Tristan tilts his head. “I still don’t like it.”
Scooting closer to him, I snuggle into his side, admitting, “I’m struggling to focus on the work, so it’s taking me longer to study.”
Tristan’s eyes lock with mine. “Why are you struggling to focus?”
“You,” I tease him with a playful smile, then I add, “I’ve just lost interest in law.”
“Why don’t you switch to something else then?”
I think about it before I reply, “Like what? There’s nothing I’m remotely interested in.”
Tristan presses a kiss to my temple. “Get through the exams, then we can talk during the summer break.”
I nod, and feeling better that I’ve talked to him about my worry, I stare out over the ocean. “It’s so peaceful out here.”
“It is,” he murmurs. There’s a couple of minutes’ silence, then he says, “Everything is arranged for the trip.”
I glance up at him. “I can’t wait.” I haven’t told my parents I’ll be spending the summer break at Tristan’s place, so it has me adding, “We need to go for dinner at my parents. I still have to tell them I’ll be staying with you.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up. “How do you think they’ll take it?”
“My mom will probably start planning the wedding,” I grumble.
Tristan’s gaze holds mine prisoner. “I like the sound of that.”
Sitting up, I tilt my head. “Marriage?”
Slowly he nods. “Yes. The sooner, the better.” My eyes widen, which makes him grin. “Don’t look so surprised. You’re already mine. I’ll just be putting a ring on your finger.”
My lips part, and for a moment, I can’t respond as happiness bubbles in my heart. “You really want to marry me?”
His mouth curves into a hot smirk. “More than anything.” Lifting his hand, he wraps his fingers around the side of my neck, and then he presses a hard kiss to my mouth. “You own me, Hana.”
TRISTAN
Mr. Cutler pours me a bourbon, then asks, “Have you planned everything for the trip to Iceland?”
I sit down and wait for him to take a seat before I nod. “Everything’s been arranged. We’ll take my private jet.”
His eyes lock on mine, then he says, “I have to be honest, I’m surprised by how committed you are to Hana.”
My gaze sharpens on him, and I tilt my head. “You obviously expected differently.”
He nods, then mutters, “With all the non-disclosures, can you blame me?”
The downside of Hana’s father being one of my attorneys. He knows too much about my personal life. I let out a chuckle.
He takes a sip of his bourbon, then asks, “How serious are you about Hana?”
“Dead.” The word is clipped, but it sums up everything.
Mr. Cutler stares at me for a while, but I hold his gaze.
Then he asks, “How’s the new business?”
Alexei employed Demitri’s uncle, Michail Vetrov as our attorney. He takes care of anything Hayes and Koslov related, which now includes all my personal business.
“Good,” I answer.
Mr. Cutler takes a deep breath, and seeing the worry in his eyes, I say, “I won’t give Hana up.” Knowing he needs to hear the words, I add, “I love her.”
Mr. Cutler’s eyes narrow slightly. “You better keep her safe, Tristan. I don’t care who you are. If anything happens to my daughter, you’ll have to face Falcon, Mason, and myself.”
Admiring his spirit, the corner of my mouth curves up. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one who would go to war for her.”
“I just want her happy,” he murmurs.
“I am happy,” Hana suddenly says from where she’s leaning against the doorjamb. She walks to the couch where I am and places her hand on my shoulder. “Tristan has only been good to me, Daddy. You have nothing to worry about.”
Mr. Cutler smiles at his daughter. “That’s all I want for you, snuggle-bug.”
“Time to eat,” Mrs. Cutler calls from the dining room.
We all get up, and I wait for Hana to take a seat before I sit down next to her.
Mrs. Cutler immediately begins to load food onto my plate.
Once we’ve all taken a bite, Mrs. Cutler says, “Hana’s so excited about the trip. Thank you for inviting her.”
I incline my head.
Just as I take a bite, Hana drops the bomb, “I’m also staying with Tristan for the summer break.”
Mrs. Cutler’s smile grows while Mr. Cutler just stares at Hana.
After swallowing the bite, I take a sip of water, waiting for Mr. Cutler’s response. I watch as he processes what Hana said and then takes a deep breath. He reaches for her hand, then asks, “Is this what you really want?”
Hana meets her father’s gaze, a warm smile on her face. “It is. I love Tristan, Daddy. He makes me unbelievably happy. He’s my future.”
Mrs. Cutler’s smile widens even more, and when she turns her eyes to me, I say, “Hana’s my light. I’ll take good care of your daughter.”
Mrs. Cutler gets up, and when she walks around the table, I scoot the chair back and rise to my feet. She cups my jaw with her hands, and giving me a smile of approval, she says, “I hope you love our Hana so much that the deities have no choice but to give her back to you in the next life.”
Her words touch me on a deeper level than I expected. I lean down and hug the woman who gave birth to my heart and soul. Pulling back an inch, I murmur, “Thank you for the blessing.” I press a kiss to her cheek then straighten up.
I get a feeling she’s just given me permission to marry her daughter, and it makes my mouth curve up with satisfaction.
As I take my seat again, Mr. Cutler’s gaze meets mine. He nods slightly, the corner of his mouth curving up, and I know that’s the closest I’ll get to receiving a blessing from him.
Chapter 22
HANA
I take hold of Tristan’s hand and climbing out of the car, my eyes go to the private jet. Finally. Done with my exams, which were pure torture, I’m looking forward to our trip and getting away from everyday life.
Reaching the stairs, Tristan places his hand on my lower back and nudges me forward. As I climb the steps, I hear a low rumbling from Tristan. “Christ, I’m hard just looking at your ass.”
I let out a chuckle and wiggle my butt as I reach the top step. Tristan grabs a handful of my left cheek, and then he squeezes hard.
Trying to act like I’m not burning up inside with desire for Tristan, I nod at the stewardess as we enter the cabin.
We take our seats and prepare for take-off. I glance around at the pristine black and white interior as I settle into the plush chair. When the jet begins to taxi down the runway, my stomach tightens with excitement.
Tristan takes hold of my hand, and resting it on the armrest between us, his fingers lightly brush over the skin. As we lift into the air, my stomach drops, and taking a deep breath, my body adjusts to being airborne.
After we’ve been served with a glass of champagne each, Tristan dismisses the stewardess. We take off our seatbelts, and while I slowly sip on the bubbly beverage, I peer into the darkness on the other side of the window.