huge, but Jensen has made me go walking every day we’ve been here, and he won’t let his mom stuff me full of her amazing French cuisine.”
Elli scowled. “That’s rude.”
“That’s what I said!”
“I’ll fire him for you.”
Wren laughed out loud at that. “We both know you won’t.”
She exhaled hard. “Not after my poor Tate.”
“I know. I talked to him last night and then Audrey too for over two hours,” Wren added, shaking her head. “I’m still torn up over it.”
“It’s for the best, I know that, but I love that guy.”
“I do too, he’s a good man.”
“He is, but I think he’s going to be on the goalie team, which will be excellent. I just need him to get better.”
“He’ll do awesome.”
“He will,” Elli agreed, squeezing Wren’s hand. “Thank you for everything you do for my boys.”
“That’s what you hired me for.”
Elli waved her off, though. “But you go above and beyond, like I do. You care, and it means the world to me.”
“Well, thank you,” Wren said, her lips curving. She leaned into Elli. “I have a great boss.”
“Damn right, you do,” she teased and then laughed before shaking her head. “But really, Wren, I can’t get over how good you look! At Lucy’s party, you looked like a deer in the headlights. But today? So damn happy.”
Wren looked away, a grin pulling at her lips as her gaze fell on Jensen. He tackled a little kid, carrying him over his head, laughing loudly with all the kids that were around him. He was a natural out there, and she hadn’t seen him smile so much in one hour as he did when he was out there with those kids. Wren’s heart sped up as her hands ran along her own child growing inside of her. She admitted, “I have a damn good reason to be happy.”
“Yeah, you do,” Elli agreed as she leaned into her. “He’s a damn fine man.”
“Wrenya!”
Looking over to where Antoine was calling her, Wren held up a finger. “Jensen’s dad needs me. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Give me a hug in case I miss you before I leave,” Elli said before they embraced.
“Thanks so much for coming.”
“Of course, see you soon.”
Sending her one last smile, Wren headed toward where Antoine was manning the scoreboard in a huge tent since he didn’t do well in the sun. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Wrenya, sorry for calling for you like that, but can you get me a water? Emma is off running her mouth with all these people and forgot that I need to be watered.”
Patting her father-in-law’s arm, she nodded. “Of course. I’ll be back.”
“You’re the best,” he called, though it was hard to hear over all the laughter and joyful activity around them. Heading toward the concession stand, Wren went in the back and grabbed two bottles of water before sending a grin to the girl that was running it for Antoine and Emma. Wren hadn’t realized everyone knew everyone in this town. Being back at the Monroes’ house, where no one was around for at least twenty miles, she’d thought there wasn’t anyone else in the area, but coming into town, she realized she was very wrong.
The town was small, but its residents loved each other dearly. The whole morning all she heard was people asking about Antoine’s health and then how Wren’s pregnancy was going. They accepted Wren as one of their own, acting as if they had known her her whole life. It was insane. Everyone was just so kind, and they treated Jensen with such beautiful respect. It was obvious he was the golden boy in the town. It was lovely to watch, and she was having a blast.
All while trying really hard not to think about the fact that she’d be heading home in two days.
Being with the Monroes was almost like a fairy tale. Or maybe that was Jensen. He just made her feel so good. She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay there, in the security and strength she’d found in the Monroes’ home. No wonder how Jensen was so damn confident and strong; he had two wonderful people to model himself after. She also understood why he strived for a love-filled marriage. His parents had that, and it was something she had never been able to observe. Her parents loved each other, sure, but it was different with Antoine and Emma. It was more than love, it was… She wasn’t sure, but it was beautiful to witness.
Heading toward where Antoine was waiting for her, she found herself stopped by Emma, who was standing with a few women Wren had seen more than once that day. “Wrenya, come here, love.”
Wren did as she was asked, and Emma wrapped her arms around her, kissing her cheek. “This is my gorgeous daughter-in-law, Wrenya.”
Wren smiled awkwardly as everyone wished her well. “You look like Jensen’s best friend. The thicker one,” one of the ladies said.
“Wells, yes, that’s her brother,” Emma pointed out before turning to Wren. “This is Jensen’s ex-mother-in-law.”
