Page 172 of Dare to Hold
A gentle cheer ripples through the courtyard, and the opening notes of our song float into the night air—soft, slow, and achingly familiar.
Gray rises, his hand already extended toward me, that grin I love tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“May I have this dance, Mrs. Bennett?”
My heart flips at the sound of it. “Only if you never stop calling me that,” I tease, slipping my hand into his.
He pulls me close, guiding me onto the dance floor. The world blurs around us, the candles, the string lights, the faces of everyone we love—until all I can see is him.
His hand presses gently at the small of my back, guiding me as we move together, slow and easy, like we’ve done this a hundred times. Like we were made for it.
The music swells, and Gray leans in, his lips brushing just below my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
“You have no idea what it’s taking for me not to kiss you breathless right here in front of everyone,” he whispers, his voice low, sending a shiver down my spine.
I draw in a shaky breath, my fingers curling at his shoulder.
His thumb traces soft, slow circles at my waist. “Every second tonight, all I’m thinking about is how I get to make you mine.”
My heart races, my pulse singing beneath his touch.
“And later,” he murmurs, his lips grazing my temple, “when it’s just us...I’m going to show you exactly what that means.”
I lean in, my lips barely brushing his ear as I whisper, playful but breathless, “I genuinely can’t wait to find out if those tattoos are in places I haven’t seen yet.”
Gray freezes for half a second—then lets out a laugh, warm and unrestrained, his forehead dropping to mine like I’ve just undone him completely.
“Oh, they are, Ivy,” he says, his grin wide and a little mischievous. “And now all I’m going to be thinking about is how fun it’s gonna be showing you.”
My cheeks burn, my heart soaring, and we both dissolve into quiet laughter, wrapped up in each other as the music carries us to the end of the dance.
As the music softens toward its final notes, something shifts in him. His hand moves to cradle my face, his forehead resting against mine, his breath mingling with mine as if we’re sharing the same air.
His voice lowers again, this time tender, reverent. “I love you, Ivy. More than I ever thought possible. And I promise you—I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.”
The world seems to still, the applause and flicker of candles a soft blur behind us.
I whisper back, tears bright in my eyes. “And I’ll spend mine loving you right back.”
And in that quiet, sacred beat before the world presses in again, he kisses me—slow, gentle, full of every promise wrapped inside forever.
The music picks up, something upbeat that gets half the crowd on their feet. Gray presses a kiss to my temple and lets me go reluctantly, heading toward the guys gathering by the dessert table.
I don’t make it two steps before I hear it—Harper’s voice, sharp but low, followed by Micah’s steady, maddeningly calm one.
I glance over to see them standing off to the side near the drink station, Harper’s hands on her hips, Micah looking like he’s trying hard not to smile at whatever she’s fuming about.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab Olivia’s hand. “Come on. We’re saving her from herself.”
We weave through the crowd and reach them just as Harper’s muttering, “You are impossible.”
Micah crosses his arms, looking way too amused. “And yet, here you are.”
I slide between them, my tone light. “Okay, okay—time out. Harper, breathe. Micah, go… refill your tea or something.”
Micah gives me a nod, that signature smirk lingering on his lips, and strolls off, leaving Harper glaring at his retreating back.
Olivia raises a brow. “Do I want to know what that was about?”
