Page 56 of And the Best Man Ran Away With the Groom

He lets out a wry chuckle and adjusts his body so he’s looking down at me, eyes shining with affection. “I like the way that sounds.Forever.”

EPILOGUE

Xavier

“They should really thinkabout changing the dates of the wet season,” I say as I snuggle in close to Trent, listening to the rain pound down outside our bungalow.

“Anyone would think you don’t like being stuck inside with me,” he teases.

I prop myself up on my elbow, staring down at him with a fond smile. “I never saidthat.”

He just chuckles and draws me down to him for another one of those slow, toe-curling kisses that I’ll never get tired of.

We decided to keep our promise and come back to Koh Samui a year after that magical holiday that had originally intended to be my honeymoon. Instead of reconnecting for an international booty call, though, Trent and I are currently celebrating our one-year anniversary. And, of course, there was no better way to celebrate than by coming back here to where it all started. We’re even staying in the same resort, although we were disappointed when we arrived to learn that Oliver and Rupert hadn’t yet returned from spending the festive season back in the UK.

It’s hard to believe an entire year has passed since we were last here. It feels like barely any time at all, but I guess time flies when you’re having fun, right? And Trent and I have definitely been having a lot of that. Of course, it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows the whole time; we’ve had to negotiate the odd patch of bumpy ground along the way, but that just keeps things interesting, right?

The biggest test so far came when footy season started, and we were faced with the reality of barracking for rival teams. Fortunately, Trent is pretty gracious in both victory and defeat, so we managed to avert disaster. If he’d shared my temperament, I doubt we’d have made it past round one.

Just when the kiss is really heating up and I’m about to make a grab for the lube on the bedside table, Trent pulls away and starts crawling off the bed.

“What are you doing?” I practically whine, aghast that he’d want to call a halt to the proceedings.

Trent just grins, holding out a hand for me. “Come with me.”

Curious, I slip my hand in his and let him lead me to the bathroom, a thrill of anticipation shooting through me as he steps into the shower. “Oh, we should grab the lube!” I start to turn back for the bedroom, but Trent tugs my hand gently, prompting me to pause and face him.

“Not just yet. I want to do something first.”

I quirk an eyebrow at him. “You have my attention.”

He offers a soft smile, stepping closer. “I was planning to do it up in the mountains but I’m sick of waiting for the rain to stop.”

“You…were?” I ask warily, wondering what the hell he’s talking about. As hot as it might be to fantasise about, I really can’t imagine Trent actually planning any public sexcapades in the mountains.

He nods. “I wanted somewhere with an incredible view and amazing memories. And then I realised I have that here,” he adds with a grin. “Now, before you ask, I didn’t bring the ring with me because a) I don’t really have anywhere to hide it,” he says with a gesture at his beautiful naked body, “and b) I didn’t want to risk it falling down the drain. So we’re just going to have to go without for the moment.”

I’m just standing there, still stunned as my brain attempts to process the words that have just come out of his mouth. Before I can say anything, Trent lowers himself to one knee, gazing up at me with eyes full of so much love and hope it almost knocks me over.

“Xav—”

My hands come up to cover my mouth as I nod frantically, cutting Trent off. “Yes,” I say eagerly. “Yes, definitely.” I lean over and grab Trent’s face, slamming my lips to his.

He kisses me back thoroughly, finally climbing to his feet and pulling me against him. “You didn’t let me ask the question,” he says with a chuckle. “Maybe I was just going to ask to give you head?”

“You know you don’t ever need to ask to do that, babe,” I say sweetly. “Now, you mentioned something about a ring?”

He smiles softly and pushes me back against the shower wall. “Later,” he murmurs, brushing kisses all along my jaw and down my neck. “Right now, I want to suck my future husband’s dick.”

And he gets to his knees…

“When we tellpeople about the proposal could we maybe say we were up in the mountains like I’d planned?” Trent asks hopefully as we’re walking hand-in-hand to the restaurant for dinner an hour or so later.

I offer him a teasing smile, my thumb absently tracing over the gleaming platinum ring now sitting on my left ring finger. “I don’t think so. I prefer the OG version—naked in the shower with a celebratory BJ. Wouldn’t have been able to dothatup in the mountains,” I add with a quirk of my eyebrow.

A slow smile forms over Trent’s face. “Very true.” He pauses in his step and turns to face me, his expression more serious now. “Listen, earlier when I was proposing—it wasn’t just the question I didn’t get out. I had a whole speech prepared…”

“Are you upset that I cut you off?” I ask him, starting to feel a little guilty about potentially ruining a moment he’s put so much planning into.

Trent flashes his familiar genial smile, shaking his head. “No, definitely not upset. But I want you to hear what I was going to say. Not the word-for-word speech, but…the gist…”

I nod slowly, staring into his gorgeous eyes. “Okay.”

He draws in a breath and pulls me close against him, his eyes never leaving mine as he talks. “I love you, Xav. More than I thought it was even possible to love someone. This past year has been the best one of my life, and every day I’m so, so thankful that I made that spur of the moment decision to go on that holiday with you last year. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I do know, without a doubt, we’ll face whatever comes our way together. Forever.”

By the time he’s done, tears are streaming down my face and I’m an absolute blubbering mess. “That’s a really good gist,” I manage to choke out.

Trent lifts his hands to wipe my eyes, his lips curved in an affectionate smile. “That wasn’t supposed to upset you.”

I shake my head adamantly. “It didn’t. It just…” Unable to find the words to explain my rampaging emotions, I simply reach out and pull Trent’s face toward mine, sealing our lips together for a long, hungry kiss. “Me too,” I finally say. “All of it. That’s how I feel too. And I can’t wait to marry you.”