Page 56 of Claimed Gem
“She might have something to say about that,” Nicolai warned him.
“Well, if she does then of course, I’ll adjust. But I know Stephanie and I think she’ll be ecstatic to get married in short order.”
“Well, good luck and let us know how it goes,” Damon said, biting back more commentary with visible effort. “We’ll plan on flying over on Friday.”
“Good. I’ll see you then.”
Ries disconnected the call and then stared at the ring. It wasn’t the biggest diamond he’d been able to find, nor was it flashy and full of extra diamonds and bling. It was a simple solitaire - princess cut - that sparkled in the sunlight. Just like Stephanie.
He tucked it away in his pocket and then went to make sure everything else was prepared for their afternoon at the beach. He’d already had the security men make sure there wouldn’t be anyone offshore that might be able to photograph them, since the stretch of beach attached to the villa was a private one.
He didn’t have to worry about sharing this special moment with anyone but the love of his life.
Four hours later…
“Stephanie, you’re going to get burned if you stay in the water any longer,” Ries told her.
He was used to the Grecian sun, but Stephanie’s fair skin tended to burn unless she reapplied sunscreen every hour. It was already turning a faint pink and when she didn’t immediately stop looking for shells, he took matters into his own hands.
He swept her up into his arms, twirling them around, and carried her up to the blanket and large umbrella that had been set up for their picnic. He set her down and then handed her a towel for her hair.
“I love this place,” she told him as she dried her hair with the towel and then finger combed it into some sort of order. “Thank you for bringing me here today. I enjoy going to the beach with Gemma and the other women, but I’d much prefer to come to the beach with you.”
Ries smiled at her, enjoying the sight of her in the deep red bikini. The two triangles of fabric that made up the top, barely covered her ample breasts, and Ries knew from experience that a simple tug on the strings at her neck and across her back would have it falling off to reveal the treasures beneath.
The bikini bottom was a glorified thong that rode low on her hips and barely covered up things only his eyes should see. She was a goddess of perfection, even though she still didn’t think of herself in those terms. Ries was working on that.
“Phew! It’s hot today.”
“Yes, but not as hot as you are,” he teased her, trying to allay his nerves now that the moment was upon him. He reached into the pocket of his swim shorts, making sure he had the ring box, and then reached for her hand. “Take a walk with me.”
“Sure.” She held his hand and they began to walk toward the far end of the beach. There was a small cove at the end of the beach and Ries led her there and then pulled her up onto the rocksalongside him.
Stephanie was delighted with the view. “Why haven’t we come here before? This is going to become my new favorite place.”
“I hope for more than one reason,” Ries told her, getting down on one knee and then pulling her hand so that she would turn and see him.
He watched her eyes go wide as she began to suspect what was happening, and Ries knew he’d never seen anything so beautiful as Stephanie, with the wind blowing in her hair, the sun shining overhead, the turquoise sea behind her and fluffy white clouds on a blanket of blue sky above.
“Theé, eísai ómorfi.”Ries pulled the jeweler’s box from his pocket and held it out to her.
“Stephanie Harris, you are the light in the dark that points me in the right direction. Because of you, I’m becoming a man I can look in the mirror and be proud of. You have changed me for the better, and I can’t imagine this world without you in it.”
He opened the box and then met her eyes, hoping she could see the love he had for her in his gaze. “I love you, and I want to wake up next to you each and every morning for the rest of our lives. Will you do me the honor of agreeing to be my wife?”
Stephanie was crying by this time and she knelt in front of him, nodding her head as he pulled the ring from the velvet lining and slid it onto her finger. She threw herself in his arms then, almost knocking them both off of the rock, but Ries steadied them and hugged her close before kissing her passionately.
Ries got to his feet and helped her down off the rock. Once they were back on the white sand beach, he swept her up into his arms and carried her back toward the blanket, kissing her the entire way. He set her down on the blanket, but when she tried to pull him down to the blanket, her intentions obvious, Ries shook his head and backed away.
“No, I want us to wait.”
“Wait?” Stephanie asked, looking at him curiously.
“Call me old-fashioned, but I want us to wait so that our wedding night is one we will never, ever forget.”
“Okay,” she agreed with him and Ries could tell she was very puzzled by his request.
“How about we go for another swim?” he suggested, not wanting to test his resolve by remaining within easy touching distance of her delectable body.