Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"It doesn't matter now."
"It matters more than ever, Éire," he disagrees. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. I didn't tell them because I'm leaving you. I didn't tell them because I want this to end. I told them because I want you to know that this is permanent. We're forever, sweet girl. It doesn't matter who knows because it won't change a goddamn thing about us."
"You don't know that," I whisper.
"I do know that. I know you, and I know how I feel about you. That's not going to change today, tomorrow, or fifty years from now." He cups my cheek, running his hand beneath the bottom of my glasses. "You stole my fucking heart, and you're not giving it back, Ireland. I won't accept it. It's yours, baby. It'll always be yours."
"Crue." A tear slips down my cheek. "Are you serious? There's a no-return policy on your heart?"
"Yeah, Éire." He grins at me. "There's a no-return policy. So I'm going to need you to stop crying because it's breaking me. And we have a statement to make to all those people out there before I can get you alone."
I stare at him for a long moment, trying to process and pull myself together. He means it; I know he does. I think the biggest part of me has known from the beginning that this was permanent for him, too. But when you have something that means so much to you, you're afraid to lose it. That's human nature.
We cling tight to the things we love, terrified they'll slip through our fingers. And I don't want this man slipping through mine. I don't want to wake up without him. I don't want to go to sleep without him. I don't want to spend my days without him. I don't want to be without him, period.
I understand the song he was writing on the bus the other day. Maybe a little too well. Because if I ever lost him, I don't think I'd be able to breathe either. But that's not the future in store for either of us.
Ours is bright. How can it not be with a freaking superstar lighting the way?
If he's willing to endure everything he went through back then just to be with me, then, of course, I'll do the same for him. This was never about me in the first place. I've never been afraid of what they'd say about me or what it would do to me. It's always been about protecting him. But if he wants me badly enough to go through all of this just to keep me…well, I'd be crazy not to give this man exactly what he wants, wouldn't I?
Yes. A thousand times, yes.
"Let's do it," I whisper.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." I nod, throwing caution to the wind and letting it carry the rest of my fear away with it as I slip my hand into his. He rewards me with my favorite lazy smirk, pulling open the door to the limo.
I let him pull me out…and lead me into our forever.
"You're all mine now, sweet girl," he breathes thirty minutes later, crawling over me in our bed. We're both naked, our clothes in a heap on the floor. They landed there as soon as we crossed the threshold.
The whole world knows about us now…or they will as soon as they log online. He made his statement to the stations outside the hotel with me in his arms. Yes, the news is true. Yes, we're married. Yes, he's happier than he's ever been. They shouted a million questions at us. He didn't answer any of them. He said what he had to say, kissed me as dozens of cameras recorded the moment, and then swung me up into his arms, carrying me inside.
The hotel staff and the police made a human shield behind us, blocking the entrance to the hotel after we went in. I don't think anyone else will be getting in anytime soon.
"Just now?" I ask Crue, looping my arms around his neck. "That's odd. I thought I was all yours all along."
He dips his head, nibbling on my lips. "Oh, you've definitely been mine all along. Even your diary knows it. But now you're stuck in this room with me, and we don't have another show until the day after tomorrow." His lips slide down my throat. "You aren't leaving this bed, Éire. Not until I decide to let you."
"I support this plan," I groan.
"Good to know." He pulls my nipple into his mouth, sucking hard. "But it wasn't really a negotiation."
"Bossy."
"Mmhmm." He moves to the other breast. "And you fucking love it."
He's right. I do love it. There isn't a single thing about this man that doesn't set me on fire or make me ache. And I get to spend the rest of my life loving him.