Page 18 of The Grump's Fake Wife

“Because y-you just can't love a woman like me,” she replies with a helpless shrug. “Look around you. This is my reality. I don't belong in your world, nor you in mine.”

“There are no boundaries in love except the ones you set to stop yourself, Lily,” I say gently. “You're an exceptional woman and I'd be lucky to have you by my side.”

“B-but…”

"No buts, Lily. I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you in the lobby on the day of your first interview. And that's why I came up with this ridiculous fake marriage thing; it was the only way I could get closer to you."

“The thing about your Chinese business partner was a lie?” she asks, blinking up at me in surprise.

“Yes, it was all a ruse,” I reply with a small smile. “I couldn't come up with anything better at the time. I wanted to have you all to myself, so I lied.

“But I don't regret the lie, Lily. The past three days have made me realize that I don't want to live without you. I can't.”

“Oh, Gabriel,” she sobs, throwing her arms around my shoulders and burying her face in my neck.

I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly against me as she sobs. “I'm not going to let you go,” I mutter against her hair.

We remain that way for a long time, and when her sobs finally quiet down, she pulls back slightly and smiles shyly at me. Swollen eyes and all, she's easily the most gorgeous woman to me.

“I- love you too, Gabriel,” she says, holding my gaze despite the furious blush spreading across her face. “I think I started to fall for you when you cooked for me at your house. Or maybe earlier than that,” she adds with an embarrassed chuckle.

“I want to hear you say it again,” I say, trailing my thumb slightly over her lower lip. “Say you love me, angel.”

“I love you, Gabriel.”

I start to lean in for a kiss, but she pulls away, shaking her head with a playful laugh. “I haven't had a proper wash in days. I must stink so badly and…”

I seal my mouth to hers, cutting off her nervous rant. She instantly melts into me with a small moan of satisfaction. She slides her arms around my neck and buries her finger in my hair, pressing herself closer to my body.

“Gabriel!” she yelps in surprise when I sweep her up in my arms. Her tinkling laughter sounds like music to my ears, and I can't imagine a life with that beautiful sound.

“What way to the bedroom, hun?”

Epilogue

Lily

One year later

I curl up into his warmth with a contented sigh, and his arms instantly wrap around me – the same strong and possessive arms that have shielded me from the world in the past year. They have become my favorite place to be… It's where I find the most peace.

The past year has been a whirlwind of events, from learning to forgive myself and everyone in my past to getting married to the most amazing man on earth. Gabriel has been by my side at every step of the way, and now I can't even remember what my life was like before I met him.

“Are you tired, honey?” Gabriel asks with a soft kiss on my shoulder. “What do you say we see the stars again?”

Seeing the stars is our innuendo for lovemaking, and I can already tell he’s growing hard. The feel of his hard length against my naked ass instantly sends a jolt down my spine. It doesn't matter that I just had an earth-shattering orgasm moments ago or that we make love countless times every other night–and several times during the day, sometimes– I always want him with a renewed vigor each time. Maybe it's the unfiltered passion and lust that I see in his eyes each time he looks at me, or the indisputable knowledge that he loves me against all odds… Forsome reason, every time with him feels like the first time, but better than the last.

I turn around to face him, sliding my leg between his naked thighs. I smile into his handsome face, slowly trailing my fingers over the defined muscles of his chest. “Thank you.”

“For making you see stars over and over again?” he asks with a playful smile, leaning in slightly to peck me on the nose.

“No, silly.” I laugh, then shrug lightly. “Well, that too… But I just want to thank you for making me the happiest woman on earth.”

"Well, you make me happy too, angel," he says, kissing my forehead this time. "My life has made more sense since you walked into it. What do you say I thank you with a mind-blowing orgasm. I can thank you all night long, you know?"

I chuckled, shaking my head at his silliness. I'm sure the public would be shocked to discover that the almighty Gabriel Foster has such a goofy side to him. A side he shows only to me… I guess that's what makes it all the more special.

“I've been wanting to tell you something,” I say, looking into his eyes.

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