Looking back to the thin woman, Wren tried to smile. Though, she pretty much hated his ex-wife and anyone associated with her. “Oh. Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. My lovely Ophelia is on her fifth pregnancy, you hear, Emma? Though, I’m still sad that she and Jensen never could work it out.”
“It was all her fault,” one of the other ladies said.
“Who lets go of someone like Jensen Monroe?” another asked, and Wren grinned.
“Yeah, her loss, my gain,” she said, which caused the lady’s face to wrinkle a bit before she flashed them all a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Ant needs me.” Kissing Emma’s cheek, Wren headed toward where Ant was waiting under his tent, and when he saw her, he lit up.
“Thank God, I’m dying here.”
Wren giggled as she handed him the water bottle and sat down beside him. “How’s it going?”
“Wrapping up, then they’ll do the shootout.”
“The shootout?”
“Yeah, all the kids will get a chance to score on Jensen, and whoever does will get to hold the Cup first.”
Wren’s lips curved. “That’s cute.”
“Yeah, it will be fun,” he said as he added a point from where someone had scored. “Have you seen my woman?”
“She’s over there talking to Jensen’s ex-wife’s mom,” she said, her face twisting as if she had something nasty in her mouth.
“She’s jealous. She loved Jensen, but her daughter was a whore.”
Sputtering with laughter, Wren nodded. “Got that right.”
Shaking his head, he leaned into Wren. “See, the problem with Ophelia was she didn’t love Jensen with her soul. You know what I mean?”
Wren pressed her lips together. “I don’t, sorry.”
“Okay, see, I love my Emma with my soul. Not my heart, because a heart can stop. And not with my mind, because a mind forgets. But a soul, Wrenya, a soul never stops, nor does it forget. It just loves. Same thing with you and Jensen—you love with your soul.”
She met his gaze, and his infectious grin had her smiling back. “That’s beautiful.”
“That’s love. Always love with your soul, you hear me, Wrenya?”
“I do,” she said, patting his hand, and he captured her hand before bringing it to his mouth.
“Good girl,” he said, kissing her hand before he rang the bell. Everyone stopped, and then Jensen started speaking very rapidly in French before the kids all let out a variety of ecstatic cries. It was sexy. People started wrangling the kids as Jensen came to the table with a grin on his face. “It’s going great, son.”
He nodded. “It’s awesome, Dad, thanks.” Looking to Wren, he asked, “Ma chou, you see Elli?”
She glared at the nickname as he fought back his laughter. She loved when he did that. His eyes were bright while he tried to keep his lips from forming a grin. Man, he was cute. “I did. I thought it was sweet.”
He nodded as he started to put on his goalie equipment. “It was. She’s heading out.”
“Aww, too bad.”
“Yeah,” he said before standing up and putting on his chest shield. “Hopefully I don’t get hurt.”
Wren smiled. “They’re some big kids out there.”
“I know, that’s what I’m saying,” he laughed before leaning over the table and kissing her lips. “See ya.”
“Good luck,” she called as he went back out into the street, the kids all cheering loudly for him. When he dropped down, stretching and then doing a few drills that she had seen him do on the ice numerous times, her brow furrowed. “Wait, he’s serious out there?”
Ant laughed. “Of course he is. We play to win, Wrenya.”
“They’re kids!”
“So?” he laughed, and she shook her head. Sure as shit, once the shootout started, Jensen was in full goalie mode.
She had to admit, it was fucking hot.
He batted everything away, poke checked more kids than she’d care to admit since it probably made him an asshole, and taunted the bigger kids while trying to lift up the younger ones. She was completely amazed by him, so much so that she missed the little girl who was standing at the table, speaking very sweetly in French.
Looking up at the girl and then her mom before glancing at Ant, Wren asked, “What’s going on?”
“She’s late and wants to play, but they cut the lines off,” he said to her quickly before holding his hands out and saying something to the mom. When the little girl’s shoulders fell, so did Wren’s heart.
“Oh no, she’s getting her shot,” Wren said, standing up and grabbing a stick. “Do you know English?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Thank God. “Good, what’s your name?”
“Maude.”
“Awesome. Maude, I’m Wren. Come on, we’ll go together.”
She took the hand of the little girl, who couldn’t have been over six, and they walked out toward the street where everyone was, cheering on their friends. One of the volunteers went to stop Wren, but she held her hand up. “Married to the guy in goal.”
