Vanessa wraps her arms around him when he tugs her closer, looking up at him. She's quiet for a moment, enough of her walls down enough to still let him in. His laugh is beautiful, musical and unexpected, and her heart aches at the idea that she could have let that - him - go.

Do I meet your standards, then?

What an interesting question to ask, because everything in her screams yes. Everything but that one little spot in her that is all goddess and Selene and everything Stanton isn't. That one little spot that says that he can't.

Her lips ease over his. "Always."