Page 68 of You Belong With Me

“And yet, I’m still alive,” I reply. “Not sure I would have survived one more week of forced celibacy, though. It was a calculated risk.”

She pops up onto one elbow and rests her head on her hand. “Well, no more sex for you,” she says playfully. I chuckle at that because we both know the second I touch her clit, she’s putty in my hands—doctor’s orders be damned.

Her fingers brush over the dusting of hair on my chest, but she’s careful to avoid my wound, which is still healing. “So, um…” She clears her throat, and I can tell that whatever she’s about to say, she’s hesitant to bring up. “Has there been any progress with the Shadow and Ash situation?”

I know she’s afraid—and she has every right to be. What happened five weeks ago was fucking unhinged. The Burning Crown has never been attacked like that in all a hundred-plus years we’ve been in existence. And on our own fucking turf, too. That’s the part thatreallygets me—the fact that they felt so fucking bold.

“The Sacred Sons and the senior counsel are meeting tomorrow at Rush House to discuss our next steps,” I say.

“It’s been over a month,” she says. “I’m shocked you guys haven’t come up with a plan already.”

I push out a heavy breath and let my gaze roam over her face. She’s so fucking perfect. How is that even possible? Even her flaws just seem to add to the tapestry of her beauty.

Goddamn, now I’m a poet? That’s what love does to a guy, I guess.

“Pulling back to regroup is all part of the strategy,” I tell her. “They have the advantage over us. God only knows what information Gabriel fed them about the Burning Crown. We, on the other hand, know next to nothing about them.”

“Know thy enemy…” she whispers.

“Exactly,” I say, running the tip of my finger up her arm. Her skin is so smooth. “We’ve spent the last several weeks digging up all the information we can on the players involved—starting with their leader, Sin Savano.”

She falls back against the pillow with a heavy sigh. “I’m just…” She swallows. “I’m so afraid they’ll come after you again. I can’t sleep at night.”

I trace patterns on her arm, enjoying the feel of her warmth. “They caught us off guard once. They won’t do it again,” I say, my jaw clenching. The fucking cunts. “We have eyes on them at all times, now. We know everything they do. When one of them takes a shit, we get a full-page report on it.”

She scrunches her nose. “I’m also looking forward to the day when I’m not being followed around by a team of former Navy SEALs. They’re not exactly subtle.”

I turn over onto my side, biting back the pain so I can face her more fully. “It’s only temporary, baby, I promise.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the thing I stashed there earlier. It’s pinched between my thumb and forefinger, and I bring it up, so it enters her line of vision. “But there’s something much more permanent I want to talk to you about.”

She sucks in a shocked breath, which is exactly the reaction I was hoping for. “Lucas…” she says, looking at the ring. “It’s…gorgeous.But it’s too much. I can’t wear it out in the world.”

It’s a 8-carat roundcut engagement ring that caught my eye a couple weeks ago. I knew the second I saw it, I had to have it for her. I grab her left hand and slip it onto her ring finger. It fits perfectly. Then I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the ring, sealing it in place. “Now all we have to do is set a date,” I say.

She holds her hand up to look at it, then looks back at me with a brow raised. “Didn’t you skip a step?”

“No,” I say.

“You’re supposed toaskif I’ll marry you…”

I shrug and shake my head. “I’m not asking.”

She laughs. “God, you’re impossible. The ask is the most romantic part…”

“Giving you the chance to say ‘no’ is romantic?” I smooth my hand over her hip and tug her closer. “Not gonna happen.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I would have said yes. I’m on all of your bank accounts, anyway, so…”

I wrap my body around her, and bury my face in her hair, breathing in her sweet, flowery scent—and that’s how we fall asleep, tangled up in each other, our heartbeats in sync. This, right here, istruehappiness, and I’d do anything to protect it.Anything.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Lucas

My eyes are closed,and the most incredible warmth surrounds me. The scent of gardenia fills my lungs with each intake of breath, and for a second, I wonder if that stab wound really did kill me, and now I’m in heaven.

My phone rings, jolting me awake, reminding me I’m still firmly anchored on Earth, Wyn curled against me, one arm resting on my stomach.

I’m on the bed, lying next to the wall, and my phone is on the nightstand, which is on the other side of Wyn.

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