Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“I keep thinking about skiing down here and finding you holding a baby.”
We’ve spent a lot of time on that this past week, my sensual side truly awakening after our first time after he showed me how perfect it could feel.
“Soon,” I whisper.
He leans down, kissing my cheek gently.
It’s the most he’ll do in front of Dad, though we held hands earlier. There’s going to be a transition while everybody gets used to it, but there’s no awkwardness between Dad and Silas, no sign their friendship is going to end.
“Come for a walk with me later,” he says. “Just me and you.”
There’s extra intensity in his voice, which is crazy considering how intense he’s sounded all week. There’s an added layer of husky temptation.
“A walk where?” I whisper.
“Do you trust me?”
I remember when he asked me the same thing before the sky dive, and all he said in the air afterward. “Yes.”
“Then don’t ask where. Just come.”
I grab his hand, squeezing tightly. “I’d go anywhere with you.”
We sit side by side as the stars glisten down, riding the ski lift to the top of the mountain. He’s got my hand in his, holding it tighter than he has yet like he wants me to feel all the love he’s capable of giving in one big rush.
I smile up at him, my body contentedly sore from what we did in our private ski lodge before leaving.
I was on top this time, my hands splayed on his chest, shifting up and down as his hands fused to my hips.
When we reach the top of the lift, Silas jumps down and helps me off, carrying me with the same ease he used when placing me in the helicopter. I’ll never grow tired of that feeling, my strong man making me feel weightless.
He places me down, then takes my hand, leading me toward the mountain. It’s dark, and nobody is skiing. Nobody is around.
“Did you arrange to have the ski lift moving?” I murmur, my voice carrying across the emptiness.
My man smiles down at me, nodding. “I’ve had my fair share of arranging to do. But it was worth it…I hope.”
“You hope?”
He takes both my hands in his, moving so he’s standing opposite me.
Behind him, the slope moves up into darkness, the snow glinting with starlight… and something else? I’m sure there’s something else there, small bulbs, but unlit.
Were they there earlier?
“It depends on what you say when I ask you.” He leans down, brushing his lips against my cheek warmly, sending tingles up and down my body. “The most important question of our lives. I love you, Lauren. It happened the moment I saw you. I need to make you my wife. I need to know….”
He kneels, reaching into his pocket and taking out a ring box. Unlike me, he’s not wearing gloves, and he opens the ring box easily, displaying a full diamond set within an elegant band.
Lights flick on behind him.
Hundreds of countless lights spread across the slope, lighting up the darkness brighter than the stars.
Will you marry me? shines brightly as the lights come on.
“Will you?” he says huskily.
“Yes,” I say, laughing as pure joy escapes me. “Oh my God, yes!”
I offer him my hand, then realize I’m wearing my glove and try to take it off. But I fumble the movement, too much excitement flooding into me.
Silas chuckles and leaps to his feet, taking my hand and removing my glove.
He brings the ring to my finger, the band cool against my skin as he slips it on, and then he leans down and kisses me passionately.
I return the pressure, tears springing to my eyes, sobbing as we sink deeper into the kiss.
He leans back, giving me a look, silently asking if I’m okay.
“I’m just so happy.”
He smiles, eyes glistening. “Me too, Lauren. So, so happy.”
We kiss again.
EPILOGUE
THREE WEEKS LATER
Silas
I lie on the table, trusting my fiancée to finish the tattoo.
Her hand is steady as she works.
Buster is so relaxed he’s curled up in the corner of my office, sleeping soundly, as my woman pricks at me a few more times.
“It’s almost done,” she says, her voice shaking with emotion.
There’s no world in which we have to be unsure anymore, in which we don’t know what the other feels.
She’s been acting weird all day, ever since we woke up together, our bodies intertwined, and she turned away instead of kissing me.
But it’s not distance. It can’t be that.
She can’t be doubting.
Can she?
“I know you’ve done a perfect job.”
These past three weeks have been busy, as Julian and I take full control of the company we acquired. It was awkward seeing Logan in a meeting, but if his red face and his stuttering words were anything to go by, he was feeling the awkwardness more than me.
I’ll leave the little shit alone as long as he keeps my woman’s name out of his mouth.