Free Celestra Forever After by Addison Moore

is.
    “Oh my, God.” Skyla unbuckles herself as we head out. “Wes looks exactly like you. So do you think she’s finally satisfied?”
    “Hopefully. It’s doubtful, though, and believe me my ego’s not involved here. I want nothing more than for that to be true.” Still most things that are too good to be true are anything but, sort of like my life with Skyla. My time with her will be here and gone before I know it, and that’s exactly why I plan on making the best of it. Hell, I’d ask her to marry me tonight if I had a ring with me.
    Skyla clasps her hand over mine as we walk down to the shore. There’s a hint of a sunset behind the charred clouds as a burst of orange highlights the horizon.
    “Beautiful.” She pulls me in, and we take a seat right there on the cool sand as the salty air licks our lips.
    “That you are.” I peck kisses down her cheek until my mouth melts over hers. Our teeth bump, her tongue swipes over mine, and my stomach drops as if we’re on some insane roller coaster together. Skyla has that effect on me every single time.
    “You know what would be a great way to commemorate our first day of college?” she whispers into my lips between kisses.
    I let out a moan in lieu of words because I think I know what she’s about to say, what I want her to say.
    Her lips travel to my ear. “How about first day of college—first day with each other?”
    “Sounds like heaven.” How the hell do I say no to that? “And it sounds like a lot of firsts.” I know for a fact I want to do this right. I don’t want to be the one who couldn’t wait. But, God knows, time isn’t exactly on my side—not to mention the fact Skyla is so damn beautiful it hurts sometimes to look at her.
    “You complaining?” She catches my lower lip with her teeth and carefully pulls it out.
    The sky glows a baritone blue as dark, charcoal highways drive through it.
    “There’s not a single complaint I have with you in my life.” There are no truer words. I brush the hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. The breeze picks up. There’s a marked chill in the air as the sand begins to pepper us with its microscopic assault. “But I’m going to want you all night long. Trust me, Skyla, I plan on doing things to you that would get us arrested on a public beach.” I pick up her hand and bring it to my lips. “And most likely in private.” I want to devour Skyla and plan on doing just that. Swallowing her whole until there’s nothing left. My heart races just imagining my lips dragging across her body.
    “Gage Oliver.” Skyla closes the gap between us until her stomach touches mine. Her eyes glitter with tears, and I wonder if she’s ready at all. “Do you know how much I love you?”
    “Do you know how much I love you ?”
    “Our love is as strong as death,” she whispers.
    “Strong as death,” I echo. And it’s my death that dangles between us like a noose.
    She digs her fingers through my hair and pulls me in until our lips seal over one another again. Skyla and I don’t need words to convey our feelings anymore—we’ve moved onto body language. The electricity in the air when we’re together is enough to spark a thousand flames. But it’s right here, right at her lustful kisses, where Skyla seems to draw the line, and I’m not into pushing her. Skyla used to roam all over my body, her eager hands once plucked at the lip of my jeans, but since Logan—since last December—it hasn’t happened, and I’m okay with that. I’ve restricted my hands to her bare back, her hair, the curve of her jeans, but I don’t dare take it any further. The last thing I would ever want to do is push her if she’s not ready. Although tonight she’s hinting at the fact she is ready—hell, she’s all out verbalized it. According to Skyla she’s right there, and God knows I am, too. That’s why I think popping the question is the way to go. Then the ball will be in her court. If she says yes, I’ll let