Page 142 of Icebound

Lifting onto her toes, she hooks her arms around my neck. “I belong to you as much as you belong to me. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”

“Good. Because I already booked my flight to Argentina. I upgraded us to first class.”

“You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine with coach.”

“You’re mine now, which means you fly first class.”

I kiss her good—with tongue—not giving a damn that everyone’s in the room, watching us, taking pictures. Gripping her waist, I lift her off the tile and swing her around the room.

I might be a little too old for her, and yeah, maybe we don’t fit together from the outside, but our souls are a perfect match. For the first time in a while, I’m excited for the future. We’ll have a family and kids and all the stress that comes with that, but for now, I want her all to myself.

I don’t bother putting her back down on the ground, I just hold her, dangling feet and all. “I love you,” I whisper, only for her.

“I love you too,” she whispers, only for me.

“Thanks for giving me a life outside of hockey. I had no idea my entire life would change when I got into your car. If I’d known you were waiting for me, I would’ve left that bar a hell of a lot sooner.”

She peppers my face with kisses. “Why’s that?”

“Because then I could’ve had one more moment with you, since I don’t know if forever is going to be enough.”