Page 45 of Orc'd At A Wedding
"What if my family?—"
"Fuck your family."
She laughs, watery and broken and beautiful.
"You can't just say that."
"I just did. Multiple times. In front of witnesses."
"You're insane."
"Probably."
"You just torpedoed your entire rating over me."
"Worth it."
"Olog." She grips the lapels of my jacket, pulling me closer. "You don't even know me. Not really. This whole weekend has been a performance. You don't know what I'm like when I'm not drowning in family drama. You don't know if we're compatible outside of this nightmare scenario. You don't?—"
I kiss her.
Hard and deep and desperate, pouring every ounce of pent-up frustration and desire and raw, unfiltered need into the press of my mouth against hers.
She makes a broken sound and kisses me back, her hands fisting in my shirt, dragging me closer.
When I finally pull back, we're both breathing hard.
"I know enough," I tell her. "I know you're brave and brilliant and funny. I know you make me laugh. I know you smell like jasmine and champagne and home. I know that when you look at me, I feel like I could take on the entire world and win. I know that I haven't felt this alive in years, and I'm not walking away from that just because a contract ended."
"But what if?—"
"No more what-ifs, Bliss. No more spiraling. No more assuming the worst. We're doing this. Together. Starting right now."
She searches my face, looking for doubt.
She won't find any.
"Okay," she whispers.
"Okay?"
"Okay." She nods, more certain now. "Let's do this. Let's be insane together."
I kiss her again, softer this time, tasting salt and relief and the promise of something real.
When we finally break apart, she's smiling.
"So what now?"
"Now?" I glance back at the venue, where the reception is still in full swing. "Now we go back to the hotel, pack our things, and get the hell out of here."
"We're leaving early?"
"Unless you want to stay and endure more passive-aggressive toasts."
"God, no."
"Then let's go."
