Her chin quavers but she nods. We grip hands tighter. Her voice is pure and angelic when she says her vows, and I let each word soak into my skin, through muscle and bone, into my very soul where I’ll cherish them for eternity.

She beams up at me when she finishes, and my broad smile matches hers.

“Time for the rings,” Blake says.

Anna’s face falls. “Oh, I didn’t—”

“Don’t worry,” I say, reaching into my pocket. I know she is a reasonable girl, I hope too reasonable to expect diamonds, but I’m still anxious about her reaction. I open my palm to show her.

“I figured we’d have to wear these on our opposite hands after today,” I explain when she says nothing. “And since it’s our secret, I decided on your birthstone instead of a diamond. I had to guess your size.”

She stares a moment longer before grinning up at me. “I love it.” The awe in her voice makes me stand taller.

I hand her the men’s band and we exchange rings, sliding them on to each other’s fingers as a symbol of our love and commitment.

Blake claps a hand onto my shoulder. “Now for the good part. You may kiss your bride.”

“’Bout time,” I say, leaning forward to seal the most important moment of my life.

“No tongue!” Gin shouts.

“Yes tongue!” Marna counters.

Oh, for the love of—

Anna flings her arms about my neck and snogs me good to shut them up. Marna and Blake cheer and Ginger snorts. I drown them out and focus on Anna’s lips.

We press our foreheads together, and her eyes sparkle with glee.

“Did we really just do that?” I ask.

She smiles and nods and bursts into excited giggles. I grab her around the waist and lift her up, kissing her again, fighting the instinct to take her straight into the loo for a bit of privacy.

“Should I be this turned on by a wedding?” I ask.

“You get turned on when the wind blows!” Ginger says with a laugh.

Right enough. Anna laughs and I grin at her.

We’re all a bit mad at that moment, as if we’ve had loads to drink, though in fact we’re sober as nuns. I suppose that’s how rebellion feels—living with purpose—like each second is monumental and full. I soak it in, because I’m not fool enough to think it will last forever. But it’s ours now, all ours.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Finally

“You trace my lines, stirring my soul,

Shoot sparks at the heart of the world and I watch it explode.”

—“Run” by Matt Nathanson

The extravagant cabin is even better than I’d hoped. Anna certainly seems to agree. She’s rushing about the rooms in hyper speed, sighing and touching and exclaiming about every detail. The bed looks as if it’s been carved from an ancient tree, complete with overhanging branches and wood beams in the ceilings. Everything resembles autumn, with fabrics of red, brown, and yellow, and rustic wood furniture. I want to kiss Anna every time she flits past, but I can’t bloody catch her. Finally I nab her in the ginormous bathroom, and our mouths meet.

When she tenses, I pull back. “What’s wrong?”

She glances down. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Ah. She’s already thinking ahead.

“Anna?” I ask.

“Hm?” She’s gone shy.

“Have you ever felt as though you were fumbling around awkwardly when we’re together?”

“Um . . . I guess not.”

“Exactly. Some things come naturally, so don’t overthink it. I’m going to take care of you.”

She talks quietly, not looking me in the eye. “But I want to take care of you, too. You have to show me what to do.”

My lovely Anna is too kind. She has no clue how anything she does this night will only further satisfy my growing need for her.

“I’m not as hard to please as you might imagine. I’ll show you anything you want.”

She swallows and nods.

“Also . . .” I clear my throat. “Two days ago when Father told me he was sending me to seek you out . . . I had a test done. Just in case anything were to happen with us—I just wanted to be sure.”

Damn good thing, too, because after Marna, I’d be paranoid as hell tonight.

“Oh,” Anna says. “To make sure you’re really . . .”

“Sterile, yes. And I am.”

“Thank you,” she whispers. And she finally gets brave enough to look up at me. Her eyes widen and I feel a stirring in my belly. For so long I’ve held back with her. I will still have to hold back a bit, because she’s not yet ready for it all. But there are things I can and will do tonight. Starting with seeing every bit of her skin. I glance over her mouth, at the freckle at the corner of her lips.

“Anna . . .”

“Hmm?” Her voice goes high. She clears her throat.

“Remember when I told you I wanted to introduce myself to every freckle on your body?”

She nods slowly.

“Well, it’s time.”

Her cheeks bloom with color. I close my eyes as a warm wave of pears and freesia permeates the air. “You smell so damn good.”

Though this moment feels long overdue, I know neither of us was truly ready until this night. This is how it was meant to be for us.

I take her hand and lead her back into the main room. I want to put on music, but mine’s a bit dark. I dig through the bag from Marna and stare down at the music player she sent.

“Marna downloaded mood music as a gift,” I mutter. “I’m a bit frightened.”

Anna giggles at my apprehension. I set up the dock and turn it on. Sure enough, the first song is twangy.

“Country music?” Since when does Marna listen to this?

“I love this song!” Anna says, and I groan. Of course she does, Georgia girl. And I suppose it’s not that terrible. But still. Who knows what the rest of this playlist will bring.

“Maybe we should listen to my playlist instead.” I reach for my device.

Anna gives her head a shake and takes a bold step toward me. “Come on, Kai . . . my freckles are getting impatient.”

Bloody hell . . . did my little vixen just tell me to hurry up? I forget all about the playlist. I advance toward her, wondering if she has any clue what she’s sparked in me.

My freckles are getting impatient. . . .

“Well, then,” I say. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

I’m standing in front of her now and her chest is rising and falling rapidly.

Take it easy, mate. I’ve waited too long to rush. I slip my hand under her hair and tilt her face up to mine. Her eyes close and I taste her lips. Softly at first, taking her bottom lip between mine and then seeking her tongue with a gentle swipe of my own. As our mouths tangle and play, I walk forward and she walks backward until we’re stopped by the bed.

I need the dress off, now. I begin gathering it between my fingers, working it upward until the hem is in my hands. She lets me raise it over her head, and she’s standing before me in her bra and silk underwear. Her eyes are still nervous, but she moves for my shirt and I raise my arms for her to pull it over my head.

I swish the hair from my eyes, then feel her hands on the buckle of my shorts. I take her hands away, saying, “Not yet.” It’s been so long that I don’t want to test my self-control. Right now, I need to see all of her. I slowly reach behind and flick open the clasp of her white strapless bra. As it falls, she covers her chest.

“They’re . . .” She bites her lip and looks down.

I place my hands over hers. “I assure you, they’re perfect.” I gently pry her hands away and look down at Anna, exposed before me.

My breath hitches like I’m a lad. I have to close my eyes and gather my wits before I can look at her again. Every curve, peak, and valley . . . I can’t believe she’s mine. All mine.