“But the lines are closed.”
“And I don’t care,” she said simply, heading toward Jensen as the little girl giggled happily. Standing beside the person who was controlling who went next, she tapped him on the shoulder. “We’d like a try.”
His brows pulled together. “But the line is closed.”
“Wren, what are you doing?”
She smiled before looking past him to Jensen. “She didn’t get here in time and wants her chance. I’m using my wife card to get us a shot.”
Pushing up his helmet, he had the widest and most gorgeous grin on his face as he nodded. “Bring it.”
“Hear that?” she asked Maude. “We get our shot.” But the little girl didn’t move. Bending down, Wren grasped her arm. “What’s wrong?”
“What if I miss?”
Wren’s heart cracked as she held the sweet girl’s gaze in hers. “You know, you miss every single shot you don’t take.”
Her face broke into a grin. “Wayne Gretzky.”
“Yup. So if you don’t try, how do you know if you’ll miss?”
And as the child slowly nodded, Wren realized that her words meant more than she intended them to. Not for Maude, but for herself. But before she could really dissect what she was feeling, Maude put her stick down and nodded toward the guy running the line, who threw a puck down to her. Stick handling it like a pro, she gazed up at Wren. “Will you come with me?”
Wren beamed down at the little girl. “Of course.”
Wren grabbed a stick and put it down, and Maude passed the puck to her. Wren passed it back as the crowd lost their ever-loving mind. Looking back at Jensen, she could see him grinning, but he was ready. When Wren got the puck, she acted as if she was going to shoot—of course, she was way slower, and Jensen saw the whole thing—but she passed it to Maude nonetheless, and she shot it through his legs with ease. Maude threw her arms up, and everyone went nuts as Maude came over, hugging Wren tightly.
Tears flooded her eyes as she held the girl who was shaking with excitement. Wren felt like a baby, but she didn’t care. It was a damn good day. When she looked up, Jensen was standing there, handing Maude the puck. “You got me.”
She beamed up at him. “You started out as a forward. I know this because you’re my favorite player ever, and I want to be just like you.”
He bent down, cupping her face. “You’ll be better, don’t ever forget that,” he said before squeezing her shoulder. “Great job.”
“Can I have my picture with you and the Cup?”
“Of course, you’ll get it first!”
She almost came out of her skin before looking up to Wren. “Thank you, Mrs. Monroe. You made my whole life.”
As the little girl ran off toward her mother, who was crying, Wren fought back her own tears. “Cutest damn kid ever.”
When Jensen’s hands came around her waist, she turned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I was convinced you weren’t going to let her score.”
He scoffed, his lips curving. “I wasn’t going to, but I thought you were taking the shot, and you’re the only person I’ll let score on me.”
Before she could smile or say anything else, his lips were on hers in a downright sinful way. Their night together, only a few nights ago, still shook her to the core. They hadn’t had a moment like that again, mostly because when they got to bed, they passed out from the day, but she yearned for him like no other. Running her fingers through the coarse hair on his jaw, she leaned into him and didn’t care at all that he was sweaty and sort of stinky.
All she cared about was kissing him.
And that didn’t scare her one bit.
Which was a win in her book.
* * *
“I swear, I have never seen a more dashing man in a suit.”
Jensen rolled his eyes as his father boasted up at Wren from his wheelchair. It wasn’t often that Jensen saw his father in anything but his sports shorts and tees, but even he had to admit he looked great. Not that he was telling him that. “Hey.”
Wren grinned over at him as Antoine laughed. “Hey, son, can’t help how sexy I am. Right, Emma?”
“Right,” she agreed before pressing her lips to Antoine’s cheek. Jensen smiled as his father kissed her back, rubbing her shoulders, not the least bit concerned that he was in a wheelchair. But that’s how it always was.
When Wren threaded her fingers through Jensen’s, he looked over at her as she whispered, “Don’t worry, I think you’re hotter.”
Leaning his head to hers, he kissed her nose as Emma gushed over the food. “Damn right, you do.”
She sent him a grin as he looked around the party his mother had thrown. It was too damn lavish for the little town, but she didn’t hold back. The food was divine, and the decorations, which included lots of the number 1, along with purple and black for the Assassins colors, were everywhere. There was even an ice sculpture of his face.
