But still, it’s all been just talk… Until now.

Now, he’s standing here, eagerly gazing at me, awaiting my confirmation about this spot… As the location for our wedding.

I’m floored. But excited. Actually, I’m brimming with anticipation.

And I think it shows, because James chuckles and grabs my face, brushing his soft lips over mine.

“Do you love it?” he whispers, and I nod.

“I love it,” I rasp.

“Do you want to get married right here?” he asks, sealing our bodies together while the ocean breeze rustles our hair.

“I do.” I grin wide, and he laughs some more.

“Good. Meet me here this Saturday evening.” He presses a kiss on my mouth, but my head is spinning.

“This Saturday??” I gasp. “As in… three days from now??”

He nods with confidence. “Mhm. As long as you say yes, baby… I can’t wait to marry you this Saturday, right here in this beautiful spot.”

My eyes creep open and I stare at him, admiring the hell out of this amazing man… The man who raised me, who brought me up, who taught me everything I need to know about life and the world…

Who will spend the rest of our lives teaching me, and loving me, and supporting me…

Being my husband.

“I want you to open that café married to me,” he says, his deep rumbling voice packed to the brim with so much love and devotion, it almost brings tears to my eyes. “I want us to move into this next phase of our lives… betrothed.”

I cackle out loud. “Betrothed? I’ve literally never heard you say that word.”

His smile is brighter than the moon over the sea. “I never had a reason to say it before.”

Biting on the inside of my cheek, I nod. Fast and frantically. “Yes. I can’t wait to marry you… right here. On Saturday. I can’t wait to dive headfirst into this awesome life with you, James McCallister.”

He lifts my left hand, kissing my finger. “I can wait to put my ring on you.”

“You’ll be stuck with me…” I smirk, and he kisses it.

“I’ve been stuck with you since you were two years old, Jesse.” He chuckles, and I squint at him. “The best thing that ever happened to me.”

I nod. Because he’s right.

From the sadness, and the devastation, we were able to make joy. Out of the forbidden, we found forever.

The End.

Acknowledgments

Thank you so much to everyone who made this sweet, sexy, forbidden little novella possible!

To Sara Cate, and the entire crew from the Twisted Christmas Anthology! I’m so glad we decided to bring these taboo stories to life!

To Kenzie of Nice Girl Naughty Edits for being my proofreading baddie, my graphic queen. Girl, you deserve a few gingerbread dongs for being so amazing!