Page 112 of To Go
“And you’re just giving it to me?”
“Heart and soul, stud.” The smile she gives me is all I want to look at for the rest of our lives.
“Then where are we off to, sunshine?”
“I want to go everywhere with you.”
“Then let’s go.”
Epilogue 1
James
I’m freaking exhausted after today’s hike. I was so certain that I could keep up with Stella that I even bet her that I could out-walk her, I wouldn’t need a break, I would even carry all of our stuff since I was so sure.
I was dead wrong.
Or maybe just dead.
I’ve never felt so decrepit, at a mere thirty years old. Despite doing this in every one of the fifteen cities we’ve been to, it kills me every time. And she warns me every time. And then she mocks me.
Every. Time.
And yet, whenever we get back to our hotel, and I hold her in my arms, all the energy I thought I’d lost comes roaring back. I told her I was all in, and I’ve been showing her just how much any chance I get.
I stare at her lying in my bed, her body flushed with a shimmer of perspiration. I did that to her. I made her look like that. I briefly consider making this my screensaver until she huffs impatiently.
“I’m sorry, sunshine, did you want something,” I ask sarcastically.
“What do you think, stud?” she replies, taunting me with a mischievous look in her eyes.
“I think my girlfriend is asking to get fucked again,” I growl out, prowling towards her, leaning over the side of the bed.
“You’re going to be one of those guys, aren’t you?” she says, sassing me.
“One of what guys?” I ask, placing soft, teasing kisses to the tight pink tips of her breasts.
“One of— ah!” she gasps, arching her spine, pushing her tit further into my waiting mouth. “One of those guys who’s always going ‘that’s my woman!’” she giggles. I leap onto her, covering her with my body, and then my kisses. She squeals, trying to roll away from me, wiggling as she laughs while I try to smother her with my mouth, placing open-mouthed, wet kisses to every inch of her that I can reach.
“You bet I am, sunshine.” She tries a last attempt at winning, reaching to my ribs and tickling her fingers. When I grab her wrists, I drag them above her head, ignoring her pout.
“I’m not ticklish, sunshine. You’ll have to try better than that.” She continues to wriggle underneath me until she tires herself out. I caress her sides, carefully going over the new addition to her tattoo.
When we first landed in Spain, Stella ran out to buy some snacks for the hotel. When she came back, she had a tattoo gun, ink, and a giant bag of oranges to practice on. I was shocked, having never thought of that before. I should know better, though, how good Stella’s instincts are. A few weeks later, sheasked me to add to her existing piece, something I drew for her back in the café, before I ever thought it would be possible.
The gentle sunbeam woven into the moon and stars looks pretty good if I do say so myself. Stella teared up when she saw it the first time.
Now when I see it, it looks like a claiming mark. She’s mine, officially. Or at least she will be. Little does she know I made my own sneaky purchase just this afternoon.
The jewelry store directly next door wasn’t a coincidence. I suggested this hotel on purpose. At first, Stella fought me, wanting to stay in hostels and save money until I reminded her that we could afford it and it would be irresponsible to not appreciate everything these cities had to offer.
Now, as I tease my future wife, kissing the small design on her ribs and making my way to her perfect breasts, a simple, white gold ring that sparkles like the sun is sitting in the bottom of my suitcase.
I won’t give it to her yet, but when she’s ready, I’m going to make her mine in every way.
Epilogue 2
James
