FULL NOVELXO Chapter Billionaire My Husband 251
FLASHBACK
JESS
Running with Luke had always been one of my favorite things, but today felt different.
He seemed tense, his stride steady but his jaw tight, like he was lost in his own thoughts. I couldn't help but glance at him as we kept up a casual pace. The late afternoon sun painted everything in soft gold, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was on his mind. "What's wrong?" I finally asked, breaking the rhythm of our steady breathing.
He looked over at me, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Nothing," he said, his voice a little too casual. "Just hoping Josh gets drafted back to the team next season. I miss playing with him."
I nodded, focusing on the road. "Yeah, it would be nice to have Laura and Josh living nearby again. Especially after
everything..." Luke hated talking about what happened because he felt guilty. At some point, I hope he realizes I don't blame him.
He hummed in agreement, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders.
We ran in silence for a while, the sound of our footsteps mixing with the distant chirp of cicadas. slowed when we reached the
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halfway point, gesturing over my shoulder. "Should we turn back?"
"Let's finish the normal route," he said quickly, almost too quickly. "I need the run to clear my head."
I shrugged and fell back into step beside him. I didn't press him further. Luke had his moods, and I'd learned over the years that he'd talk when he was ready.
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the trail, we turned into the park bordering the nature reserve. This was my favorite part of my run-a lush green space where the air felt cooler and cleaner, with a lake glimmering in the distance. The weeping willow came into view, its long branches swaying gently in the breeze. It was my favorite spot in the park, the perfect combination of serene and magical. But something was different.
Candles.
I slowed, my heartbeat quickening for a reason unrelated to the run. Beneath the tree, a small table was set up, glowing in the soft light of candles arranged in a neat circle. A bottle of champagne rested in an ice bucket, flanked by a tray of colorful macarons.
"Luke..." I whispered, turning to him in surprise.
He had stopped beside me, his expression soft but unreadable. "Wanted to surprise you," he said simply, his voice steady.
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. "This is so romantic," I murmured, my voice barely audible.
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He smiled a hint of nerves in the way he rubbed the back of his neck. "We deserve a do-over," he said, stepping closer. "This is me starting fresh-a new page."
I nodded, unable to find the words. Instead, I walked toward the table, the soft grass cool beneath my sneakers. Luke was right behind me, pulling out a chair with a touch of old-fashioned chivalry that made my heart ache
A chessboard made of macarons was set up on the table, each piece decorated with intricate chocolate designs.
"Did you seriously turn dessert into a game?" I asked, laughing through the emotion bubbling up inside me.
He shrugged, his smirk returning. "Figured it'd keep your distracted long enough for me to win you over."
The next twenty minutes passed in a blur. It was like he wasn't even trying to play, and for someone who played against his father he should have swept the floor with me. I'd eaten half his board already as I moved my pieces closer to taking his king. Luke didn't seem to m I grinned as I reached for his king, plucking the velvety blue macaron from the board. "Checkmate," I said triumphantly.
Just as I was about to pop the macaron into my mouth, Luke reached out and gently stopped me, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. "Wait," he said softly, his voice low but firm.
I frowned, confused. "What? You don't get my victory snack!"
"Turn it around," he said, his gaze steady but unreadable.
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Curious, I turned the macaron in my hand.
Painted delicately on the bottom in a shimmering gold was a small question mark. I blinked, confused.
"Luke?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't answer. He just watched me, patient and calm, though the way his hands rested on the table betrayed the tension coiling in his body.
Swallowing hard, I looked down at the macaron again. Slowly, I pressed my fingers against the edges and broke it open.
Nestled inside, cushioned by the soft blue filling, was a ring.
A ring.
I just stared at it for a second, my mind struggling to catch up. A delicate diamond sparkled in the candlelight, set in a simple gold band that was somehow perfect.
When I looked up, Luke was already on one knee.
"Jess," he began, his voice steadier than I would've expected. His hands, however, were another story-slightly trembling as they held mine.
"You're the strongest, most incredible person I've ever known. You make me better in every possible way, and I can't imagine my life without you. I don't want to. I want to spend every day proving to you that you made the right choice by being with me." I felt the tears spill over, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.
FLASIMACK
He smiled then, his confidence breaking through as he squeezed my hand. "Will you marry me?"
I didn't trust myself to speak, so I nodded-quick, frantic nods that made him laugh softly. "Yes," I finally managed, my voice thick with emotion. "Yes, of course I will."
Luke stood, slipping the ring onto my finger with a care that made my heart swell. And then he kissed me.
I clutched at his shirt, fisting the fabric as if it were the only thing keeping me upright. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss, his hands threading into my hair as he angled me exactly where he wanted
me. The heat between us ignited, spreading through my entire body like wildfire.
