Part 24 (1/2)

He was the one thing that could destroy her. ”I want you to love me,” she told him, her voice breaking.

His mouth found hers. Trace kissed her hard and deep and she could taste his desire. ”I do,” he said against her lips. ”I always have.”

When she kissed him, she tasted the salt of her tears. She never wanted to think of a world without Trace. ”I want you to be mine.” She needed that, needed him, and the force of that need scared her.

He slid to his knees before her.

Trace...he never bowed before anyone. He- He pulled a discrete white box from his pocket. Opened it. The diamond blazed up at her. ”And I want you to be mine. Tell me that you will be, Skye. Always.”

”Always,” she said as a smile curved her lips. The first smile she'd had since coming out of the darkness.

He slid the ring on her hand, but he didn't rise. He stared up at her. ”You've been the only thing that mattered to me since I was seventeen years old.”

The ring fit her perfectly. So bright, the diamond sparkled.

A light, after the darkness.

”I don't ever want to be without you again,” Trace told her. ”Never.”

Since he wouldn't rise for her, Skye sank down on the lush carpet with him. Her hands lifted and curled around his neck. ”I've loved you since I was fifteen.” So simple and true. ”And I'll love you for the rest of my life.”

They had years ahead of them. Time to laugh and fight. To have a family. To watch their children grow.

Time to just be together.

They didn't need to think about death or fear.

Hope.

Trace had brought it back to her.

She'd fight like h.e.l.l to make sure that she never lost it-or him-again. She wasn't going to be someone's victim. She'd fought the monster. They both had. They'd won.

We deserve our happiness.

Skye kissed him. His arms pulled her close. Held her against his heart.

They deserved happiness, and they'd d.a.m.n well take it.

This day.

And every day that came in the future. They'd survived, and now, it was their turn to be happy.

Forever.

Author's Note.

Thank you for taking the time to read MINE TO TAKE. I hope that you enjoyed the story. If you would like to learn more about my work, please visit .

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