Yes, his face.
Wells and Vaughn were geeking out.
Looking down at his phone, he scoffed as Vaughn and Wells went back and forth about the picture Wren had sent them.
Wells: What the shit? I should have come! My stupid wedding is holding me back!
Vaughn: Right? I’m pissed. I wanna lick your nose.
Wells: Or stick carrots in his eyes.
Wells: Too bad it isn’t your body, I’d stick a carrot up your ass.
Vaughn: Whoa, man, too gay. You jumped over the line with your straight best friends. Go back, abort!
Wells: My bad, stepping back over.
Wells: But really, I need more pictures. I’m texting Wren.
“Did my brother say he wants to stick a carrot up your ass?”
Laughing, he shut his phone off and tucked it into his suit pocket. “Yes.”
“Wow, he went really gay on you.”
“Doesn’t happen often,” he laughed, shaking his head. “He’s silly.”
“Yeah,” she said as she took a long pull of her not-wine, as she kept calling it. “This is a beautiful party, Emma.”
His mother waved her off. “Please, I bet your mom puts on better shows.”
Wren smiled. “Not as pretty as this. It’s gorgeous.”
“Well, thank you. I swear, I love you more and more as the days pass.”
“Me too,” Jensen found himself saying, which caused his father, mother, and Wren to look over at him with smiles pulling at their lips.
Wren’s face deepened with color as she pressed her shoulder to his. “He knows how to make a girl swoon.”
“Gets it from me,” his father said, and Emma rolled her eyes.
“Don’t listen to him. I did that,” Emma demanded, and Antoine laughed as Jensen smiled. Little did they know, they’d both shaped him into the man he was. Along with the Lemieres. To say he was honored by the party his mum had put on was an understatement. He almost felt like he didn’t deserve it, but then, he had worked really fucking hard. In the middle of the dance floor was the Cup, shining in all its beautiful glory, and he wanted to hug it. It had been a great day. The kids were awesome, the town was astounding, and now, he was at a party with his woman on his arm.
And boy, what a sight she was.
She was wearing the dress from their wedding, and it did hug her a little tighter than before, but he found it sexy as hell. Her hair was down, big curls with that flower crown she’d had on at their wedding. Unlike that day, her makeup was dramatic, and her lips were as pink as the gown. She looked fucking fantastic, and he wanted nothing more than to bury his face in her neck and live out the rest of his days there.
She blew his mind.
Holding her hand, he drew circles on her palm as she talked to his parents like she had belonged there since day one. In a way, he knew she did. There wasn’t a moment in his life that he hadn’t looked around and wished she were there. But this moment, one of the biggest in his life, his homecoming with the Cup was one day he was more than glad she was a part of.
Wren walked around his town like she owned it. She was beautiful, regal, and fearless when she brought Maude up for her chance to shoot on him. Jensen had been so engrossed with the beauty that was his wife, he couldn’t even focus on the sweet girl who was coming at him. But he didn’t care. All he cared about was watching Wren’s face light up when Maude scored. And the way she kissed him. Yeah, he cared a lot about that.
He almost couldn’t believe that it was happening.
That she could be falling for him.
But in a way, he felt it. Deep in his soul.
And he prayed that he was right and not just grasping at straws. Because when he looked at her, he didn’t see anything but their future. Moving his hand up her arm, he placed it on her growing belly and found himself sighing happily. He couldn’t wait to meet his little guy, his son, his boy. He hoped to be a father like his dad because Antoine Monroe was one hell of a dad. So supportive, as was Winston Lemiere, his other dad for all intents and purposes. He had such great male role models, and he couldn’t wait to be that for his kid.
When Wren’s hand covered his, his lips curved as she moved it over to where the kiddo was kicking like mad. He beamed as his eyes closed, a euphoric and beautiful feeling engulfing him as his son moved. When the baby’s activity subsided, Jensen opened his eyes to find Wren watching him.
“It’s pretty damn cool.”
“It is,” he answered, and then he leaned over, kissing the side of her mouth. “So are you.”
“Me? No.”
“Yeah, you’re right, you’re not cool. It’s all me,” he teased, and she laughed as his mother tapped his hand.
