Page 59 of Surprise Me Tonight
“Fuck, Stella,” I mutter, my forehead resting against hers as I begin to move.
Our breaths mingle, our hearts pounding in sync as I thrust into her, our bodies moving together in a rhythm that’s both urgent and tender. Her hands grip my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin as she meets my thrusts, her hips rising to meet mine.
“Look at me,” I command, our eyes locking as I move inside her.
Our kisses are deep and desperate, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. I can feel the tension building again, the coil tightening in my stomach, but I don’t want it to end. Not yet.
“Together,” I murmur, my thrusts slowing as I press kisses to her neck, her shoulders, her lips.
She nods, her hands tangling in my hair as she pulls me down for another kiss. Our bodies move in sync, our breaths coming in short gasps as we climb higher, our releases building until we’re both teetering on the edge.
“Callum—”
“Stella—”
Our cries mingle as we fall over the edge together, our bodies trembling as we find release. I collapse on top of her, my weight careful, my heart pounding against hers.
She wraps her arms around me, her legs tangling with mine as we catch our breath. “I love you,” she whispers again, her voice soft and content.
“I love, love, love you,” I reply, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
We lie there for a moment, our bodies still joined, our hearts slowing as the world around us fades away. Eventually, I pull out, covering her with the duvet as I curl up beside her, my arm draped around her waist.
Stella snuggles into my side, her head resting on my chest. “This is perfect,” she murmurs, her voice sleepy.
“Yeah,” I agree, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “It is.”
Stella’s hand finds mine, her fingers lacing through mine as she smiles up at me.
And in that moment, with her in my arms and the warmth of the duvet around us, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Epilogue
Callum
The air’s cold enoughto make your fingers sting.
It’s one of those rare Halloween nights, dry, still, and cloudless, the kind that makes everyone linger a little longer. We hadn’t planned to end up in the garden, but Stella loves a bonfire, and I couldn’t tell her no. Now, with the moonlight dancing across her face, she looks every bit the little witch she teased about being earlier, a different kind of magic than my Stardust but just as spellbinding.
It’s a perfect evening, really.
I’m crouched beside the fire, hood up, coaxing damp logs to behave. The lighter’s running low, and Jasper — ever the helpful bastard — is poking at it with a garden fork he dug out from somewhere, like he’s skewering a dragon.
“Shed’s full of proper tools,” I say, watching him jab at a half-burned log.
“This is a proper tool,” he mutters. “Trust me. I've lived in the countryside longer than you.”
The flames finally catch, small but steady, crackling softly beneath the cold stretch of sky.
Behind us, the garden hums. Stella and Fran are leaning near the patio heater with Aunt Joan, their glasses full and their cheeks flushed. Vicky’s sitting with Stella’s mum, both of them tucked into blankets on the bench under the apple tree.
It’s not loud. Just full. Good.
“You ready for your big reveal?” Jasper asks, straightening up, firelight flickering against his face.
I dust my hands on my jeans. “We’re doing it next week. Making it official at work.”
“Good call.”
