by Paige Cooper
“I’m ready to go home,” I said, placing a soft kiss on his lips, teasing him by gently tracing his bottom lip with my tongue.
“Do you want to come back to my place?” He slipped my arm around his and guided me toward the exit.
I thought about it for a minute before shaking my head. If I was truly going to have a say, then he had to live life on my side of things every now and then.
“No. You’re coming back to my place. Things will be different. I don’t want us to be a secret. We’ll talk to John and David in the morning. I want this to be something real, something human. I want us to be grown-ups about it.”
Mark nodded his head and placed a kiss on top of my forehead.
“I agree. As long as I’m by your side, I’m ready to do this the grown-up way.”
“Oh, and you’re going to meet my dad. I think you guys will get on like two firecrackers,” I chuckled, guiding him away from the press and the cars waiting outside.
I might be ready to be a grown-up about this, but I wasn’t ready to face seeing us all over the covers of gossip magazines just yet.
“Oh, really? Then let’s go!” Mark said, prodding me in the side in jest.
“Not right now, you goof. Right now, we have other plans. But in the future, someday. The near future. Because I see a long future with you,” I whispered, leaning against him and looking up into his eyes. I would never get tired of looking into his eyes.
“I see a future with you, too. You make me the man I want to be. When I’m with you, I’m a better person. I want to be that man for you and with you.”
“Good. Because I love you, Mark Allen. I’m in love with you.”
Mark stood in stunned silence for a moment before scooping me up, holding me in his arms, and slowly walking me back to the carpeted entrance to the hotel.
“Say that again,” he growled, his voice low and husky.
“I’m in love with you, Mark.” A blush crept up to my cheeks as he placed me down in front of all the press.
He quickly swept me back up, holding my back and pressing my body against his as he kissed me for the world to see.
I knew our pictures would be everywhere in the morning, but I didn’t care. Mark Allen loved me, and he was kissing me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned his kiss. This was my Cinderella moment, only it took me a little longer than most to realize my prince was in front of me this entire time.
I wouldn’t change a thing.