Page 301 of The Curse Trilogy

He rolls his eyes while sitting down at the table, and he lets a smile free as he pats the chair beside him.

“I did, and I still do. I just had this night planned out to be about a little more than sex.”

Aw.

I smile a little bashfully, and I join him at the table to dig into the delicious meal he has planned out.

“Where did you get this?”

“There’s a place here I ate last night when I arrived, and I thought you would love it too.”

“It reminds me of the meal we had when we got engaged,” I murmur through another delicious mouthful.

“I know. That was sort of the reason I thought you would enjoy it,” he says very sweetly.

“You acted like it killed you to have to take me out that night,” I giggle out.

“It did. I had begged you to marry me for over six months and you finally said yes. All I wanted to do stay in and hold you - amongst other things,” he murmurs with a touch of scandalous humor toward the end.

“That was a good night. I was glad we went out because it made the build up all the better,” I seduce, and he takes a deep raspy breath as if I’m starting to get to him again.

“I got some champagne,” he says while coughing to clear his throat, and now I’m wondering why he’s acting so mushy all the sudden.

He pours me a glass, and I smile as I stand up while holding it. He looks at me very seriously as I lower myself to his lap while sipping on the bubbly drink, and he smirks as my lips catch his lightly.

“Where did you get all the roses?” I ask while letting my lips trail down his cheek.

“They have incredible artificial growing rooms here. I told Gabe why I needed them, and he was happy to oblige.”

“I like celebrating,” I murmur while moving to straddle him as my lips continue to explore his neck.

“I can see that,” he snickers out, and I smile against his neck as he pours more of the bubbly deliciousness into my glass.

“I’d like to show you a little better,” I murmur softly as I start undoing the buttons on my shirt.

“Damn. I always forget how incredible it is to be with you,” he sizzles out while pulling my lips to his as he grips my ass, and then he pulls back. “But not yet.”

His secretive smirk intrigues me as he brushes my hair from my face. His hands slide down to rest on my waist, and then he kisses the skin revealed through the small crack I’ve made in the shirt.

“Araya, I know you know how much I love you. I know how severely I’ve fucked up, but I’ve never for one minute not loved you.”

“I know,” I utter while letting my lips close over his.

“Marry me,” he murmurs softly against my lips, and I’m almost stiffened by the suddenness of his request.

I lean back to look into the hybrid blue eyes staring fearlessly into my unguarded violet ones as he waits expectantly for my lips to move. His breaths have stopped, his lips quiver, and I’m almost shaking.

“Marry me,” he utters again, and his lips cover mine as I feel something sliding onto my finger.

I pull back to look down at the finger that holds the new gem, and tears drizzle lightly from my eyes when I see the black diamond with a sparrow etched inside.

“Please say something, baby,” he rattles out nervously.

“Hale… I want to say yes, but-”

His lips cover mine to silence my doubts as he pulls me closer to him. My hands clasp around the back of his neck as I stay astride him, and then he pulls back to brush my hair out from in front of my teary eyes.

“Then say yes. No more secrets, Araya. You know everything. I won’t ever hurt you again. I swear I’ll tell you everything. Please say yes,” he murmurs before his soft lips find mine again.

More tears drip free, and then I tremble as I look at him again.

“Yes,” I choke out, and he smiles salaciously as his lips capture mine with more fervency.

He lifts me up to carry me back to the bedroom, and I cling to him as my tears invade our kiss. He can’t stop smiling, and I’m forced to mimic it to the point we can’t even kiss anymore.

He gently places me on the bed before blowing out the fire hazards beside it, and I smile bigger as his body slides over mine.

Yes.