by R. G. Angel
I shook my head. “Nope. I won't lie though, I’m a little hurt to know what lengths you’re willing to go to just to stop me from driving.”
“Antoine…” He sighed. “You’re a piss poor driver.”
“I’ll be super careful, I swear!" It was true I didn't have the perfect track record and I still had a few issues like which side of the road I was supposed to drive on, but I was always so careful when he was in the car. “I love you too much to risk a hair on your head.”
“Umph…” But he relaxed on his seat.
I drove for twenty minutes. I tried to concentrate fully on the road, but my thoughts kept drifting over the last eighteen months.
After the exposition, I'd moved in with Grayson a week later.
I'd managed to transfer to Oxford for the end of my degree. We'd rented an apartment together there. It had been a little weird at first as, despite my insane trust fund, Grayson had wanted us to live ‘normally.’ Willing to do anything for him, I'd found a job at the local gallery while I studied. Grayson had continued to sell his work while also working as a teaching assistant.
We travelled like normal people now, going to Sicily for a food tour, flying first class instead of on a private jet. But I enjoyed this normality. I enjoyed buying my clothes retail instead of having them custom made by the designer of my liking. Grayson kept telling me that Gucci retail was still Gucci and that first class was still not how ‘normal people’ did it, but for me, it was as ‘normal’ as I was ready to get.
I loved our lives immensely. We just needed to take it to the next level now.
“Do you even know where you're going? It’s dark outside. Do you want me to take over?”
I rolled my eyes. Damn, he was such a man - Oh, the irony.
“No, we’re almost there,” I replied, taking the turn to our destination.
I looked around. The fairy lights were up. The fake candles were illuminating the path to the door. The trees were also decorated. T and the team had really outdone themselves.
Pulling to a stop, I met Taylor's eyes. She was smiling with both hands over her heart, her eyes filled with tears.
She was deliriously happy for Gray and I and about what I was about to do. She was my age, but she was the maternal figure in my life.
She gave me a thumbs up before disappearing around the back towards the studio I'd had built in the garden.
“Just another minute, Gray.” My voice cracked with emotion.
“Antoine?” He frowned. “Are you okay, my love?”
“I will be,” I replied, getting out of the car and jogging to his side.
I opened the door, unbuckled his seatbelt, and took his hand. “Come with me.”
I took a couple of steps toward the house before letting go of his hand. “You can remove the blindfold now.”
Grayson took it off and gasped as he looked up at the three story, Tudor-style house I knew he loved.
“Antoine, what - What?” He shook his head and looked at me with confusion.
Smiling at him, I grabbed his hand again. “It’s the next step.” I kissed his hand before entwining our fingers and turning to look at the house.
“Everytime we drive to your parents, you look at this house and tell me how much you love it, how this house would be perfect for building a family.” I shrugged. “So I came here with T eight months ago and asked them to give me a call if they ever wanted to sell.” I squeezed his hand. “They called me seven weeks ago.”
Grayson looked at me, visibly stunned. “You bought a house?”
“I bought us a home.”
“I...wow."
“There’s more.” I nudged him forward. “Come with me.”
I gave him a tour, starting in a huge kitchen where he could exploit his full talent. Then going into the dining room, living room, and my office. Upstairs to four extra bedrooms, and then up again to the master bedroom, complete with an ensuite and walk-in closet.
Grayson pointed at the easel facing the wall in the bedroom.
“What is that?” His voice was lower than usual. He was just as overcome by emotion as I was.
“Ah, yes, you know how you made a painting of me? A painting that means so much to the both of us?”
“Yeah…” He trailed off, not knowing where I was going with this.
I shrugged. “I tried too.” I let go of his hand. “Let me show you.”
I walked to the easel and turned it around. “What do you think, Gray? Do you love it?”
He looked at it, his eyes steaming up, his mouth slightly open.
The canvas was blank except for some words, written in purple paint. ‘Grayson Clay, Will you marry me?’
He was frozen, his eyes not moving from the canvas.
“Gray?”
He blinked a few times before turning toward me. “You want to marry me?”
“Of course I do. You said, one day you wanted it all, and I want that with you.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a titanium band surrounded by black diamonds. “I had it custom made by Taylor’s dad. This is not our wedding band; this is my commitment to you. I showed him my hand. I was already wearing the same ring.
“There is a quote on it,” I continued as I walked closer, showing him the inside edge. “Da mihi basia Mille.”
“Kiss me with a thousand kisses,” he whispered, still keeping his eyes on the ring in the palm of my hand.
I arched my eyebrows in surprise.
He gave me a half smile. “You can thank private schools for my Latin.”
“Your kisses bring me home, Gray. Wherever we are, however I feel, your kisses always make me feel safe and loved. With every kiss you give me, I give you a little more of my heart. I love you. Please paint the future with me. Let's get married, build our family, and adopt a little boy or girl or both.” I shrugged. “Even a dog. I want it all with you.”
“I want it too.”
