Page 107 of While He Breathes

He chuckles and drops his forehead to mine. “Will you marry me, Ember? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I nod before he’s even finished speaking, because there’s no other answer. Orion is everything I never knew I needed, and I’m done denying that.

The ring box pops open, and I gasp when the stone comes into view. The sapphire sitting in a bed of diamonds is the same color as my eyes, and a sob rises up my throat of its own accord.

“I saw this and knew it was perfect for you,” he explains as he plucks it from the cushion and carefully guides it onto my finger.

“I’m covered in blood,” I say, my eyes wide with terror at the idea that such a beautiful ring could get dirty.

Orion chuckles. “The blood of our enemies. Kind of romantic, if you think about it.”

I hit his chest weakly before pressing a kiss to his lips. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”

He groans and tugs me closer. “Don’t say things like that when people are waiting for us and you’ve had a traumatic few days. My dick doesn’t seem to understand it’s not the time for him to celebrate yet.”

The laugh that bubbles in my throat startles me. A few hours ago, I was afraid I would never laugh again, and now here I am in the arms of the man I love with his ring on my finger.

I guess I was fighting for something, after all.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

ORION

Ember is capable of walking, a fact she’s informed me of no less than four times since I lifted her out of the truck and carried her to the elevators, but I don’t care.

I need her in my arms, and she’s going to get used to me working with her in my lap because I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

The doors slide open, and we find Max and Darius waiting for us, both of them wrapping their arms around my girl the second they get close enough.

I try to shove down the possessive part of me that wants to tell them both to fuck off, but he surfaces with a growl that makes all three of them laugh.

Assholes.

Elsie sits on the couch, her legs folded beneath herself, and the second Ember gets a look at her, she shoves against my chest until I let her down.

She flings herself at the other woman, and they cling to one another as their shoulders shake with quiet sobs.

Darius steps in front of me before I even realize my feet are moving, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “Give them a few minutes.”

“But she’s crying,” I argue.

“Ember is going to cry, and you’re not always going to be able to comfort her. Just give them some time.” Max guides me to the kitchen bench and pours me a glass of whiskey. “Drink this. You’re looking a bit…unhinged.”

“He always looks like that when Ember’s involved,” Killian announces as he strolls into the room, but his gaze is locked on the girls talking quietly on the couch.

Max pours him a glass and pushes it across the counter before pouring one for himself and Darius.

I take a long drink of the strong liquor, allowing it to warm me from the inside out, but my attention remains on Ember, making sure she’s okay, reassuring myself that she’s real and that she’s not going anywhere.

Ever.

“That’s a mighty big rock she’s got on her finger,” Darius comments.

“I couldn’t wait,” is all I manage. I should have waited. It would have been the right thing to do, but I’ve never claimed to be a good man.

Killian slaps a hand down on my back. “Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks,” I say as Ember glances over her shoulder at me.