It wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be, and her heart lightened. She could do this. “You won’t turn into a jerk in a year?”
He grinned. “If I do, for some reason, turn into a jerk, you have my permission to throttle me.”
She chuckled and buried her face against his neck and breathed him in. “What’s next, then?”
He rubbed her back and didn’t speak for a long time. So long she got worried and scooted back to see his face. His brow was furrowed.
“Dante? What do we do next? You and me? Date? Move in together? What do vampires do with their human...”
“Lovers,” he finished. “We do the same as human couples. We move in together, get married... But I cannot have children.”
“It’s okay. I don’t really have that biological clock urge a lot of women my age have. Do you really want to marry me?”
His frown smoothed out, and a grin took its place. Then he pulled away and rolled to the side of the bed. She admired his bare ass as he leaned over the edge, reaching for something.
Unable to stop herself, she bent and nipped his butt cheek.
“Hey,” he barked around a laugh. When he rolled back next to her, he held a black, velvet jewelry box in his hand. He kissed her hard then looked into her eyes. “Yes, I want to marry you. I want the world to know you are mine, and I am yours.” He lifted the box and flicked it open with his thumb. “I bought this yesterday because it matches your earrings and necklace. I wanted it to be an engagement ring, but I didn’t believe it would ever happen.”
Wendy’s heart stalled as she stared at the gorgeous ring, the sparkling diamond. Then she looked up into his eyes, and the image of him blurred as tears swam in her eyes.
“Fuck, Wendy. Don’t cry.” He wrapped his arms around her and cradled her against his chest. “Don’t cry.”
She sniffled. “Did you just propose to me?”
“Yes, love. But if it’s too soon—”
“Yes! Yes. The answer’s yes.” She kissed his neck, his chin, and finally, his lips. “Yes.”
He rolled her onto her back and straddled her thighs. “Yes?” he asked when he pulled away from her mouth.
She nodded. “I want to spend forever with you, Dante. And I want it to start right now.”
He lowered his head to her, pressed his lips to hers in that sweet, tender way that made her ache for more yet cherish the simple, elegant touch.
“Yes,” he whispered. And she knew that one word was his promise of forever.
The End
Author Bio
Anna Leigh has been reading and penning romance for as long as she can remember. After she met and married her very own real-life hero, romance took on a whole new meaning. She now knows married life can sizzle and romance can be erotic—even in her own home. Now her writing has taken on a spicier flavor and, while hubby’s off at work, she lets her imagination soar….
Anna loves to hear from her readers. You can visit her website at www.annaleighkeaton.com for all her upcoming and previously published works, and meet her alter ego at www.leannekarella.com.
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