Page 112 of Royal

I stilled, not believing I’d heard him right. I faced him and searched his face. Chocolate brown eyes stared back at me. The walls that used to keep me at a distance had been torn down. His expression was honest. Open.

“Are you sure?”

A shy smile touched Grayson’s lips. “I know it’s not a grand proposal or anything, but it felt right.Youfeel right, Royal.”

“I thought you didn’t want to get married.”

“I wasn’t ready back then.” He placed an arm on each side of my head, backing me against the wall. Water streamed down his body, wetting his dark hair and dripping from the tip of his nose. “But I am now. We’ve been through hell and back, but we found our way back to each other. I want to spend every day making up for the days we lost. No one understands me like you do. And no one makes my heart sing like you.”

“What song does it sing?” I asked, smiling up at him.

A crinkle formed in his brow before he smirked. “Ice, Ice Baby.”

I snorted a laugh, a laugh he broke off by kissing me.

Moaning, I gripped his shoulders as he devoured my mouth. He rolled his hips forward, grinding our erect cocks together. I couldn’t get enough of Grayson. Our heated kiss set my whole body on fire.

“Yes,” I gasped, ripping my mouth from his.

His lids were heavy as he looked at me, lust and love both lighting his eyes. He panted, holding my waist tighter. “Yes, what?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Grayson was silent for a moment. His dark lashes were wet, and I couldn’t tell if it was from the shower, or because my big, grumpy bear was tearing up. He buried his face in the crease of my neck and held me as close as he could.

Love was unpredictable. Sometimes, painful. But the pain meant it was real. Grayson and I had both hurt each other over the years. Heartache, loss, love, and forgiveness—we’d gone through all the motions, coming out on the other side stronger than ever.

Sometimes, love—just like the handsome, hard-around-the-edges man in my arms—was gritty and raw. All-consuming.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

The End