When I woke up, the living room was empty. I couldn't see through the black-out curtains, but something told me it was around dawn. I'd shifted in my sleep, ending up with my head in Luke's lap.

He smiled down at me. "Hey, you," he murmured.

"Hey."

"Everyone left about half an hour ago, but they didn't want to wake you."

I stroked his forearm, running my fingers up and down his skin. "How did you know that's what I was going to ask?"

He smiled again, bending his head towards me until our noses brushed together. "Because I know you."

Suddenly I realised we were alone – truly alone. A spark of excitement skittered through my chest, chasing away the last of the sleep-fog.

"Luke," I whispered. "Before we left the house last night, I told you there was something we were going to do when this was all over."

He visibly swallowed, but his eyes were concerned. "Kiara, you're hurt –"

"I don't care."

"But –"

"I don't care." I pulled his face to mine, passionately kissing him. "We've waited long enough, Luke. I love you and I'll always love you, and I don't want to wait another moment to be with you."

He didn't argue any more. He lifted me from the sofa and carried me up the stairs to our bedroom, kissing me all the way. When I finally wriggled out of his arms so I could pull my t-shirt over my head, nervousness shuddered through me and I had a sudden urge to cross my arms over my chest. My scars didn't bother me anymore, they were part of who I was, but I'd never stood in front of Luke like this before. He'd seen me naked, but never in the sense that I had undressed for him.

Luke gazed at me like I was the most precious thing in the whole world. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, and his voice was actually reverent.

Standing in front of him like that, I truly did feel beautiful – more beautiful than I ever had before.

I tugged the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it over his head. Unlike my scarred body, his skin was near flawless and I ran my hands over it, feeling every line of muscle and edge of bone, memorising every single tiny part of him.

I loved him so much it hurt.

And just like that my nerves were gone. I wanted this more than I'd ever wanted anything.

I pulled Luke to the bed.

Some people think your first time is magical and breathtaking, shaking beds and fireworks going off outside the window. I'd never thought that, which was good because that's not at all what it was. In real-life there's a lot more awkward fumbling and even some nervous giggling as you both try and attune your bodies to the rhythm. There was pain and there was pleasure, though not the screaming, back-arching sort that Hollywood likes to perpetuate. But though the whole affair was slower and quieter than some people may realise, it was still everything I'd ever wanted. I was with Luke in every way I could be, and that made it more magical than mere physicality ever could.

That night – or rather, that morning – Luke took me to the stars and beyond.

When it was over and we were tangled in each other's arms, Luke pulled me gently against him, my back to his chest and kissed the nape of my neck.

"I love you, Kiara," he whispered.

"I love you too, Luke."

We slept for a couple of hours, and when I woke up I was still sore – not just from my injuries – but the delirious happiness inside me made the pain worth it. I'd never felt so complete.

I rolled over to face Luke, and traced the line of his jaw with my fingertip, moving round to touch his lips. He smiled and nibbled my finger.

"Are you okay?" he murmured.

"Couldn't be better." Truer words had never been spoken.

Luke propped himself up on one elbow, sudden seriousness stealing across his face. "Kiara, I –" He broke off and rubbed a hand across his face, swallowing hard. "There was something I wanted to...to ask you."

My mind flashed back to that night outside the asylum, when I'd sensed a question on his lips, one he hadn't been able to bring himself to ask.

Luke fell silent again, looking sheepish. "This is harder than I thought."

I gave him a cheeky wink. "You'll have to ask me soon otherwise I might get bored and move on to some other hot vampire boy."

He tried to affect a frown, but he couldn't keep a smile from his lips. "I'm all the vampire you'll ever need, Kiara."

"And yet you can't get out a simple question."

He tapped my thigh. "You're not making this easy, you know."

"I know."

The playfulness faded from his face, replaced by a lovely glow that I wanted to sink into. He took my hand, still careful around my cuts and bruises. "Kiara Morrow," he said. "Will you marry me?"

I leaned over and kissed him. "I thought you'd never ask."