Page 96 of Impending Consent

Sailor smiled, turning to face me. "I like her. A lot."

"She likes you too. I could tell."

"We had a good talk yesterday about us."

"Yeah? What about us?"

"About what this marriage could be. If I let it."

"And what did she say?"

"That there's no perfect way to love someone. It's about choosing each other, every day, and being willing to learn and grow together. That the most beautiful part isn't in being perfect, it's being vulnerable enough to keep trying."

"Sounds like my mother. She knows her shit, which I can admit now that I’m mature enough to accept I don’t know everything."

Sailor grinned. "She does and I think she might be right."

"Right about what, Sail?"

"About what we could be, if I stop thinking of this as temporary.“

“And you agree?"

"I want this to work and not just for a year. I want this to be the real thing.”

“We’re real. We have been from the start, at least for me."

"I've been the one with one foot out the door but I want to be all in too. With you."

I jerked her to me by the waist and gripped the back of her neck. “Are you sure? Because if you're not?—"

"I'm sure. I'm scared as hell, but I'm sure."

I kissed her and her arms lifted around my neck when she pressed herself against me.

When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers. "So, what now, wife?"

“I think we should see how many ways you can make me cum in that little ass bed.”

"Challenge accepted," I growled and lifted her, dropping Sail on the mattress.

"Your mother is across the hall," she whispered.

"Then you'll have to be very fucking quiet," I mumbled, pressing my lips to her neck just below her ear

She arched against me. "Not fair."

"All's fair in love and war.” I moved my hands under her dress and pushed it upward.

"Is that what this is? Love?"

I paused, meeting her gaze directly. "For me? Yes. It has been for a while now."

"Rival..."

"You don't have to say it back. I just want you to know where I stand. No more trying to figure shit out. I’m being clear about what this is for me."

She pulled me down and responded with a kiss that communicated what she wasn’t ready to say out loud. That was enough.

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