Page 111 of The Penalty

“Isn’t it wild how we never crossed paths?” I looked up at him. “You probably wouldn’t have noticed me anyway. Not with your harem always surrounding you.”

His quiet laugh swathed my heart in warmth. “You make it sound like they covered the ground in rose petals everywhere I walked.”

“I bet they would have if you’d asked.”

“Probably.” He pulled me onto his lap and swept a thumb over my cheek. “The only reason I know we never crossed paths back then is because if I had seen you, I would have made you mine from the start.”

My pulse sped up. “You’re too charming for your own good. I realize I’m not a wallflower but I’d still be just another faceless girl clamoring for your attention.”

“You’re wrong, love.” He banded both arms around me. “You could no sooner blend into a crowd than a star could hide from the darkest night.”

The weight of his words rooted deep in my soul.

“When I, um,” I cleared my throat. “When I first started reading Charlotte’s diary and learned she was dating your stepbrother, I had this…thought.”

“Do I want to know?”

I smiled, pressing a hand to his cheek. “It’s nothing bad. I just…I’m not a big believer in fate but it almost felt like she’d tethered us with an invisible ribbon. It’s like she knew we’d eventually meet or—”

“The strength of your light would have led me to you.” The warmth of his hands burned through my dress when he slid them around my waist. “I felt it the moment I saw you.”

“Felt what?”

Eyes bluer than the summer sky latched onto mine. “That there’s nobody else for me. That it’s only…” He paused, inhaling a shaky breath. “Only you, Tori. For as long as I breathe, only you.”

The slow sweep of his thumb over my lips sent shivers rushing in waves along my skin. Never in my wildest, most uninhibited dreams did I imagine someone would say that to me.

“Xavier, I—”

His firm, passionate kiss finished what I was about to say. If the world ended right now, I wouldn’t have one regret because I was with the only man I could ever, and would ever, love.

“We should head out.” Xavier’s somber tone brought reality rushing back when he broke our kiss. “Unless you want to stay here with me.”

“Forever?”

His grin took on a wicked slant. “Careful what you wish for, love.”

“I told you already. You are what I wish for.”

“And you have me.” He squeezed my waist. “Up you go.”

He helped me stand, and then hooked his hands on the crossbar again.

The longer I stared at him, the more my heart ached for a reason I couldn’t name.

“Am I really not going to see you again until we come here for the game in October?”

A gentle smile pulled at his lips. “Miss me already?”

“Your arrogance is showing.”

“You love it.”

“Maybe.”

“Almost as much as you love me.”

“Wow. I’d almost forgotten about how highly you think of yourself.”

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