DAHLIA ALDRIDGE
The riverbank was slightly colder than normal, and my skin was still warm from the bonfire only hours later, so I was perfectly comfortable with my camera as I tried to finally capture this freaking picture. I didn’t have hope that it would happen, but since the boys had suggested we come down here, I figured why not give it a shot. After about four photos, I let out a sigh, considering getting up to find where they’d gone off to.
I looked up at the moon and narrowed my eyes, determined to get this. Crouching down, I tried it at a slightly different angle and sent a small prayer up. The shutter went off, and when I pulled back, I prepared myself to not be happy with the—
Holy shit.
I’d gotten it. It was gorgeous. The nighttime black and blue hues paired with the full moon directly reflecting down on the still river. I let out a squeak of pure excitement and joy, feeling like maybe those classes were paying off. I jumped up and let out a small surprised noise as two large arms wrapped around me.
I turned to look up into Sterling’s face, his eyes filled with warmth. “What are you so excited about?”
I showed him the photo, and he tilted my jaw up and examined my face. “That’s beautiful, sugar.”
I blushed and put away my camera, Sterling taking the bag from me. I could tell something was on his mind, but I wasn’t positive what. Instead of leading me towards the cars, he took me down a pretty path along the river.
“I’m just glad I finally got it,” I admitted.
“I knew you would.” Pride shone in his eyes, and I knew he understood more than anyone. I almost blushed further, thinking of his collection of paintings of me. Honestly, I had never felt as beautiful as I had when seeing those. It was like he saw me in this light I didn’t even realize existed.
“Where are the—” My words were cut off as my eyes went wide.
We were approaching the part of the path that led to a secluded circular garden with a bench that overlooked the river. The path was lined with groups of candles at regular intervals, lighting patches of the pavement in their warm glow. Sterling squeezed my hand as I looked up at him, seeing the affection there.
“What is this?” I asked softly.
“I promise you’ll see at the end.” Sterling cupped my jaw and pressed a soft kiss to my lips, and I moaned into it. His touch was as dominant as normal, and I clung to him, almost sad when he pulled away.
“Sugar, I don’t think I can ever express how much I love you.” His voice practically melted against my skin. “Every day I think that I can’t possibly love you more than I do now. That it’s not possible. But every single morning I realize how wrong I am.”
“Sterling,” I murmured, feeling overwhelmed by emotion.
The depth of love I felt for him nearly had me clinging to him again as he pressed a deep kiss to my lips. I whispered his name as he pulled back, looking heated.
“I want to keep kissing you, but”—his serious expression turned slightly more amused—“you need to get your cute ass down that path or else I will probably end up dead.”
I rolled my eyes but pressed a light kiss to his lips and looked ahead to the next lit-up clearing down the path. He nodded forward and I nibbled my lip, my excitement growing. I had barely taken a step towards the next clearing when I let out a giggle, two arms wrapping around me and lifting me up.
“There is no way in hell I was about to let you walk a path at night,” Stratton grunted as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“This is amazing,” I pointed out, knowing this was something much bigger.
“No.” He shook his head, keeping me in his arms despite being by the candles now. “You’re amazing, Dahlia. I thought for so long that I was doing the right thing by keeping a distance, but I can’t live without you, angel.” I cupped his jaw as he continued sincerely, “You have been my home this entire time, and I promise I will show you that every damn day of our life.”
“I know.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I love you, Stratton.”
He let out a low rumble. “I don’t think any of us thought about how damn hard it would be to actually let you go to the next person.”
I smiled. “Want to carry me to the next one?”
“I always want to be holding you, angel” He brushed my nose with his.
A breeze ran over us, and I curled further into him. When the next light came into focus, he gently set me down. “See you soon, angel.”
I felt giddy walking ahead, and I was somewhat distracted by looking around this part of the path, nearly running right into Dermot. He let out a laugh and picked me up, my legs wrapping around him. When his lips met mine, his taste exploded between the two of us, and I found myself wondering how this massive man had a kiss that tastes like sugar. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were dark and his hands tight on me.
“You probably have figured out what’s going on here.” He pressed his forehead against mine as I let out a pleased sound because yes, yes I had.
“I love it,” I murmured. “I love you.”