“You’re right,” he said. “Now’s not the time or place to deal with this. I told them to handle it.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He nodded and reached for my hand. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered.
“Dance with me?”
We moved onto the dance floor, and I put my head on his chest, my arms locked around his neck. I really loved being held by him like this. He pulled me closer, and his hands came to a stop on my lower back.
“I was watching you and Jax dance earlier. With the way you’re both dressed… it hit me that things could’ve ended very differently for us, that you could’ve been wearing this dress for him today, that he could’ve been the one holding you like this right now,” he said.
“I—”
“But,” he said, cutting me off. “Things didn’t turn out that way. Thank God.” He chuckled. “Because I have no idea what I would’ve done if I had lost you.”
“It’s always been you, Trent, and it always will be,” I said.
He adjusted his hands on my back and rested his forehead to mine. “We should cut the cake, then go home,” he said.
I gave him a teasing smile. “You just want to go home so you can make love to your wife.”
His eyes snapped open, and they blazed a shade of blue I’d never seen before. “Say that again,” he said.
“Uh… You want to go home so you can make love to your wife,” I said, more as a question than a statement because I had no idea why he asked me to repeat it.
“I honestly never thought I’d hear those words, or that they’d be true,” he said with a certain level of wonder. “But they are. I’m married. To my soulmate. And you’re absolutely right. I’m going to make love to my wife tonight.”
I laughed. “I really love seeing you this happy,” I said.
“Excuse me,” Jax said, gently tapping his fork against his champagne glass. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”
Trent and I moved back to our seats at the head table, and Trent nodded at Jax to continue.
“As best man, it’s my job to give some sort of epic, heartfelt speech, but that’s not really my style,” Jax said, grinning in that way he did before saying something snarky. “So, I’m going to keep this short and sweet.” He turned toward us, his glass raised. “He’s your problem now, Chloe. Cheers.” And then he downed his glass of champagne.
I laughed, and so did everyone else. Trent shook his head, a faint smile spreading across his handsome face.
“All right, fine,” Jax said with a sigh. He gave me a conspiratorial wink, his eyes dancing with delight. “In all seriousness, you two are truly amazing together. You make it easy for the rest of us to believe in true love, and I have no doubts you’re going to have a very long, very happy life together.” He raised his now empty glass. “I love both of you, and I wish you nothing but the best.”
Trent stood and hugged his brother. People clapped. And I sat there, blinking back tears, knowing Jax’s “I love you” held a much deeper meaning than anyone here could ever truly understand.
Wiping my eyes, I stood and hugged Jax, too. “Thank you,” I said.
“My turn,” Abby said, jumping to her feet.
I returned to my seat next to Trent. He took my hand and kissed my knuckles, a moment of silent understanding passing between us.
“Chloe, since you came to live with us, we’ve become friends,” Abby said, her gaze on me. “But you’re so much more than that to me. You’re my best friend and my sister. I am so incredibly happy for you, and I know you’re going to do amazing things with your life, but I have to admit… I’m a little sad you won’t be across the hall anymore.”
I smiled at her through fresh tears.
“That’s okay, though, because you’re starting your life with the man of your dreams. Literally. I mean, he’s perfect in every way imaginable. It’s kind of exhausting,” Abby said.
I laughed.
“Just…” She paused and blinked back tears of her own. “Don’t ever stop loving each other as much as you do in this moment. To Trent and Chloe,” she said.
“To Trent and Chloe,” echoed everyone else.
Trent put our clasped hands over his heart, kissed my cheek, and nuzzled his nose against my neck. “For eternity,” he whispered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT:
Consummation
TRENT AND I MADE OUR FINAL rounds to say goodbye to everyone, promising our parents that we’d call and check in so they knew we were safe. Then, before we could get swept up in any more of the festivities, we climbed into the back of the limo Trent had insisted on, and headed home.
I collapsed against the seat and yawned. “Who knew getting married was so exhausting?”
Trent laughed. “So, how does it feel to officially be Mrs. Halstead?” he asked.
“Mmm.” I smiled. “Pretty incredible.” I straightened and angled my body toward him. Taking hold of his hand, I twisted the wedding band around on his finger. “I like how this looks on you,” I said.
“Yeah?” His voice dipped low. “Well, I like how all of that” —his gaze roamed the length of my body— “looks on you. Though, I have to admit, I’ve been fantasizing all night about taking if off you.”
My heart jumped in my chest, and desire filled my veins. Unable to control myself a second longer, I crushed my lips to his in a hungry, demanding kiss, and he responded with just as much passion.
He hauled me over onto his lap, and I straddled him on the seat, my dress bunched up around us, but he still somehow managed to find his way beneath all the layers to slowly drag his hands up my thighs.
Kissing him harder, I deftly undid the first few buttons on his shirt, never more grateful that he’d ditched the jacket and tie before we’d left. I left his mouth, nipped at his jaw, and then worked my
