Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
I knew I’d promised him that he could handle whatever symbol we would wear for each other, and I wasn’t sure I could keep my word. It didn’t have to be now; it could be in a few weeks or several months, but one of these days, I wanted something like that. Like a ring or—
“We should be engaged,” I blurted out as I thought of it. “The law can’t stop us there.”
Apparently that wasn’t a romantic idea, because Lucian frowned at me.
Fuck.
I shifted in my seat and rubbed the back of my neck.
“Maybe not should…” I muttered. “We could. It was just an idea. I’d obviously run it by Cam first.”
“Just an idea,” he grumbled under his breath. He put out his smoke in an old cup, then stood up. “Wait here. Motherfucker.”
What the fuck?
What’d happened? He’d just left me out here? And called me a motherfucker.
Thanks, asshole.
Romance in a traditional sense wasn’t really my jam. I was way more creative for a mindfuck scene or a punishment, but that didn’t mean I didn’t like it. So…couldn’t we go with, it’s the thought that counts?
The door opened again, and Lucian was back.
“What—”
“Oh, shut up,” he said. “You ruined a perfectly lovely occasion, but…” He sighed and walked over to me. “I suppose it’s one of the reasons I love you. Because around you, I can’t predict a damn thing.” He sat down next to me again and moved the chair to face me better. “When we get to the private island on Thursday, we’re still going to enjoy our day in a cabana while the boys go snorkeling with Colt, Ash, and Kit. What won’t happen…is me going down on one knee and asking you to be engaged to me for the rest of our lives.”
Fuck me.
He opened his hand to reveal… I had to lean closer, because it was dark—holy fuck. Two rings.
“You’re going to have to suffer my traditionalist ways, I’m afraid.” He gathered my left hand in both his and kissed my knuckles. I felt myself grin, and I couldn’t fucking believe him. He’d planned this for Thursday? And I’d clumsily wrecked it. “KC Hayles, my infuriating best friend, my family, and my love—will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
Fucking hell, he knew how to shatter me in the best ways.
I exhaled a laugh and felt new emotions stir in my chest, expanding with each breath. “You fucking know I will, baby.” I leaned forward and kissed him hard, needing it. Needing the closeness. “For the record, I love your traditionalist ways. Sometimes. Now, anyway.”
“Yeah? Good.” He smiled and showed me the ring. “Perhaps this was the perfect route if we consider your nightmare.”
I felt my forehead crease. “I wouldn’t call this a nightmare.”
He chuckled. “Right, but you’ve told me the memory you relive—and I remember what I told you that day.”
I was still confused, so he told me to read the inscription.
“I’ll turn on the lights,” he said. “Hold, please.”
He went over to the door and opened it enough to reach the switch inside, and then I could suddenly see.
My stare immediately fell on the cursive words that glinted on the inside of the ring.
Always by your side, my love.
A breath gusted out of me, and I had to swallow.
Yeah. This was the perfect way.
“I took the liberty of adding the same inscription to mine,” he admitted. “But I have a soft spot for when you call me baby, so I used that instead.”
He was fucking incredible. I had no words. Instead, I slipped the ring on my finger, made sure he got on his too, and then I kissed the fuck out of him.
“I love you.” I felt his vacation stubble under my fingertips and deepened the kiss.
I love you so much. You’re perfect.
“I love you too.” His hands roamed my arms, then up my shoulders and to the back of my neck. “I will always need you, KC.”
I nodded. “Me too, baby.” I swept my tongue around his and inhaled deeply through my nose, tasting mint, Sprite, and smoke. It made me grin a little, because it fit the hour. His not-so-secret indulgence, my botched attempt at romance, us cursing each other out once or twice, and then a proposal.
It couldn’t have been better.
I slowed down the kiss and rested my forehead against his, and we opened our eyes at the same time.
I smiled and brushed my thumbs across his cheeks.
He smiled back.
“Woo-hooo! Faster, Daddy! Faster!” Noa shouted.
I laughed and made a swift turn, sending a spray of water over Colt and Kit’s Jet-Ski, and then I was off again. Adrenaline pumping, sun shining, and Noa hugging my middle as tightly as he could. He laughed so hard.
“Lock the target, Daddy!” I heard Kit yell behind us. “Catch them!”
“It’s a Jet-Ski, not a fighter jet, baby!” Colt shot back, the sore loser.