Entering his building made her feet lighter. She was being carried on the wings of euphoria, each step easier than the last. She wasn’t walking to her future. She was running toward it. Taking a breath, she held it, and knocked on his door.

The door opened and he stood there with his lips parted and confusion furrowing his brow. “Jude?”

Throwing herself forward, she jumped up and wrapped her body around his and kissed him. Then, again. He kicked the door closed and held her against it. When they parted, they remained close enough to share their panting breaths. He said, “You’re here.” When he pressed his abs against her center her head knocked hard on the wood and he kissed the exposed skin of her neck where it met her shoulder.

He was strong. He was virile. He was not sick. That much was obvious to her eyes, but she had to know for sure. “Hey,” she said, bringing his face up to see hers.

Lowering her down until her feet touched, he said, “I thought we were meeting at the park?”

“I couldn’t wait.”

His glorious smile chose to shine on her. “I’m glad you didn’t. Do you want to go to the bedroom?”

Giggling, she replied, “Yes, so much, but I need to talk to you first.”

“Okay.” He walked to the couch and she stared at him, stunned. Jeans that hung low. No shirt. Boxers peeking out the top, and a V that directed her eyes below the waistband. He was an alluring tease as he stood there waiting for her to join him. Sitting on the couch, he patted it. “C’mere.”

She started walking on shaky legs. As she passed the bar, she debated if she should stay there to preserve clarity. That seat next to him was tempting, but she knew she’d be flat on her back within seconds. So she hurried to his side and sat down. His hands were instantly on her. “You know how much I love this dress on you, but man, I want it off so badly.”

He lowered her straps, but she stopped him. “We need to talk first, then we can get to the action.” She backed up a bit and put her hands out. “Wait on that side of the couch or we’ll never get to talk.”

Chuckling, he moved. “I’ll be good. What do you want to talk about?”

“I want to marry you.”

Taylor automatically started moving closer to her again when she said that. “I’m glad to hear that. I want to marry you.”

“What were you thinking about for the ceremony? Because I was thinking we elope. Just do it.”

His eyes flashed with an excitement. “You want to go to City Hall? No ceremony? No white dress? No pomp and circumstance?”

“None of it. Just you and me, Hazel. That’s all I need.”

Suspicion crossed his face. “Has something happened with your family?”

“No, everything is fine.” She moved closer to him and touched his leg. Looking him in the eyes, she said, “I just want to be your wife for as long as we both shall live.” Testing him. Seeing if he would tell her.

He didn’t flinch. He only smiled bigger. “I want you to be my wife for as long as we both shall live too.” Looking down, he said, “I like that you’re still wearing the ring.”

“I’ll wear it the rest of my life.”

Touching her leg, he leaned in and kissed her. “So you really want to elope today?”

“I do.”

“You stole my line.”

“I think we can share it.”

“Fifty-fifty from here on out. Do you want to go shopping?”

“No,” she said, confidently. “It’s the dress I met you in. It’s the dress you tell me I’m beautiful in, so it’s the dress I want to marry you in.”

“To be fair, I tell you you look beautiful in everything you wear.”

“I can give you that,” she said, then laughed.

Standing up, he said, “Give me ten minutes and we can go.”

“I’ll give you a lifetime, if you give me yours.”

“Deal, baby.” He walked into the bedroom.

Jude sat on his couch, waiting, debating if she should tell him she knows.

Pro – If she tells him, he’ll know she married him despite his illness.

Con – If she tells him, he may change his mind about marrying her.

Pro – If she doesn’t tell him, one day he’ll know she married him despite his illness.

Con – If she doesn’t tell him, he may change his mind about marrying her.

Ugh! This was getting her nowhere. She would have to go with her gut.

Hazel came out and spun for her with some fancy footwork added for special effect. Smiling she said, “That’s my favorite suit on you.”

“It’s now my marrying suit.” He stuck his arm out for her. “You ready to go?”

“Ready.”

They spent three hours getting a birth certificate for Jude and then headed to the bureau. After some research online, they applied for the license and left, but Taylor still felt like he should apologize. “It’s only twenty-four hours.”

“We can wait twenty-four hours.”

They walked hand in hand down the street. “Hey, Jude?”

“Yeah?”

“What if you didn’t return home tonight? What if we started our life together now? What will happen?”

She tugged him closer. “They’ll be upset, but they’ll have to deal with it. We’ll be married when they see me again.” Stopping, she faced him. “We can petition for my rights or if I can’t get them, as my husband, you can.”

The tips of his fingers ran from her temple down her neck. Goose bumps covered her skin. “We’ll go to court and get your rights back. I promise. I’ll do everything in my power to give you your freedom back. I’ll do anything for you.”

“And I you. Do you know that? Anything. In sickness and in health,” she said quietly prodding for him to open up to her. She didn’t understand why he wouldn’t tell her about his disease or that Katherine was the one he was apparently supposed to marry at one point. But for some reason, he wouldn’t open up about those two things. Jude felt like she knew him—knew everything that was important—and she would marry him based on that, despite his secrets.

His eyes began searching hers as if she was onto something. “Yes, in sickness and in health,” he repeated then turned away, taking her hand and starting for home.

“I’M WARNING YOU, as your husband, beautiful. I’m going to want all of you. I want all your secrets and your soul.”

She squirmed beneath him, forgiving him of his own sin of denying her his secrets, as he lowered himself. “Don’t you know, Hazel? You’ve had all of me all along.”

He kissed her just above where she really wanted him. Teasing her. “You’re getting demanding.” Kiss. “Is this how marriage is going to be?”

“I can’t help it. You created a monster.”

“You’re lucky I find you so delectable.”

She knew exactly how fortunate she was. “I am. I’m the luckiest girl in the—” She gasped when he kissed her exactly where she had wanted. “Oh God, Hazel. I’m so lucky.” The tips of her fingers dragged slowly up her body as she murmured, “Lucky. Lucky. Luck! E.”

Shortly after, the starburst whitened the insides of her lids, and she returned the favor. He was left helplessly at her mercy until his body was teetering on the edge of ecstasy and what felt like death. Jude got up and kissed his chest. “I want you, babe, inside me.”

He sat up. “You want me? You get me on my terms. On your hands and knees.”

Her body clenched in anticipation. Even though they have had passionate sex, even some rough, play that was fun, he had never made demands of her. But she liked it. She liked feeling wanted sexually. Positioning herself, she felt his warm palms glide over her back and bottom before she felt a gentle pressure. Her breath was pushed out as he pushed in, holding her steady by the hips.

“God, Jude. You feel…” His words trailed off as he picked up his pace.

It didn’t take long before he slowed down, out of breath, and reached around her leg. Touching her between the legs, she needed him to move. “Please, Hazel. Faster. Harder. Move. Please.”