Page 44 of Crave You

I sit up against the headboard and Zander eyes me in that unnerving way that could mean anything. He comes and sits beside me, our sides touching.

We sit there, and I have to bite my lip to blurt out, “Please, tell me!” Because I know how Zander likes to tease.

“About today,” he finally says.

“Yeah… I…” There doesn’t seem to be words for it. “Thanks,” I finish lamely.

“Got you these too.” He deposits a bouquet of roses in my lap, frowning at it.

“Is something wrong?”

A shrug.

“Zander, if it’s something I did, I…”

“I love you.”

The words wrench out of him.

“I love you too, Zander. But you don’t have to-”

He speaks to the wall in front of him. “When I thought Matthew was going to take you away from me, I felt as though the world was about to end.”

Silence. I can’t believe he’s actually said this. Everything I hadn’t even dared to hope that he’d say.

“I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

“I can’t either,” I say.

He kneels beside the bed and takes one of my hands in his.

“I want this. For now, for always.” He takes out a bracelet. “Didn’t have time for the real thing and now isn’t the time, but - I want you in my future. You are my future.”

“And you are mine,” I say without hesitation.

“Oh yeah?” Zander says, as if he hasn’t heard correctly.

“Yeah,” I say again, laughing this time.

We chuckle, and his arms wrap around me. “So, it’s settled: you’re mine, then.”

I try to arch a brow at him, but he kisses me fast and hard and possessive. “Admit it.”

I pull away with a sigh. “Zander, all of me has been yours. Since the moment I first saw you. Until all the stars burn away”

THE END

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