Page 48 of Only for Tonight
And as I lie there watching her breathe, I realize something.
I don't want to figure out the real world later. I don't want this to end. I don't want to say goodbye at eleven.
I don't want this to end at checkout.
But that's what we agreed. Only for tonight. Only for the weekend.
So I push the thought away and just hold her.
For now, this is enough.
It has to be.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Rebecca
London RomanceCon is massive, and I'm living my best life.
The convention center buzzes with energy—readers clutching tote bags, authors signing books, cover models posing for photos that will break BookTok by tonight. It smells like new books and that specific blend of coffee and excitement that every convention has. My feet already hurt and I don't even care. I'm grinning like an idiot as Leo and I weave through the crowds, his hand warm and possessive on my lower back.
Six months ago, I stood in a Melbourne hotel bar in an emerald dress, convinced "only for tonight" was the safest thing I could say.
Turns out I'm terrible at one-night stands.
The video calls started the next day. Leo texted before I'd even landed in Perth. Then James called that night, and that voice wrapped around me even through the phone. Luca sent me a shirtless selfie with the captionMissing you already, beautifuland I laughed and cried at the same time.
Two weeks later, Leo showed up at my door unannounced. Said he had a "job" in Perth that weekend. The job was bullshit, we both knew it and he spent three days proving that Melbournewasn't a fluke. A week after that, James flew me to London for a week. Luca "accidentally" booked a modelling shoot in Perth the following month.
By month three, we stopped pretending this was temporary. By month five, James mentioned the cottage—casually at first, then more seriously when Luca realized most of his modeling work could be based anywhere in Europe. Luca moved to London first, splitting time between James's place and hotels for shoots. Leo wrapped up his carpentry contracts in Sydney and lined up work at a local pub near the cottage doing their renovations and handyman work, but he waited to make the move. Said he wanted us to go together. Now here we are. Six months later, and in three days we'll all finally be under one roof.
"You're vibrating," Leo observes as I stop to gawk at a display of limited edition hardcovers with hand-painted edges. Those dark eyes are amused. "Go ahead. I'll carry whatever you buy."
"You say that now," I mutter.
"Sweetheart, I've seen your book collection. I know what I signed up for." He takes the books from my hands before I can argue and adds them to the growing pile. "Besides, watching you get excited about books is one of my favourite things."
I love all of them so much it sometimes catches me off guard.
Leo nods toward the photo area where a crowd has gathered. "There's your golden boy."
Luca's in his element, all golden skin and perfect abs, posing with fans who look ready to faint. When he catches me watching, he winks.
My stomach flips. Even after six months, he still makes me feel like the only woman in the room.
"He's working," I defend weakly.
"You're getting your money's worth," Leo says, amused. His hand slides lower on my back, possessive and casual all at once. "I can see you checking him out."
I bump his shoulder playfully. "Can you blame me?"
His laugh is warm. "I'm not complaining. I watch you just as much." He leans in, voice dropping to that rough register. "More, actually."
We find James at his signing table, that devastating voice making every reader interaction feel special. He's wearing a dark blue button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. When he spots us, his whole face transforms. He excuses himself and walks straight over.
Then he kisses me. Right there. In front of everyone—readers, authors, his fans with their phones out. Thorough and claiming, his hand cupping my jaw.
