Page 25 of The Jorogumo (The Sanctuary #2)

Haruto

It was time. Time to put my plan in action and propose to Liam.

The ring was secure in my shirt pocket under a layer of webs so it didn't fall out, and I knew exactly when and where I'd pop the question.

We woke up like usual, and Liam rushed through his morning routine before we went to get an early breakfast so Liam could go to work.

Today, instead of saying goodbye to him at the door, I left the Sanctuary with him.

"I have some errands to run today, thought I'd walk you to work on my way," I explained, and Liam gave me a small, pleased smile as he linked his fingers with mine.

I'd given the location of my proposal a lot of thought, and after Silas told me Liam wanted to get married at the Sanctuary, I'd known there was only one place I could pop the question: the place where we first met and spent so many days getting to know each other. The place where I revealed my true self to Liam and he didn't freak out.

"What? You're going to walk me into the shop?" Liam asked, amusement lacing his tone as he unlocked the door, and I shrugged.

"Can't I come inside and kiss my mate goodbye?" I asked, and he smiled, his cheeks going slightly pink as he held the door open for me.

After he'd closed the door—the closed sign still up since he had to get everything set up first—I took his hand and pulled him into the shelves, stopping where he'd almost fallen that day.

Liam gave me a curious look, eyeing the shelves. "Are you looking for a comic?"

I shook my head, and I knew I had the softest fucking smile on my face. "I already found what I was looking for."

Liam's brows furrowed, and before he could ask me what I meant, I went on one knee—yes, I'd decided to propose in my human form so I could go down on one knee for him, like a proper, human proposal—taking the ring from my pocket and holding it out in my palm.

"Liam, I had this big speech planned about how wonderfully sweet, kind, and amazing you are, and while you're all those things, what matters is that I would like to spend my whole life showing you just how much you mean to me instead. I want to love you every single day, for as long as I'm alive. Will you be mine forever? Will you marry me?"

Liam's eyes were bright with tears, and he had to swallow twice before he could speak, but I waited patiently. Like one of my favorite superheroes said in a very different scenario, I can do this all day .

"The moment I let my guard down," he grumbled tearfully, rubbing at his eyes. "Of course I'll marry you, Haruto. I love you so damned much."

Smiling widely, I took his hand in mine, sliding the simple platinum band—that wasn't so simple—on his ring finger.

Getting to my feet, I pulled him into a kiss, and he kissed back enthusiastically, pressing his body against mine. Now that it was done, I realized the error of my plan. All I wanted to do was get him naked and feast on him, to start fulfilling the promise I'd just made, but he had a shop to run.

Reluctantly, I pulled back, holding his hands in mine. "You have to work."

Liam sighed mournfully as he nodded. "Tonight, though."

"Tonight," I promised, and he smiled softly, leaning forward to kiss me again.

When he pulled back, I glanced down at the ring on his finger, then remembered what Draven had said.

"Oh, I should tell you something about the ring."

He glanced down at it, admiring it in the low light coming through the front—I hadn't given him a chance to turn on the lights before I dragged him back here—before looking up at me curiously. "What about it?"

"Well, Draven made it, and he put a little magic in it. It'll help the headmaster find you if you're ever in trouble, since I don't have that kind of power."

Liam blinked at me, then at his ring, and I couldn't quite tell what he was thinking.

"I know you can take care of yourself, but the world isn't safe. There are other supes out there who aren't as friendly, and I just—I want you to always be protected."

Liam was quiet for another moment. Then he threw his arms around me in a tight hug, clinging to me like he never wanted to let go.

"Thank you," he mumbled into the side of my neck. "Thank you for wanting me, for loving me, for protecting me."

I hugged him back, careful as always not to hug too tightly so I didn't hurt him.

After we met, it hadn't taken me long to realize that inside that big, strong body was a sweet, gentle man who yearned for someone to take care of him. I wanted to do just that, and for the rest of our lives.

"I will always keep you safe, love. Always."

Liam gave me another squeeze, then pulled back, his eyes shining but lips spread in a wide smile. "I love you so much."