“Mon chou, if you’re done eating, I need you to go socialize.”
Jensen groaned inwardly. “Of course, Mum. Excuse me.”
“No, take Wren. She’s so gorgeous, show her off.”
This time it was Wren groaning as she stuffed a few bites into her mouth. No one said no to Emma Monroe, and Wren had learned that quickly. Getting up, she chewed as he threaded his fingers with hers. “You could have said no.”
She scoffed. “Please.”
He laughed softly as they moved from table to table, greeting everyone. From all stages of his life were people who had been there with him. His teachers, coaches, his friends, their parents, and more. It was like a reunion of sorts, and everyone was so kind to him and Wren. They gushed over how gorgeous she was and how beautiful she was pregnant. All Jensen could do was completely agree.
She was the most gorgeous pregnant woman he had ever seen.
And it gutted him that he wasn’t the one to do that to her.
But he wouldn’t dwell.
He couldn’t, or he’d drive himself mad.
“Man, if I ever feel insecure, I’m moving here,” she teased as they walked away from the table that held all his high school teachers. “I’m apparently Miss USA around these parts.”
He pressed his lips to her jaw. “You are, everywhere. At least to me.”
She rolled her eyes, leaning into him as her face lit up. “Stop.”
“Nope. Never.”
Setting him with an annoyed but playful look, she shook her head. “Why can you make me blush, but no one else?”
He wrapped his arm around her neck, probably messing up her hair, not that she cared. “Because when I say it, you know I mean it, and it’s true.”
Kissing his nose, she nodded. “Maybe.”
“Actually.”
“Possibly.”
“Truthfully.”
She glared and he smiled. “A chance.”
“Honestly,” he asserted back, and she found herself grinning.
“You’re lucky I’m drunk on my not-wine and can’t think of another word.”
He laughed. “So what you’re saying is that I’m in luck because I’m a bit tipsy and yet I can find a word?”
She nodded, pleased with that assessment. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“That’s—”
“Jensen.”
Stopping in his tracks, he looked up to find the last person he thought he’d see.
His ex-wife.
Ophelia stood in all her glory, tall and wearing even taller heels, her bone-straight brown hair down along her shoulders as her dress hugged every single inch of her. She didn’t look pregnant, but he had heard she was. By the dick who stood beside her.
“Ophelia.”
He could feel Wren tense up beside him as he let her go to lean over and press his lips to Ophelia’s cheek in a chaste way he didn’t want to, except out of politeness. Holding his hand out to the guy she married after she had left him, he said, “I’m Jensen. Nice to meet you.”
“Colton, nice to meet you.”
Well, that name was off the list now.
“This is my wife, Wren. Ma chou, Ophelia and her husband, Colton.”
Wren gave him a sideways look as she smiled curtly. “Hey.”
Colton moved to her, but he paused when Wren shot him a look that clearly stated not to touch her. When Wren glanced back at Ophelia, her eyes were wide as she looked at Jensen. Smacking her hands together, Ophelia said, “Who would have guessed! Wren, Wren Lemiere. The girl from your billet house?”
Jensen looked to her and smiled. “Yeah. Wells’s little sister.”
She scoffed, shaking her head, anger floating in the depths of her blue eyes. “Wow, I could have sworn I was told that you didn’t have any feelings for her. You made that clear to me. Funny how things change, huh?”
Jensen cleared his throat as he nodded, feeling Wren’s gaze on him. “Yeah—”
“Or maybe it wasn’t the right time, right place? Now it is.” Wren smiled smugly.
“Obviously,” Ophelia said curtly, her eyes falling to Wren. “Guess, congratulations are in order.”
Jensen could feel her animosity and see the irritation in her eyes, but he wouldn’t let it bother him. She meant nothing to him. With a smile, he nodded as he reached out, holding Wren’s belly. “Thank you, we’re very excited.”
Ophelia gave him a stern look that he knew meant she was pissed before she added, “Well, I’m sure—since we were told you couldn’t have children.”
Jensen swallowed hard as he looked around, hoping no one heard her, but thankfully, the music was loud. Before he could say anything, though, Wren covered his hand with hers as she said, “Well, maybe it’s because he wasn’t with the right person.”
“Excuse me?” Ophelia asked, her eyes narrowing to slits.
