I last barely five minutes before I can’t hold on anymore. Logan bites down on the soft part of my neck and I moan. My walls clench, my whole body tenses as my orgasm washes over me—
We come together, Logan and I. He fills me with his warmth as I hover above him, thighs shaking.
Eventually I collapse on top of him, spent and satisfied. When he offers me a grin, I smile sleepily back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Logan
The next morning, sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stir awake, blinking against the brightness, and the first thing I feel is the warmth of Grace's body curled against mine. I smile to myself, not wanting to move, but then it hits me—it’s the day before the wedding. Everything’s about to change, and I can’t keep putting this off.
I turn my head to look at her, her face relaxed in sleep, and my heart swells. She looks peaceful, beautiful, and the last thing I want to do is wake her. I want her to sleep in, to rest before the madness of the wedding. Just as I start to carefully slip out of bed, her hand reaches for me, tugging me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" she murmurs, her voice husky with sleep, and it sends a shiver through me.
Before I can answer, she pulls me down, her lips finding mine in a kiss that's both soft and heated, full of morning warmth and something more—something needy. My hand finds her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepens. It’s hard to resist her like this, especially when she’s looking at me with that half-smile.
"You should sleep," I manage to murmur against her lips, though my body’s already betraying me, leaning into her touch.
Grace chuckles softly, her fingers sliding into my hair as she pulls me closer. "I'd rather do this."
The way she kisses me makes it impossible to argue, and before I know it, I’m lost in her again. The intensity between us from lastnight hasn’t faded—in fact, it’s stronger now, and I sink into her touch.
“Shower?” she whispers, her lips brushing my jawline as she kisses her way down to my neck. The suggestion isn’t innocent, and I feel a surge of desire just hearing the playful tone in her voice.
I smile, unable to resist her, and together we stumble out of bed, heading for the shower. The hot water pours over us, and it’s impossible to keep my hands off her. The way the water slides over her skin, the heat of it mingling with the heat between us—it’s intoxicating. She laughs, pressing herself against me as the steam fills the bathroom, and my hands move to her waist, gripping her as I kiss her again.
Our movements slow, growing more deliberate, more intimate as the water cascades down our bodies. Her fingers trace the lines of my chest, her touch gentle but full of meaning, and I kiss her deeply, savoring every moment of this closeness.
By the time we step out of the shower, we’re both breathless, our skin flushed, but there’s a sense of contentment between us that feels unshakeable. We get dressed together, exchanging playful glances and light touches as we pull on our clothes. The air between us is charged, but comfortable—a mixture of love, excitement, and something unspoken.
As we head down to breakfast, hand in hand, I can’t stop thinking about what needs to happen next. We’ve come this far, and now it’s time to come clean—to tell everyone the truth about the fake engagement. As much as I know we should do it today, there’s another idea brewing in the back of my mind. Something bigger.
I glance over at Grace, watching her as she smiles at something on her phone, completely unaware of what I’m planning. The truth is, I don’t just want to come clean about the fake engagement. I want to make it real.
After the wedding, when everything has calmed down, I’m going to propose to her. For real. No more lies, no more pretending. Just us, together, for the rest of our lives.
I keep the thought to myself for now, not wanting to give anything away just yet. I want the moment to be perfect—something that will take her completely by surprise. But knowing what’s coming fills me with a sense of calm, a sense of certainty.
“Everything okay?” Grace asks, looking up at me as we sit down at a table for breakfast. Her eyes search mine, and I can see the love and trust there. It makes my heart race.
“Yeah,” I say, squeezing her hand under the table. “Everything’s perfect.”
She smiles, leaning into me just slightly, and I know that whatever happens next, we’ll face it together. But for now, I’m holding onto my plan—keeping it close until the moment’s right.
***
As we make our way to the breakfast terrace where Emily, Joseph, and Grace’s parents are sitting, I feel a knot tightening in my stomach. This is it—the moment we’ve been avoiding, the moment where we have to face the consequences of everything we’ve done. I glance at Grace, who looks both nervous and resigned, her hand gripping mine tightly. She’s been so strong through all of this, and as much as I want to protect her fromwhat’s coming, I know we have to come clean. It’s the only way to move forward.
As soon as we approach the table, Emily looks up, her eyes brightening as she sees us, but her smile falters when she notices the tension between us.
“Hey, you two,” she says, trying to keep things light. “You look… serious. What’s going on?”
Grace hesitates for a second, glancing at me, then takes a deep breath and steps forward. “We need to talk. All of you.”
Joseph and Grace’s parents exchange concerned looks, while Emily’s smile fades completely. They know something is up.
Grace’s parents look at her expectantly, and for a moment, she hesitates. I can feel her nerves through the way she’s clutching my hand, but I give her a gentle squeeze, letting her know I’m right here. Finally, she speaks, her voice steady but uncertain.