"I love you too. Now, even though I want to stay right here, I'm going to leave so you can open the store."

Liam sighed, then nodded in acceptance. "We'll celebrate tonight?"

"Oh, yes we will."

Liam gave a little shiver at the promise in my tone, and I smiled all the way home.

Liam

I was buzzing with anticipation the whole time we ate dinner, and afterward when we had to stay so I could recount the proposal for our friends. They'd known Haruto was going to propose today, and while he'd originally intended to invite our friends to be there when he did, he'd decided not to at the last moment, wanting to make it private .

Our friends understood, of course, which was why I didn't mind telling them everything even though I'd really been hoping to be at our place and naked by now.

When we finally got home, I made Haruto wait as I dug around in one of my shelves.

When Haruto had told me he'd propose at some point, I'd decided it would only be fair to get him a ring too. Of course, I'd asked Draven to make it as well, and the smart dwarf made them in a pair without telling either of us that the other had also commissioned one.

"Liam?" Haruto called out from below—yes, I'd learned how to maneuver around his webbed platforms on my own, though it'd taken practice and some crawling on all fours—and I crowed in victory when I found what I was looking for.

"Coming!"

"Not yet," he threw back instantly, making me laugh.

When I reached solid ground again, I stood in front of him, then took his left hand in mine and slid the ring on his finger.

He glanced down in surprise, his eyes snapping from his ring to mine, as if he thought I might've slipped mine on his finger.

"What?"

"I asked Draven to make one for you too," I said with a sheepish shrug, and Haruto smiled softly as he brushed his thumb over the ring.

"Thank you," he murmured, and I nodded.

"Now, I want you to get naked and lie down on the hammock, arms and legs stretched out on either side of you."

Oh, fuck yes . I scrambled to follow his order, throwing my clothes this way and that with no care where they landed.

Lying down on the hammock spread out like a starfish, I didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable or insecure. Haruto had spent hours showing me exactly how much he loved my body, and I had no reason to be embarrassed by it anymore.

Hell, I didn't even wish I was smaller or daintier like I used to, because Haruto loved me just the way I was, and he still saw my gentler side. He'd never tried to put me in a box or stick labels on me.

I shifted as I got comfortable, and my ring glinted in the light, making me smile. I couldn't wait to marry Haruto in front of the family we'd built together.

That night, as Haruto kissed me, licked me, bit me, touched me, and made sweet, crazy love to me—because he might not experience it in the same way, but that was exactly what he was doing, what we were doing—I felt his love and adoration in every touch, every brush of skin against skin.

I felt treasured, worshiped, adored in a way I had never been by anyone else. Haruto's love for me was one of the strongest feelings I'd ever experienced, second only to the love I felt for him.

Afterward, we curled up under the covers, pressed firmly against each other as we breathed the same air, our hands clasped together between us, twin rings gleaming on our fingers.

"I wonder if Draven put some magic on your ring too. I didn't ask him to, but he might've anyway."

Haruto kissed the top of my head, then smiled at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "We can ask him later, if you want."

I nodded, sighing happily as I let my eyes fall shut. "I love you. I'm really excited to marry you."

"Me too, and I love you as well."

"Silas said he and Touya would like to plan and organize the wedding. "

"Well, Silas is good at building things, and Touya is good at planning, so that's a good idea."

"Hmm... I'll tell them tomorrow. When do you want to get married?"

Sleep tugged at me, but I wanted to hear his answer, so I forced myself to stay awake, blinking blearily at his chest.

"As soon as possible," he answered in a confident voice, and I smiled, utterly delighted.

"Perfect. We can get married tomorrow."

"If that's what you want," Haruto agreed easily, and I snorted.

No way would Silas and Touya allow us to rush the wedding, but it was nice to know Haruto wouldn't have minded if we did.

"Nah, we'll do it properly. But I gotta sleep first."

Haruto chuckled, making his chest vibrate against our clasped hands.

I smiled as I let my eyes fall shut, making a happy sound when Haruto kissed my head.

"Sleep well, my sweet mate."

I was so looking forward to doing this for the rest of our lives.