Page 168 of Undisputed Chaos
"Waiting for what?" she whispered.
"For you. For this. For the family I was always supposed to have."
Her hands framed my face, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones with reverent care.
"Are you sure? Really sure? Because once you're a Hills, you're stuck with us. All our flower gardens, soccer games, and Sunday dinners that run too long."
I laughed, the sound bright and genuine in the quiet room.
"Angel, have you met my chosen family? I can handle anything. Besides," I added, my voice growing serious again, "I already have the most important Hills, and she's perfect."
"We can be a little crazy," she warned, but she was smiling.
"Good," I said, kissing the tip of her nose. "Crazy recognizes crazy. I'll fit right in."
She was quiet for a long moment, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck while she processed everything I'd just laid at her feet.
I could see her mind working, could practically feel her heart racing against mine where our chests pressed together.
"Adrian Hills," she said finally, testing the name on her tongue. "Adrian Hills and Isla Hills."
"Has a beautiful ring to it," I agreed.
"When?" she asked suddenly, her eyes bright with excitement and possibility.
"When what?"
"When do you want to make it official? Because I'm thinking sooner rather than later, before you change your mind and decide you actually prefer the mysterious thing."
I laughed, rolling us over so she was beneath me, my body caging her against the mattress in a position that was becoming as natural as breathing.
"Angel, I'm not changing my mind about anything that involves you. Ever."
"Good," she said, her arms winding around my neck. "Because I'm already mentally planning the wedding."
"Are you now?" I asked, settling my weight more fully over her, loving the way she fit beneath me like she was made for this exact purpose.
"Mm-hmm. Small ceremony, just family. Your family, my family…”
“It’s perfect," she decided softly, her fingers stroking through my hair with gentle comfort. "It'll be perfect."
We fell into comfortable silence again, the weight of everything we'd just shared settling around us like a warm blanket.
The morning light continued to strengthen, painting geometric patterns across the exposed brick walls and making the city beyond the windows seem less harsh, more hopeful.
I traced lazy patterns on her skin where my t-shirt had ridden up,marveling at the softness of her, the way she shivered under my touch despite the warmth of the room.
"I love you," I said suddenly, the words falling from my lips.
"I love you, too," she replied without hesitation. "All of you. The good, the bad, the absolutely terrifying parts that probably should scare me, but just make me want to crawl inside your skin and live there."
"That's dark, angel," I teased, but my heart was racing at her words.
"I learned from the best," she shot back with a grin that was pure mischief.
I kissed her, slow and deep and thorough, pouring everything I couldn't say into the connection between us.
She tasted like sleep and promises, like the future I'd never dared to imagine for myself.