“I didn’t stutter, for one. And for two, all this doesn’t matter because you left him for this guy you cheated with. So surely you don’t care about what or whom Jensen is doing.”
“I didn’t—”
“Oh, please, don’t worry. You don’t have to convince us of anything because we aren’t worried about you. We’re good. Great, even. We’re having a baby, we are married, and one thing is for certain, I’m sure as hell not going to leave him high and dry the way you did,” Wren stated simply, her face darkening with color. “So yeah, go fuck off. And watch your back, Colton.”
As Wren pulled Jensen away, he was a bit stunned while she led him out onto the dance floor. She was trying to cut through, but he had another idea. He tugged back, and she turned into his arms as he wrapped his arms around her. “Can I have this dance?”
With a grin cresting her sweet lips, she moved her hands up his chest and around his neck before she nodded. “Always.”
Moving his hands along her hips, he wanted to be closer, but their son was in his way. “You didn’t have to do that.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t like her.”
“Totally aware of that.”
“She’s lucky we’re both pregnant. I would have decked her.”
“I would have paid to see that.”
She scoffed, looking up at him. “She’s awful. Why’d you even go for her? She’s the complete opposite of me. I’m pretty sure my big toe weighs more than she does, and she’s pregnant! With her fifth kid! Ugh, it makes no sense to me.”
“Exactly,” he said simply, his hands sliding to the small of her back. “She was nothing like you, no reminder of what I couldn’t have. With her, I didn’t have the constant reminder that I didn’t have you. But I tried. I tried so hard to love her and be the man she needed, but in the back of my mind, my heart was always with you.”
He got lost in her eyes, and she was breathless as her fingers moved along the back of his neck. “You know what kills me?”
“What?”
“That you felt all that for me, and I never knew it.”
But Jensen shook his head. “You knew, Wren, you just ignored it.”
Her eyes dilated as she leaned her head into his chin. “You think so?”
“I know so,” he said, moving his lips along her forehead, the flower crown on her head tickling his nose. “And the sooner you realize that you’ve felt something for me all along and you feel more, the better off we’ll both be.”
As the song changed to Hannah Miller’s “We Can Always Come Back to This,” Wren’s head fell back when his mouth dropped to hers. Waiting for her eyes to fall shut, he felt his heart pound before he allowed himself to do the same. There was nothing like kissing her. Winning all those games for the Cup couldn’t even compare. Nothing. He would never get used to it, and he never wanted to. He wanted each moment his lips touched hers to blow his world to smithereens. He needed it to, just so that he would never feel anything but alive.
He pulled back, and they moved together, her lips lightly brushing his as she clung to him. Moving her chin to his shoulder, she turned her face, pressing her lips into his neck, while he leaned his head to hers, holding her to him. As the song transitioned into another one, he continued to sway with her, unable to move and not even wanting to.
“Jensen.”
“Yeah, Wrenya, ma chou?”
She snickered against his neck before she kissed it softly. “I’m getting used to this.”
His eyes fell shut as he asked, “What do you mean?”
“You. Us. This. I’m getting used to it, and I don’t know if I can let it go.”
His heart skipped a beat before he pulled away to look down at her. “You don’t have to.” Her eyes searched his before he dropped his head to hers, pressing their foreheads together. “You never have to.”
She pushed her nose into his, and her eyes stayed wide as she nodded. “I’m holding you to that.”
“Please do. Because my word is my promise.”
“I know.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
She smiled. “But I will.”
“Annoying, I know.”
Her face lit up before she closed her eyes. “How do you know how to make me happy?”
Taking her in his hands, he ran his thumbs along her cheeks as she slowly opened her eyes back up, meeting his heated gaze. “Because for fifteen years, I watched you. Anything that made you smile, I banked in my brain, so that when I got you, that smile would be permanently in place. Then the whole world would be graced with the beauty that is you, because I love you. So very much.” As her eyes filled with tears, her mouth moving but no words coming out, he knew she was panicking. He could see it in her eyes. Slowly, he shook his head as a smile spread across his lips. “It’s fine. Just kiss me.”
She exhaled harshly before capturing his lips with hers, and yeah, she couldn’t say it, that she loved him.
But he was truly starting to believe she did.