Page 157 of Take My Love

“I guess we like tradition,” she teases. “We can’t break it now. Whose weddin’ is next?”

“Well, I was thinkin’…” My heart rate kicks up as I try to find the courage to say the words I’ve been dying to ask for months. “Maybe we should have one of our own.”

“Our own what?”

“Weddin’.”

She sits up, folding her arms on my chest. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, baby.” I cup her face. “I’m madly in love with you. My heart is addicted to yours. You are my home and it’s my favorite place in the world to be. Marry me and let me cherish you for the rest of our lives.”

Tears well in her eyes as she sucks in her lips. “You wanna marry me?”

“More than anythin’, love.”

A beaming smile splits her face. “Me too. I mean, yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”

Wrapping her into my arms, I kiss her until we’re both breathless.

“Do you wanna see the ring?”

“You have it?”

“Of course. You think I’d come unprepared?”

She giggles and sits up when I move to grab the velvet box out of my bag.

“Here, let me do this the right way.” I quickly pull on my boxer briefs, then get down on one knee.

She’s half-wrapped in a sheet with her legs hanging off the bed, messy hair, and makeup smudged, looking freshly satisfied and more stunning than ever.

As I open the box and reveal the diamond, her mouth pops open, which is just the reaction I was hoping for.

“Oh my God, Silas! It’s stunnin’…” She stares, eyes widening the longer she looks at it.

I take her left hand and slide it over her ring finger. “Perfect fit.”

“Wow…you did so good.” She holds up her hand and waves her fingers around.

“I’m not sure if you can tell, but this style is called a compass solitaire. There’s four prongs placed ’round the oval diamond that represent north, south, east, and west.” I point to each of them. “See?”

“Oh my gosh, you’re right,” she squeals. “You’re unreal.”

“I knew right away—that was the ring worthy of my future wife.”

“I seriously love it so much.” She pulls me in for a kiss. “And that it’s meaningful to both of us makes it extra special.”

“I agree, baby. And it’s engraved, too.” I carefully slide it off and flip it over so she can read it.

To our next greatest adventure.

Tears fill her eyes and spill down her cheeks. “You’re the most thoughtful person I know.”

Moving closer, I kneel between her thighs and cup hercheeks. “You deserve it, my love. I wanna give you everythin’ you want and need for the rest of our lives.”

“You already do,” she chokes out, sliding the ring back on her finger. “How long have you had this?”

“Uh…that’s privileged information.”