Page 143 of Romancing His Heart

“You see, Sloane. When you enter this family, it’s not just me you’re getting, but a whole family. You got a small taste of that when Emory married Preston, but now it’s your turn to get the full effect.”

Dexter steps forward, shakes his head, and mumbles, “Blue balls feel like when you stub your toe. It throbs and is painful, but you know if you can survive it, it will eventually end.”

He falls back into line as Trevor steps forward. “Blue balls feel like pressure. Pressure without relief.”

Preston is up next. “Blue balls feel like a dull, constant pain. Never enough to cause permanent damage, but enough to drive you insane.”

Easton doesn’t step forward but growls his displeasure. “I cannot believe I had to come from Vermont to fucking do this. Blue balls feel like having to sneeze but can’t.”

“That’s oddly, a very accurate depiction,” Loki murmurs next to my ear. He runs his finger up and down my spine as each of the guys reads their cards. I’m so lost in the sensations Loki is causing I miss the rest.

When Luca lowers his card, Loki turns me in his arms.

“I love you, Sloane. My Red, my runner. I want you with me always. I want to be the hero you write about. I want to show you for the rest of my life that you are the only heroine for me. I want the happily ever after with you.”

He turns me in place just in time to see the guys rip their shirts over their heads. Each man has a letter on his chest, and it spells out,will you. Butterflies spasm in my stomach as sweat rolls down my back.

Holy shit.

I don’t know if I should laugh or not. Then Loki counts to three, and all the guys spin in place. On their backs, they have letters that saymarry me?Luca’s back holds the question mark, and he wiggles in place, making it dance.

Tears form, and then I get the shock of a lifetime. The guys tug at the front of their pants, and they rip away from their bodies in one fell swoop.Sloane!Is printed on the asses of their boxer briefs. Laughter explodes from my body. I laugh so hard, my legs threaten to give out, and tears stream down my face. Glancing around, I see all my sisters and friends are snapping pictures and laughing, too.

“So, what do you say, Red? Is this proposal better than the one in the hospital bed?”

Turning, I see Loki down on one knee, holding the biggest ring I’ve ever seen. It sparkles in the sunlight, shooting rainbows onto his face.

“I think I told you recently what my intentions were, Sloane. I meant every word. I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you. You are my life, my love, my world. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

A strangled sound escapes my throat, and we stare at each other in shock.

“Was that a yes?” he asks hesitantly.

I open my mouth, but only air comes out in an undignified wheeze. I see the flash of panic cross his face, and I do the only thing I can when he renders me stupid. I nod my head like a maniac and wave my hand in front of his face.

When he reaches for me, my heart calms, and I’m finally able to choke out a verbal, “Yes, Loki. Always, yes.”

He lunges and draws me to his side. His lips devour me, and I know I’m home. It isn’t long before our family and friends surround us. Their incessant chatter is interrupting our moment in the best possible way.

This is what a family should look like—family by blood and family by choice. All connected in the ways of the heart.