Page 181 of Take Root

“I’m gonna come,” Wilder warns, his thrusts erratic.

Me too. “Wilder. Oh gods. I can’t. I?—”

I sink my teeth into his shoulder to urge him on—his skin breaks. Copper floods my mouth. With a final, deep thrust, he spills his release deep inside me, and I see planets. We cling to each other, riding out the aftershocks of our shared bliss.

“Good fucking grief,” Wilder pants, his sweat-dampened hair clinging to his forehead.

“Happy birthday, baby,” I whisper, a satisfied smile on my lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Leigh.” He rests his head on my chest, my heartbeat erratic against his ear. “More than anything in this world or the next.”

I cling to him harder, feeling my doubts dissipate. “Wilder...” I let my smile widen. “Promise me forever will feel as perfect as this moment.”

“I promise.”