When he finally broke away, it wasn't to put distance between
1. US.
Instead, his lips trailed down to my jaw, then lower to the curve of my neck, where his breath came in warm, uneven bursts.
"Luke," I whispered, barely able to form the word. My heart thundered in my chest, every nerve in my body alight.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine as his hands settled on my waist. His thumb brushed along the exposed skin above my waistband, the light. touch sending a jolt of electricity through me.
His voice was a rough whisper when he finally spoke. "If I don't get you home right now, I'm going to get us both in trouble for public indecency."
The teasing edge to his words didn't match the hunger in his
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eyes, and that combination made my stomach flip. I swallowed hard, my breath catching as I stared up at him.
FLASHBACK FAIT 2
FLASHBACK PART 2
LUKE
I walked Jess out of the park, my fingers brushing hers every chance I got, barely able to keep my hands to myself. Her excitement radiated off her, lighting her up in a way that had my pulse pounding. She stared down at the ring on her finger as though it were magic, her straight into a tree. "Babe. Focus," I murmured, tugging her back by the waist and keeping her pressed close to me for a beat longer than necessary.
She laughed, the sound rich and warm, vibrating through me in a way that made my grip tighten. "I can't help it-blinded by this massive diamond," she said, holding up her hand to inspect it again, her eyes sparkling like the damn thing itself.
I smirked, my thumb brushing over her hip before I let go. "Massive, huh? Thought you said you liked subtle."
She tilted her head, her grin turning wicked. "Subtle and massive. You nailed it."
Impossible. Completely, utterly impossible. Watching her like this-light, carefree, and unguarded-made every nerve in my body buzz. I wanted to stop right there, pull her into my arms, and kiss her until nothing else existed. But not here.
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Not yet.
My truck wasn't parked far, but the short walk felt like torture with her so close and yet untouchable. When we reached it, I opened the door for her. She stepped up but didn't settle in right. away. Instead, she grabbed my shirt, pulled me down, and kissed me so thoroughly
A growl threatened to slip from my throat, but I managed to rein it in, grinning instead as she let me go. I shut the door and rounded the truck, my entire body buzzing. By the time I climbed into the driver's seat, I was already counting down the seconds. until I could touch h The drive back was quiet, her energy electric beside me. Every now and then, I'd catch her glancing my way, her lips curling in that stupid, perfect smile that drove me
out of my mind. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, focusing on the road, but all I could think about was her-the way she tasted, the way she said my name, the way she looked at me.
When we finally pulled up to the house, Jess didn't wait for me to turn off the engine. She was out of the truck in a flash.
"Jess!" I called, hurriedly killing the ignition. "What-?"
But she was already gone, sprinting toward the house. I followed, confused as hell, only to find a trail of her clothes scattered across the floor. Her jacket was the first to go. Then her shoes. Then her shirt. My chest tightened with each step as I picked up the pieces, my bre "Jess," I called again, my voice rough, but then I heard it-the
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soft splash of water.
I followed the sound, stepping outside just in time to see her surface in the pool, her hair slicked back, beads of water sliding down her skin under the glow of the moonlight. She was
breathtaking, and she knew it.
Jess laughed, floating on her back with a grin that sent my pulse racing. "Come on, future husband!" she called, teasing and light. "What's taking you so long?"
Jess pushed up to the edge of the pool like a mermaid-
seductive and very much nude. Heat coursed through my veins. Her breasts pushed together between her arms as she braced herself, arching her back on purpose. I could feel my pulse quick, and blood rushed to my groin.
Without breaking eye contact, I stripped off my shirt and
stepped out of my shorts, my shoes going in the process. All the while, Jess smiled up at me sweetly, like she had no clue what she was doing.
I stepped closer, and she dipped beneath the water again before pushing off and gliding over the surface in a backstroke.
A fucking backstroke.
Her entire body was on display like a piece of art. I stepped to the edge, dove in and aimed to come up right beside her without wasting another second.
The water was cool against my skin, getting rid of the sticky, humid cloak that clung to me. I surfaced right next to Jess, and she shrieked, trying to push away from me, but I had her already in my grip.
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"Nice try, babe. But I got you. All that teasing has consequences for you."I murmured against her neck before planting a kiss there. She half-heartedly tried to get out of my grip but just ended up rubbing her perfect ass against my already-hardened cock.
"If you don't keep still, I'm going to cum right here in the pool, and then the fun is over..."I warned her, already on the verge of losing it. Jess became still and turned her head to me. Big blue eyes and streaky blond hair plastered to the side of her face. Not one stitch of mak up and she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen...