He buries his head in my neck, inhaling me before peppering kisses all over my face. “I’m burning for you. This distance is so bloody hard, it’s messing with my head.”
I know.Stop being so damn selfish.
“I caused the rift between us.”
“There’s no rift, you hear me? I’d build a bridge between us with my bare hands.”
I need to pull myself together and be strong, for both our sakes. Walking back through the tunnel, I expect him to kiss me goodbye, but he comes inside the estate with me.
“I have it from here.” I don’t want to make it even harder for him. Even with our emotional but productive breakdown, our situation hasn’t changed. I’m still engaged.
“Don’t send me away, Bailey. There’s nothing there for me. I need my home. My place is next to you.”
Emotions choke me up; it’s impossible to form words. So, I take his hand and kiss the back of his palm. “I won’t. Nothing and no one will keep me away from you ever again. Together?”
He does the same, and I feel his kiss on my palm in my entire body, our eyes locked just like our hearts. “If our love sets the world on fire, then I’ll gladly let it burn with you by my side. All I care about is being with you. Together.”
Samuel comes our way, interrupting our moment. “Miss Fairchild. Mister Prescott, Ma’am would like a word with you two.”
Once we’re in her office, she looks at our hands clasped together, showing our unity and our irrevocable decision.
Her lips twitch. “I won the bet against your father, Hunter. I said you’d make it no further than a week. He said you’d last longer. So?”
“Ma’am, don’t make us stay apart,” I beg her.
Steepling her hands on her desk, she says, “You two understand the consequences if you make one mistake?”
Glancing at each other, we answer in unison, “Yes.”
“Be careful. Don’t get caught.”
She’s so freaking great. Unable to contain myself, I run to her and hug her. Filled with gratitude, I squeal, thanking her again and again.
“You deserve only the best, Bailey.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” Hunter says, voice thick with emotions, and that clouded expression clears.
She waves her hand toward the door. “Now leave before I change my mind.”
She doesn’t have to tell us twice. We dash through the door, taking the stairs to my room.
“Am I dreaming?” he asks once we’re inside. Cupping my face, he takes my mouth in a toe-curling, passionate kiss. Bright silver and a softer expression greet me when we part with a gasp.
“If you are, we share the same dream,” I murmur.
His brows draw together in deep thought. “She sounded way too happy… She knows more than she’s letting on.”
Tired of thinking, all I care about at this moment is that we’re together. “Maybe she’s happy her matchmaking plans worked.”
He pushes me toward the bed, where I fall back with a squeal.
“We’ll find out at dinner tomorrow, but until then, let me fuck this pussy of mine properly.”
Sun streams through the windows, and Bailey stirs, her lashes fluttering. I had the best sleep of my life, rejuvenating every cell in me. After seven days, her absence became unbearable, and the last nail to my sanity threatened to unscrew.
She’s so beautiful it tugs at my heartstrings, my chest vibrating with this all-encompassing love. My hungry eyes sweep over her elegant features, those delicate freckles, defined cheeks, and full lips. Her strawberry long and shiny hair cascades around her like a river of flames. I am too weak to withstand her, so I lower my head and brush a kiss on the tip of her nose.
A smile grazes her lips, but she keeps her eyes closed. I move on to her cheeks next, trailing kisses all over her face before I reach her mouth. She opens for me, her arms crossing around my neck, and we kiss languidly.