Page 103 of Quake

“Alright, Gi. Now that that’s settled, go get the girl because I’m getting tired of waiting on you to make things official with that sweet woman.” She smirks, wheeling herself out of the locker room.

Shaking my head, I push what just happened to the side, deciding to reflect on it later, preferably with my psychologist and not another person in this smelly-ass locker room. My mind races, immediately traveling to Lark, who I’d just left confused as hell outside after some half-ass profession of love.

She deserves so much better than whatever that toxic masculine bullshit I just gave her was.

My feet hit the ground running as I make my way out of the locker room. My team is standing outside of the tunnel, waiting for the go-ahead, and as soon as they see me, they run inside, eager to get showered, changed, and home for the night.

My eyes scan the field, hoping like hell she’s still out here and hasn't gone home with her dad already.

The moment I see her fiery hair shining in the bright sun, I’m at a full sprint toward her.

She sees me moments before I’m on her, her bowed lips curving up in a playful smile as I rush her. One of my hands curls around the nape of her neck, dragging her mouth to mine as the other digs into her hip, pulling her even more tightly against me.

Her lips part, and my tongue delves in, tangling with hers. She gasps as I drag her body up mine, and her legs wrap around my waist. Her hands clutch my jersey, returning the need I feel pouring through me.

I vaguely hear a throat clearing beside me, but it isn’t until Lark is gently pushing me off her, her legs unwinding from me, that I release my hold on her.

I don’t know who I expect, but Dereck Hughes, the owner of my team and Lark’s father, is not it. And he doesn’t look upset.

His arms are crossed over his chest, Tiny standing at his side obediently as he takes us in. One side of his lip is quirked in a strange grin. “You coming to dinner with us?” he asks me as if it’s the most normal question in the world.

“Sir?” I ask, my head cocked in confusion.

He pats me on the shoulder before turning to head down the field, calling back toward us, “I’ll see you both at six.”

My brows pinch as I look back to Lark, who’s wearing a content smile. “He never invited Tyler for dinner. He hated him,” she says, shaking her head.

Pride rushes through me. “Really?”

“Yep.” She reaches up on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my cheek. “So what exactly does this make us?”

“I’ll be anything you want me to,ma petite rouge,“ I tell her honestly.

She cups my cheek in her hand. “I just wantyouto beyou, mon ciel étoilé.Because you are the most incredible person I know, and you light me up inside. I’ve loved nothing more than getting to know every piece of you, and I want nothing more than to continue.”

My cheeks heat at her admission. “You know, I’ve never been in a relationship,” I admit.

She smiles up at me, pressing another kiss to my cheek before whispering against the shell of my ear. “Then I look forward to being yourfirstand yourlast.”

I rest my hands over hers, staring down into her glimmering eyes. “Nothing would make me happier,” I tell her. “Lark,” I say, keeping my eyes trained on her so I don’t miss any part of this moment. “I think I’ve known it for a while now but wasn’t able to accurately put a word to it until more recently…”

The way her lips part and my heart starts pounding in my chest causes the words to get stuck in my throat for a moment. “I love you.” I breathe, and she sucks in a sharp inhale, her eyes softening and pooling with tears. “Ever since we met, it’s felt like you’ve been the thread, actively sewing together the shredded fibers of my soul. You’re not just my muse. You don’t just inspire me to work on myself for you or anyone else. You make me feel whole in a way I’m absolutely certain I’ve never experienced and will never be able to accurately describe. Being with you is my every desire encapsulated into one,” I tell her, my voice cracking as a tear breaks free.

She clenches her eyes shut, tears streaming down her pink cheeks as she releases a sob. Her bottom lip quivers, and her hands drag down my neck. I hold them to my chest, waiting for her to look at me again, and when she does, all the air is sucked from my lungs.

The red puffiness surrounding her hazel eyes makes them look like the deepest swirl of calming green. “Gianni,” she says with a sob, and the tears in my eyes flow freely now.

I don’t care who’s around to see. Lark isn’t just my girlfriend. She’s my partner. The love of my life. My other half. My reason for being, for existing, for working to better myself, for sticking around at all.

She’s my everything.

“I love you so much,” she finally says when the sobs have stopped wracking through her. Warmth radiates throughout my body, and my heartbeat continues to race as pure elation fills my chest. “I don’t know how you manage to come up with all of the poetic stuff, and just like the violinand the tambourine,” she says, groaning. “I’m not going to do it justice if I try. Instead, I just want you to know how special you are to me and everyone in your life. I know you may not see it, butyou are so damn special.”

She stands on her tiptoes and presses a chaste kiss to my lips before wrapping her arms around my neck. “You’ve managed to heal years of wounds I hadn’t even known I had,” she says softly. “You’re thoughtful beyond words, and your selflessness truly astounds me. I just want to spend every day, for the rest of our lives, in your arms.”

My heart bursts open as I collect her in my arms, burying my face in her hair as her head rests above my heart.

Alex’s voice creeps into my mind. “Just like I’ve always said, you deserve the absolute best, and now you have her.”

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