Chapter 22: Worth It

Chapter 22: Worth It
Renee’s POV

Something shuffled.

At first, I thought it was part of my dream, but then fabric rustled… wheels rolled… muted voices whispered.

My eyes fluttered open.

Two men dressed in butler uniforms were dragging suitcases toward the door… my suitcases. My brain needed three full seconds to boot up before confusion smacked me awake.

“Andy?” I croaked, voice still heavy with sleep.

He turned immediately…smiling in that soft, stupid way he does when he’s seeing something he likes. His eyes scanned my sleepy face like I was art he didn’t deserve.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

He nodded at the men. “Gentlemen, give us a minute.”

The door shut behind them.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes clearer. “Why are they taking our bags? We’re not due to leave Venice until tomorrow night. Something wrong?”

Andy walked toward me, hands tucked into his pajama pockets like he knew I was about to argue.

“Nothing's wrong baby, I’ve got one more surprise before we return back to LA.”

I groaned, flopping back into the pillows dramatically.

“Andy. Baby. My love. My sanity…”

I pointed toward the half-packed room.

“Every single day in Italy has come with a surprise. I came here with barely a luggage full. ONE. Now I’m going home with almost three because you decided to spoil me like I’m some Countries princess with access to a country’s treasury.”

He chuckled, grabbing the duvet and gently pulling it away from my face.

“I promise you, this surprise doesn’t require another suitcase. There’s space enough for this surprise in your existing suitcases”

“Oh..Come on., that’s what you said before the last two surprises,” I mumbled.

“And yet,” he teased, “you look breathtaking with that glass key around your neck.”

I rolled my eyes…but smiled.

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

“Up, sleepy queen. We’ve got a flight to catch.”

“Andy,” I groaned again, half fighting a laugh.

“Up,” he repeated, slapping my thigh lightly. “Shower. Clothes. Coffee. Jet.”

I shoved him playfully. “Bossy.”

“Always.”

He walked away to finish giving orders while I dragged myself to the bathroom.

Hot water hit my skin and something softened inside me.

My mind drifted…not to Andy but to before him.

To Clark.

To the night I met him… how he’d saved me from an attack and how that moment made me believe he was a hero.

I remembered the excitement I used to feel when his name flashed on my phone.

How I thought that was love.

But slow… painfully slow… I learned something:

Love isn’t who showed up dramatically once.

Love is who stayed by your side… quietly, consistently, even when they got nothing in return.

Clark never took me out. Never made an effort. Never tried.

It was always me… mentally stitching us together.

But Andy?

He patched me when I tore.

He held me when I broke.

And he waited…years…without resentment.

He helped me even when it meant watching me choose someone else.

He never used my pain as leverage.

And now… he still treated me like I was worth galaxies.

My chest tightened.

This…this…felt like love.

Unexpected. Gentle. Consuming.

The bathroom door slid open and steam rushed out as Andy stepped inside…shirtless, towel low around his hips.

I blinked…slow…because wow, morning should not look like that.

He smirked when he caught me staring.

“You know we’ve got a flight to catch, right?” I teased.

His chuckle vibrated low in his throat.

“On my jet, princess. We’re not late.”

I laughed lightly…until he dropped the towel.

My breath stalled…eyes dropping before I could stop them.

Holy. Hell.

His cock stood pointing to me.

His body heat wrapped around me as he stepped forward, hands sliding to my waist. I melted against him as he pulled me back into his chest… my bare thigh slapping against his rock had cock.

His breath brushed my ear. Then his mouth met my neck causing me to throw my head back in pleasure.

I hadn’t realized how much I needed this calm heated moment amidst the entire surprise stunts.

“I love you so fucking much, Renee,” he whispered, voice rough enough to make my knees quake.

“And I plan to prove it every day for the rest of our life.”

My heart stuttered.

Words disappeared.

He kissed my neck…slow, deep and the soft moan that escaped me almost didn’t feel like mine.

His hand slid up my thighs… until he found my clit.. his finger slipped in…testing…finding me already aching for him.

“Ahh, someone’s wet already and wants to be fucked!” He teased as he stroked his fingers into me making me moan.

“Come on baby! Take me! Fuck me please!” I begged like my life was on the line. 

He chuckled into my neck then murmured “with all pleasure baby!”

And then before I could brace myself he’d already slammed into me causing the pleasure to explode into moans...

The counter. His grip. My breath. Our rhythm.

It wasn’t rushed.

It wasn’t wild.

It was a promise.

When we both poured, he held me until my breathing steadied… like I was glass from Murano he refused to drop.

We showered properly after..laughing, kissing, existing in that cozy, intimate bubble that made time irrelevant.



An hour later.

We were boarding his private jet.

This time, I wasn’t half asleep.

I leaned into him, holding his hand as we talked, laughed, and shared random memories. It felt easy. Natural. Like he’d always been mine and I’d finally caught up to the truth.

We didn’t even notice when the jet took off ..our conversation stole the moment until the captain’s voice crackled through the speakers.

“Lady and gentleman, we’re now headed to Le Bourget Airport.”

A pause.

“Welcome to the home of romance. Welcome… to Paris.”

My lips parted and a slow, stunned smile pulled across my face.

Paris.

Of all places.

My heart swelled until it felt too full for my chest.

I turned to Andy and he was already watching me.

Not the way people look at something expensive.

But the way someone looks at something irreplaceable.

My throat tightened.

“Okay,” I whispered, smiling like an idiot.

“This one…

this surprise is worth it.”