It all happened so quickly, I’m still a little dumbfounded. Did I really just marry William again?

I look down at the exquisite ring on my finger, and it shimmers in the light. I did. I did really just marry him again.

It was the right decision, I know. I love him—I love him more than I ever could have imagined loving a person. Even though I had convinced myself—wrongly, of course—that I was never going to be able to find it in my heart again, it does seem that I have found something much deeper and much more real with William than I’ve ever known before.

He smiles down at me, as though he’s waiting for me.

My eyes flick over to the officiate, who gives me a small nod along with his bright smile.

William tips his head to speak into my ear. “We kiss now.”

Oh, of course. I’m not quite sure how I missed the urging of the officiate, but I grin up at William.

He pulls me into his arms before his lips meet mine. He’s so gentle at first, he doesn’t seem like the same man who’s kissed me so many times before. But as soon as I respond, tilting my head and sliding my arms around him, I’ve no doubt about his passion.

We must kiss for an inappropriate amount of time, because the officiate clears his throat after a few moments, and we pull away.

William is the first to start laughing, and once he begins, I’m unable to contain my own giddiness.

“Congratulations,” the man says, smiling at the two of us. “I know you both realize this wedding wasn’t legal, but I’ve been doing this for many years…” He shakes his head a few times, still grinning. “And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two people more right for each other.” He shakes William’s hand, then mine, and he gives us a small wave before he leaves the ballroom.

I’m not sure why, but I start to laugh again. William stares at me for a few seconds before he starts to laugh, too, pulling me into his arms once more.

“Not legal?” I can barely get the words out, I’m laughing so hard.

“I tried. But I…I couldn’t get a marriage license without your consent. We can fly to Vegas tonight to make it official. We can have a legal marriage there without waiting.”

I tip my head into his shoulder, unable to contain my laughter. I’m finally able to control myself long enough to look up into his eyes once more. “You can’t really wonder why I love America so much, can you?”

We both begin laughing again, giggling like little schoolgirls.

He’s the next to speak. “Our wedding might not have been legal, but at least we were able to kiss this time.”

His statement sends us both into another fit of laughter. He stops after a few moments, but I don’t notice it for several more seconds.

Heat rises in my cheeks as I realize he’s watching me. I’m not sure why, but I suddenly feel very exposed and vulnerable.

He pulls my hand into his, placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. “I still want to marry you. I still want you to wear my ring. I still want to be your husband.” His lips tick up into the smallest smile I’ve ever seen from him, and I know he isn’t making one of his jokes. “But most of all, I want to make you laugh like this every single day. I want to be the one to make you smile.”

“You’ll have to learn some new jokes.”

His almost solemn tone breaks into surprised laughter again at my words. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Princess. Whatever it takes.”

I nod at him, and he pulls me into an embrace. We stand like that, just holding each other for what seems an eternity.

William must motion for the quartet to begin playing, because the music starts up again after a time. He brings a finger to my chin, tilting it so that I meet his gaze. “Would you like to dance?”

I nod at him, smiling again.

He spins me out onto the dance floor, and we waltz. His gaze never leaves mine, and his smile never falls. As soon as our dance ends, he smiles down at me again. “We don’t have to return to your dormitory tonight. I’ve taken the best suite they have at this hotel—”

“Oh, William. I can’t.”

“Oh.” His eyebrows draw together. “I thought we might—”

“I would love to. I honestly would. But I have homework. I’m…” I shake my head. “I don’t expect you to understand. I have an assignment due tomorrow that I haven’t begun yet. And I—”

“Leave school.” His tone has turned solemn again, and he stares down into my eyes. “We can go somewhere and have our honeymoon—”

“For our pretend wedding?” I can’t help but smile. “As much as I would love that, I need to do this.”

“You don’t need to do anything. Neither of us does. It’s the privilege of our station in life.” He makes a sweeping gesture with his arm. “We have the world at our feet. We don’t have any needs—”

“William, I do need this. I need to prove something to myself. I…” I raise my thumb to my mouth, chewing on my nail for a moment before I realize what I’m doing and snap my hand behind my back to stop myself. “I know you don’t understand.”

He lifts a brow. “I really don’t.” He frowns. “At least come upstairs with me. At least allow me to show you how much I love you.” His eyes are almost pleading with me. “We haven’t been together for so long. I need to hold you in my arms tonight, Justine.”

“I…” The last thing I want to do is hurt him, especially after he’s gone to so much trouble. And I know if I so much as take a step toward his hotel suite, I’ll not be returning to my dormitory—or to my class—perhaps ever.

I lift my hand to his cheek. “I don’t want you to think I don’t love you, William. It isn’t that—”

“Then come to the suite with me. Let us share a proper wedding night.”

I ponder his statement for a few moments. “I want to. I do. But I can’t—”

“If you truly wanted to, you would.”

My shoulders sag, and I pull out of his arms. “William, I’m not doing very well in my class.”

He gives me a small smile. “All the more reason for you to come with me tonight. And come away with me tomorrow.”

“You don’t understand. And I suppose I can’t expect you to…” I shake my head, frowning at him. “I need to finish this class.”

“If you’re failing, though, what point is there to finishing—?”

“That is the point. I need to find out what I’m made of. For myself. I need to do this—finish this one thing—for myself.”

“Justine, you’ve finished college. You’re a published poet—”

“I was published under…questionable circumstances. I think now that James may have pitied me, and that was the only reason that book was published—”

He interrupts with a shake of his head. “I’ve read that book. Many times now. I don’t know much about poetry, but what you wrote moved me. I think…I think it deserved to be published.”

“I don’t mean this to sound condescending, William. Please understand that. But you don’t know if it deserved to be published. And neither do I. I have something to prove to myself.”

He pauses, considering my words. “At least let me hold you tonight. After you’ve finished your assignments.”

I smile. “I would love that.”