Page 269 of Corrupting Camille

Just like us.

I lift trembling fingers to my lips, unable to speak.

“It was my grandmother’s,” he says softly, eyes watching me closely, expression guarded but vulnerable beneath the surface. “My father kept it hidden, untouched for years. He never thought it would belong to anyone again.”

Emotion tightens his voice.

“It belongs to you now, Camille.”

I look at him, this powerful, violent, ruthless man, kneeling in front of me, offering the one thing he never thought he’d surrender: his future, his history, his entire heart.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper shakily.

He carefully takes the ring, sliding it gently onto my finger. A perfect fit. Heavy, warm, grounding.

He kisses my knuckles softly. “Eres todo para mí, mi cielo.”

You’re everything to me, my heaven.

I hold his gaze, tears blurring my vision as I lean forward, cupping his jaw in my palm, brushing my lips gently over his.

“Te amo,” I whisper. “Forever.”

His mouth curls into a slow, rare smile, as brilliant and devastating as sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

“Forever, Camille.”

***

We find Lena lounging dramatically by the pool, huge sunglasses on her face, cocktail in hand, legs stretched out on a pool chair like royalty. When she sees us approaching, she peers over the rim of her sunglasses, immediately suspicious.

“You two look annoyingly well-sexed,” she declares loudly. “Can you tone it down? Some of us are still tragically single and violently jealous.”

I laugh softly, holding up my left hand.

For once, Lena is speechless.

Her sunglasses slide slowly down her nose. Her mouth drops open dramatically, cocktail dangerously tilting in her hand.

“Oh my fucking God,” she whispers.

Then louder: “OH MY FUCKING GOD.”

Kane’s eyebrow twitches slightly, amusement flickering beneath his usual hard stare.

“Is that an engagement ring? Did Miami’s hottest morally questionable power couple just go nuclear-official?” Lena scrambles out of the chair, nearly faceplanting, before rushing toward me and grabbing my wrist, practically shoving the ring to her nose. “Holy shit, Camille! He really locked you down with a rock that could finance a small coup.”

“Actually,” Kane drawls softly, “it probably has.”

Lena stares at him. “Was that…did you just joke?”

“Careful,” he replies evenly. “I’ll deny it.”

She barks out a laugh, turning back to me. “Bitch, you did it. You domesticated the scariest man I’ve ever seen in my life. Where’s the fucking champagne?”

“You’re already drinking a cocktail,” I say, laughing.

“Yes, but this is a champagne-level situation.” Lena turns dramatically, shouting toward the kitchen, “JAVI! Your overlord knocked up and proposed to my best friend. Bring me bubbles before I faint dramatically into the pool!”