Page 72 of Fighting Gravity

“Show’s how farwe’vecome,” she corrected.

“And we’re not done yet. I’ve still got plans for us.” Tate brushed his fingers across her skin. “Big plans.”

Rosie traced the bulge in his jeans. “How big?”

“Bigger than that, even.”

She giggled. “Care to share?”

“Nope. You’ve got to trust me.”

She waited for the stomach squeeze tied to the wordtrust, the physical evidence of discomfort and doubt. It didn’t come.

Epilogue

One year later

Rosie fastened the dangling yellow earrings that resembled fractured far-off starlight. Her pop of color matched the accents sprinkled throughout the lobby downstairs. Hotel Astra was open and full of people: six special guests, and their special guests, and a ton of others. It seemed all of OrbitAll wanted to attend the press conference and prelaunch party for the inaugural commercial flight. Even Chen, a very pregnant Elle, and Chen’s sister Xiaoming were making the trip in from San Diego.

Excitement fluttered in her stomach. They’d hardly slept, though her interior designer had specified insanely comfortable beds for the hotel. Rosie was too excited and nervous for Vadim and OrbitAll’s six citizen astronauts. And for Tate.

He joined her in the lush bathroom, running a hand across her bare torso. Electricity snaked through her body at the simple touch. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before fingering the earrings that dangled near there: a line of diamonds ending in a yellow teardrop.

“I like your outfit.”

He caught her gaze in the mirror and grinned. Rosie rolled her eyes. She was still in a bra and underwear, not having donned her Jackie O-style dress yet. The dress was her nod to the 1960s, the era of the first space race. Tate and the people of OrbitAll were kicking off a second space race today. Her man was part of history, the first company to get commercial passengers to space. Tears of pride had been escaping all day.

She turned toward him. Tate was fully dressed in a delicious gray suit and white shirt that showed every muscle. He’d accessorized with a smile so full of desire that it stole her breath. Those intense eyes saw right through her.

“Thankfully, your hair isn’t done yet,” he said, pulling her against him as he nuzzled her neck.

Perched on the counter now, Rosie’s legs went around his waist. She arched into his body and mouth as Tate teased and tasted his way toward her undoing.

Rosie reached for his belt to pay him back in kind. She’d iron his pants again when they were done. She slid to the floor and pleasured her man until he begged her to stop. Then she begged him to fuck her against the counter hard and fast. She actually used the word. She was not afraid to ask for what she wanted anymore. He obliged. They came together, hands clasped and eyes locked in the mirror.

Even after a year and a half as an official couple, Tate still found new ways to make Rosie feel treasured. The stunning earrings were one, their quiet time at home together another, and now this latest orgasm delivered exactly how she wanted: hot yet heavy with love.

Rosie hurriedly ironed his pants before twisting her hair into what she hoped was an elegant bun that showed off her new earrings. Then she slipped into her gray sheath dress. She heard Tate rummaging in their luggage as she shoved her feet into the towering sky-blue heels she’d purchased just for the occasion.

“Ready?” She joined Tate in the living space.

Tate’s smile was happy, his body calm, like the press conference he was about to lead was no big deal—like opening space travel to the masses, actuallygivingspots to space away to deserving dreamers, was just another day for him. His decade-long dream would be realized within hours, and he only had eyes for her.

“God, I love you,” she told him. “An incalculable amount, like dark matter.”

“Well, how am I supposed to top that?”

He slipped his hand in hers and Rosie pulled him toward the door. But it was like pulling dead weight. His immobility yanked her backward. “What—”

Tate was down on one knee, a blue velvet box in hand. “Never mind. Thought of a way to top that.”

Rosie’s universe exploded, expanded, then shrunk to include only the two of them. Heat raced across her skin as she soaked in the love in his expression, the trust in his stance. Her heartbeat nearly drowned out his words.

“I have loved you from the moment we met. You’ve changed me. You’ve made me. Life with you is beyond beautiful. If you agree, if you and I is what you want for the rest of your life, I’m yours.”

Holy Mary, Mother of God. She’d never heard more beautiful words. And she’d never trusted a feeling as surely as she did right then.

She pulled him to standing with shaking hands. As certain as she was, her voice shook. Even her legs trembled a little. “Tate, you are absolutely who I want. What we’ve built is what I want. You’re my everything.”

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