Chapter Twenty-Six: We Fight Right Here-1

*** It's typically in a great dramatic scene that someone declares their invincibility but since I've been such a rebel lately (hah!), I thought I'd continue in the same style. It was no great, dramatic, momentous event. To me, the moment when we finally believe we'll be untouched by the world and all the forces that churn within and around it are built from an infinite number of little moments when everything feels right—when fate feels like it's on our side once and for all. It was little moments like waking up in a bedroom filled with wisps of early morning light, warm under a heap of silk sheets and glorious man—literally glorious. Moments like watching for the second those bright blue eyes open and smile at you before his mouth did; like a strong arm curling around your waist to pull you closer so he could bury his face on your neck and whisper good-mornings and I-love-yous and kisses against your skin. If my life were to be filled with many moments like these every day, the world would have nothing on me. Luke and I just moved, knowing what we wanted without having to say it. I draped a leg around his hip, reaching up an arm over his shoulder until my fingers were curled around the nape of his neck. We never looked away from each other as Luke shifted, filling me in one swift stroke and stealing a gasp from my lips. It was fast and sweet and breathtaking—yes, we were truly invincible. Hands entwined, we headed for the shower where Luke washed my hair with such curious fascination. Only half-dressed with Luke in his boxers and me in my underwear and sweater from last night, we headed to the kitchen for some breakfast. I had just put a forkful of omelette in my mouth when Luke blurted out, "So, when do you want to get married?" He handed me the glass of orange juice after I had a good minute to recover from choking, a wry smile on his face. "You okay?" I nodded, gulping down a good amount of juice. Luke sighed and rubbed my back in soothing circles. "You know, when I proposed, getting married was part of the deal." I rolled my eyes. "I know that. I just didn't expect it to be the first topic of the day at seven in the morning." "I believe the first topic of the day had been me getting inside you," he said gamely. I glared at him as my cheeks glowed hot. "If it were, we certainly didn't discuss it." His grin only broadened unapologetically. "I'd like to think I'm more of a man of action than words." It took a second but I finally burst out laughing. "You're impossible sometimes, you know?" "Almost always which is why the sooner you marry me, the more manageable I'd be," he said with a wink. Taking a deep breath, I sat back and watched him and his goofy expression, tracing all the little signs and mapping them out in my head until they made sense. Gently, I reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I'm not going to back out, you know? Whether we get married tomorrow or a year from now, I'm not going to change my mind." The amusement in his expression faded and he sighed. "So that means you're probably not doing it as soon as I'd like." "What's the rush, Luke?" "Max, I'm not exactly a saint so it should be no big surprise that I don't have the patience of one," he answered, his brows drawn in. "I want to be with you." I smiled. I might be enjoying his frustration just a tad bit. "You are with me." He now looked cross. "You know what I mean, Max." "If this is about the sleeping arrangements, I don't have a problem staying with you, or you staying with me," I added helpfully. "Or we'll pick a place and stick with it. We could live in my cute but cozy apartment or we can stay here where it's a bit roomier. Either way, we'll be together. And we'll have time—to live in the present and make plans for the future." I actually wasn't scared or having second thoughts about marrying Luke but since we'd gone from not being together to dating to being engaged in just a matter of days, we could probably use a little slowing down. Just a little so we could catch our breaths. And while I agreed with Luke's estimation of his patience (or lack of it), I didn't think it would be too hard for him to wait some time. Neither of us were packing off to live away somewhere. Unless Luke was just being a baby, there was something else at play. Luke sighed again, lifting my hand to kiss the back of it. "Alright. How does six months sound?" I smiled. "Good. How does a year sound?" Luke glowered. "Hellish." "Eight?"