Page 129 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

“Do you always barge into people’s rooms without knocking?”

He lowers the page and arches a brow at me. “When I’m lonely and want to snuggle my wife, yes.”

My breath catches.

We haven’t shared a bed since his dad and brother left. He tried that first night they were gone, but I told him it wasn’t a good idea. Not because I didn’t want him to sleep with me, but because I wanted ittoomuch. It sounds stupid now that I think about it.

“And clearly,” he continues when I say nothing, “you couldn’t sleep either. Now, what is this?” He holds the paper out for me to see.

I slide the box under my bed and stand.

“A wedding dress,” I mutter, tugging on the hem of my t-shirt nervously, as if he hasn’t seen every inch of me already.

“A wedding dress,” he parrots. “Why?”

I shrug. “I had this insane idea when I was a teenager that I’d design my own wedding dress one day. That was one I liked, so I kept it.”

For a long, silent moment, all he does is study the photo. Finally, he holds it out to me.

“You could still do that, you know.”

I slide the drawing into my bedside table drawer. Right next to my vibrator. Very appropriate.

“Do what?” I turn back around to face him.

“Design your own wedding dress.”

With a sigh, I yank the covers back and slide into bed. “Maybe one day.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but we’re having a wedding this summer. It was one of your requests, remember?”

I stare up at the ceiling, my heart sinking. I don’t even balk when he gets in bed beside me. “We don’t actually have to do that. I know this isn’t real.” I close my eyes and breathe through the prickle behind my eyes. God, it’s crushing to say that out loud. “Knowing my mom, she probably has everything booked already and is just waiting to spring a date on us. But designing a dress takes time and… it’s not worth it, okay?”

He huffs a harsh breath. “You mean I’m not worth it,” he says, his voice low and strained.

I turn my head to face him. “You’re the one who told me not to fall in love with you. I’m just following your rule, Daire.”

He rolls to his side, propping his head in his hand so he can look down at me. “Fuck that stupid rule.”

My heart pounds out a rhythm in my chest, but I maintain my cool, rolling my eyes. “You’re just saying that because you’ve been celibate for months and you’re horny. I get it. You’d probably fuck a cactus at this point if it wouldn’t hurt. I know this has an expiration date and?—”

He puts his hand over my mouth. “Fuck what I said before. You and me?” His Adam’s apple bobs, eyes skating over my face with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “We’re the real deal. We always were.”

My eyes burn, and my heart threatens to burst right out of my chest.

What he’s saying feels too good to be true.

I grasp his wrist and slide his hand away from my face. “Daire?—”

He slants his mouth over mine, silencing me.

I close my eyes and melt into the mattress as he comes to rest over top of me.

So good, so good, so good. They’re the only two words my braincan conjure.

He fits his leg between mine, his knee pressed right up against my aching pussy.

“You know I’m right,” he murmurs between kisses. “I’m sorry it took me so long to see. If you want me to stop, I will, but fuck, Rosie, I don’t want to. I want you so bad.” With a hum, he brushes his nose against the column of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine despite how hot I feel all over.

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