by Emma Nichole
Goosebumps erupt over my skin and tears form in the corners of my eyes. It’s all too much. It’s too many feelings at once. My heart can’t keep up with my mind and my body.
I can feel him still slowly pumping out his release before laying a kiss to my head and dropping his forehead on my shoulder.
“Christ, I’m going to marry you one day,” he says, so nonchalantly, like it wasn’t the most important sentence he’s ever said to me.
I freeze, turning me to head slightly to look at him. “What?”
“I’m going to marry you one day.” He gives me a soft peck on the lips and then leaves my body, readjusting his pants.
“That’s all you have to say? You’re not going to ask or anything?” I tease, righting my own clothes.
“Oh, you don’t have an option. My dog claimed you, so animal kingdom rules apply. You’re mine.” He helps me adjust my breasts back into my top.
“So essentially, you peed on me and that’s that?” I tip my head with a smile.
“I was going to go with a penguin that gives a stone to his lifelong mate, but...”
He drops to one knee in slow motion, and I think I stop breathing when he pulls the most beautiful princess cut diamond ring I’ve ever seen in my life.
“I’ll gladly keep that pee thing in mind. Some people are into that.” He smirks.
“Oh my God. Oh my God.” I cover my mouth in shock.
“Phoenix, my life changed forever the day you walked into it. I knew the minute I laid eyes on you; I was fucked. You became the one I couldn’t shake. The one I didn’t want to shake. From that point on, I only saw you. You changed my life in more ways than I can count. Change it in one more way. Marry me? Please?” Tears begin to pool in his eyes.
I drop to my knees in front of him and tackle him to the floor, laying kisses all over his face.
“Is that a yes? Please tell me that’s a yes, because this is an odd way to tell a guy no,” he asks through laughter.
“It’s a yes. It’s a hell yes. It’s an absolutely. It’s everything.”
We sit up, me across his lap, as he slides the ring onto my left hand.
“No more running, now,” he declares.
“Not a chance. You’re stuck with me forever.” I kiss his lips once more.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The End
Acknowledgments
Where to even begin.
This book was a labor of love for many people.
First and foremost, I want to thank my husband, my two girls, and my fur baby. Your never-ending support of this venture for me does not go unnoticed. You allow me all the space and time I need to make my dreams come true, and I’ll always be forever grateful.
Mary Ruth, thank you for making this cover so fucking BEAUTIFUL! You captured the essence of the series and this couple in a way I couldn’t even imagine. It’s sexy, powerful, romantic, and just so… Case and Nora.
Karen, your honesty, advice, and humor were so needed throughout this process. You have found a forever client and now you’ll never be rid of me and all my ellipsis.
I can’t finish these acknowledgments without thanking my “island-mate” at work, Victoria. You and you alone named this book AND this series. It’s perfectly perfect and I couldn’t be more grateful for you!
To the my Sensational Six – Kristi, Jeanmarie, Jenna, Lucy, Emma, and Crystal – I must say, it’s fucking weird to be releasing without you all! Thank you for your unending stream of advice and guidance. Here’s to the next!
Dani – I truly don’t know if I could have finished this book without you. You cared for these characters as if they were your own and helped me rise up on my toughest days. This is your book just as much as it’s mine.
Amy – Here we are again, taking this step toward our dream together. I love you more than I can ever express with words. Onto the next!
And finally, I want to thank you, the reader. Thank you for taking a chance on me and my characters. I hope you loved them as much as I did.
Also by Emma Nichole
Own the Skies
Sparrow (Book 1)
Falcon (Book 3) – Coming 2020
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Emma Nichole
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