Page 160 of The Loathing

“I love you, Amora,” he says softly and quietly so only I can hear, and a lone tear rolls down my cheek as I watch my father turn towards Titus, his hand resting on Titus’ chest before he pats it gently. “You have my blessing, Titty,” he lets his head drop and spins, stepping away and sitting next to my mother who is crying happy tears, Betty passing her a tissue whilst dabbing her own eyes. My eyes seek out my brothers and pride swarms them which makes my skin tingle.

“Are you sure about this?” I whisper as I focus my all on Titus and excitement and anxiousness courses through me.

“I have never been surer, wife.”

I bite the inside of my cheek when the vicar looks at both of us with a confused expression on his face before addressing the room.

“Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today…”

EPILOGUE

AMORA

My head rests on Titus’ chest and I feel at peace. His fingers skim up and down my bare back as we lay in silence after consummating our whirlwind marriage. I have no idea what happened yesterday, nor do I want to, I am just grateful that I am laying in his arms. Tied to him forever, legally.

I let my fingers trace over his chest in small circles and I hear the deep intake of breath he fills his lungs with.

“Is this a dream?” I crane my neck up to look at him and his thumb brushes over my bottom lip.

“No Twilight, this isn’t a dream,” his voice is low and full of haze as his lips stroke across mine and I melt my body against his. I smile against his lips as his large hand rests on my lower belly.

“It feels real now… I didn’t want to think about our baby but now,” he pauses and his beautiful blue eyes volley back and forth from mine. “Now I can get excited, I didn’t want to love someone I was destined to lose.”

“Our baby…” I blink back the tears as my heart flutters in my chest.

“Our baby,” he beams at me as his lips crash into mine once more.

* * *

We walk hand in hand down the back streets of London and I feel free. Free from the life I felt chained to. Free from the life I was meant to live. But here I am, my fingers linked through his and so fiercely in love with this man it scares me.

We stop outside Harrods, and I look up at Titus, my brows furrowing with confusion.

“We don’t have wedding rings, Little Red.” He leans in, his arm wrapping round my back as he pulls us body to body and his nose rubs against mine. “I want the world to see you’re mine,” he kisses me softly before dragging me into the shop and my insides blaze with want for him.

He leads me to a counter, and I see the iconic Cartier sign. My heart thumps in my chest.

“Titus, I would be happy with a Haribo ring,” I nudge into him and my eyes widen as I see the prices in front of me.

“I know you would baby, but you deserve so much more than a Haribo ring.” He winks and the sales lady practically skips towards him with pound signs flashing in her opal eyes.

“How may I help you?” she asks, her hands behind her back as she beams at Titus.

After an hour, we both have matching gold, thin bands wrapped around our ring fingers.

“Are we reckless?” I squeeze his hand as we make our way back to where Titus had parked.

“Absolutely,” he grins, leading me across the road when a gap appears.

“How will your daughter take it?” I can’t help but ask as we step back onto the pavement.

“We will deal with that when I am home,” and the calmness in his voice eases me.

“I want to come home with you, I don’t want to stay here, and I won’t ask you to stay here when your friends and family are back in New York.”

He stops suddenly, spinning to face me and I see the look of shock on his face.

“What about your family and friends?” he asks, a hard expression etched on his face.