Page 84 of Last Chorus

The throb between my legs intensifies so suddenly I squirm. “Is that a promise?”

A slow, wicked grin spreads on his face. “How pissed are you that I haven’t taken that beautiful ass?”

I bare my teeth, more challenge than smile. “The toys and lube you ordered came over a week ago. You haven’t even opened the box. I’m starting to think you’re trying to give me another complex.”

His grin sharpens for a moment before falling. Eyes darkening, he wraps hot fingers around my throat. I swallow against his palm and his gaze drops to my mouth. Parting my lips, I drag the tip of my tongue between them. Wilder grunts, his eyes narrowing in censure.

Being denied his lips on mine has been torture. I hate that he’s been strong enough to resist temptation, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also love him for that strength. For his unfailing commitment to what he feels is right. His never-faltering light.

“Sweet Fairy,” he murmurs. “Never doubt that I want all of you all the time. Every inch of your body. Every mood, every scream, every tear and laugh. Thank you for opening up to me tonight. You’re so brave, and I’m so fucking proud of you.” He pauses, regret flashing in his eyes. “As much as it pains me to say this, tonight probably isn’t the time to open that box. It’s been a long day.We should get some sleep. Unless you want me to run you a bath first?”

His fingers loosen on my throat. Before he can fully release me, I grab his hand with both of mine and hold it to my skin. I almost smile at the surprise in his eyes, but the moment is too massive, ringing in my body and soul like a mighty bell.

“I’m not using you as a distraction, Wilder. Not right now, and not once since I got here.”

I know I’ve hit the mark when his expression shutters. An ache spreads through my chest as the full scope of our livesunfolds in my mind’s eye. Who we are and have been. How we match and mirror each other now and across the pages of the past.

My first steps as a child were to follow him. The first time I sang was to sing with him. The first poem I wrote and every song I’ve written since—every single one—all belong to him.

We’ve been each other’s light and darkness. We’ve broken each other. Saved each other. We’ve stretched our souls’ tether to the point of fraying. But it will never, ever snap. Nothing can destroy the bond between us.

He was right all those years ago, the day we sat beneath the sycamore and promised each other forever.

Wearemore.

We’re everything.

My heart flutters, heavy and impossibly light.

“I’ve been trying to be the girl you loved before, to get back to that version of myself. I thought that was who you wanted, who you deserved.”

Frowning, he opens his mouth, but I press a finger to his lips.

“I’ve realized it wasn’t about you at all.Iwanted to be that person again because I’ve been struggling to accept who I’ve become. How my choices have changed me.” I trace a fingertip along his lower lip. “But you don’t see any of that, do you? You just see me.”

He nods. “All I ever see when I look at you is my Fairy—my muse, my reason, my everything. You’re the only addiction I’ll never give up. My obsession forever.”

I blink away a veil of tears. “I see you too. You’remyperfect song. If the offer is still on the table, I’d like to return your missing piece and come home. Can I keep you forever? Will you keep me?”

His chest convulses and his beautiful eyes shine with tears. “Yes. More yeses than stars in the sky. Always yes.”

Shadows swirl around us, the ripples of Katherine’s warning:A storm approaches.But they can’t touch or dim this light.

Wilder’s forehead drops to mine. “I love you, Evangeline. So much I burn with it.”

“I love you, too.” I grip his wrist, straining my facetoward his. “But if you don’t kiss me right now, I’m going to smother you in your sleep.”

A dimple flashes, then his face lowers. Parted lips meet mine, soft and warm and achingly sweet.

Time stops.

Everything fades away.

And it’s just us.

Like it’s always been and always will be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

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