“Does that mean -”
He nodded and I slid the ring onto his right hand instead of the left. That one would soon be occupied by our wedding ring.
He grabbed my face in his hands. “Yes, Antoine St-Vincent. A million times yes. I’ll marry you.” He kissed me and what had started off as sweet quickly turned heavy as his tongue invaded my mouth with one goal - to conquer.
He broke the kiss, letting his lips trail down the side of my neck as his hand snuck under my shirt.
“They don’t live here anymore, right?” he whispered against my jaw, nipping it gently. “How about we celebrate our engagement right now in this bed?” He licked my bottom lip.
I growled. Fuck, I hated my idea now. I wanted nothing more than to bend him over the bed and slide into him, my fiancé, my soulmate, and show him, as I always did, how I loved to worship him.
“In a minute,” I croaked, stopping him from unzipping my pants. “I’ve got one more thing to show you.”
He took a step back and frowned. His face flushed with arousal. His eyes grew steely with desire. He was so gorgeous.
“You want to stop? I think that's the first time you've ever said no to sex.”
I looked heavenward. "Lord knows I didn't want to, but you’ll understand in a minute."
I took his hand and kissed our engagement ring. “Come.”
Walking into the huge garden, I pointed at the back.
“You stopped a guarantee of hot, sweaty sex to show me a shed?”
I chuckled. “You’ll regret saying that in a minute. It’s not just a shed; it’s your art studio.”
He sighed. “Fine, let's see what can top shagging me senseless,” he added as we reached the door.
I groaned, shaking my head. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
I opened the door, and as Grayson stepped inside, the light turned on and our friends shouted, "Congratulations!"
Grayson looked around with wide eyes, realizing what his parents and sister had just heard. When he looked back at me, I shrugged with a sheepish smile.
&
nbsp; He sighed and wrapped an arm around me. “I’m too happy to care.”
I looked around, seeing that T really had outdone herself. There was a banner that read, ‘Congratulations Future Mr. & Mr.’, a buffet on the side, complete with drinks, and balloons. And all the people that mattered to us stood in the center. Caleb and Esme had flown in yesterday. Grayson’s parents and sister, as well as a couple of close friends we’d made here in Oxford were all in attendance too.
Grayson’s parents came up and gave us a hug.
“We’ll pretend we didn’t hear anything,” his mother whispered in my ear. “But I'm pleased to know you’re keeping my son satisfied.”
I winked at her with a little smile. “Your son's satisfaction is and always will be my priority.”
“Oh, for the love of God, you two!” Grayson rolled his eyes.
I chuckled. “I’ll leave you two for a minute.” I ran my hand up and down Grayson’s back. "I’ll be right back.”
Catching Taylor's eye, I heard straight for her. Smiling, she hugged me so tightly, she cut off my air influx.
“Can’t breathe, T.”
“I’m so happy for you two. So happy!” She let go and clapped her hands. “Oh, we have a wedding to plan!” She turned toward Esme. “We have so much work to do.”
“Thank you for coming,” I said to Esme and Caleb. I knew they were crazy busy with school and the company. The fact that they had made it meant a lot to me.
Esme smiled back as Taylor started to pull her away. “I’m so happy to be here for you and Grayson. Archie is sorry, but he had exams today.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll come visit soon.”
“You’re coming over next month anyway, right?” Caleb asked once Taylor had successfully pulled Esme away to the buffet.
I looked at Grayson. He was laughing with his parents.
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s the annual shareholders meeting, Antoine. You’re the heir. You have to.”
I sighed, keeping my eyes on my future husband. He looked at me and winked.
Caleb had threatened my father in ways I didn't know or wanted to know, so in appearance we were still a family. I was still the heir, but in truth we didn’t talk. I’d not spoken to him nor my grand-mère in eighteen months, and I didn’t miss them at all.
My mother had called me a few times, but the fact that she had wanted a secret relationship had left me with a bad taste in the mouth, so I avoided her as well.
“You need to learn about the company, Antoine.”
I shook my head. “I’ll come and bring my fiancé with me, but learning about the company?” I shrugged. “I don’t want it, any of it. I need to step away from this legacy.”
“What are you saying?”
“As soon as it’s mine, I’m selling.”
“I want the first offer.”
I laughed. Caleb always had his mind on business.
I nodded. “It’s yours.” I sighed as Grayson made his way toward us. “Thank you for coming.”
Caleb nodded sharply. “I might not show it, but you’re my friend. I care.”
Grayson grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it.
“I’m glad you came,” he said to Caleb. “Antoine needs his friends.”
I leaned into him.
Caleb patted Grayson’s shoulder. “He’s a good one. Treat him well.”
“I will, I promise.”
I looked up and met his lips for a quick kiss. It felt good to be real, to be myself in front of the people that mattered.
“Do you think it’s okay if we disappear now?” Grayson whispered in my ear. “I’m still up for the shagging session.”
“Me too. I think we've been polite enough. Let’s go now.”
Laughing, we sneaked out and ran back to the house hand in hand, ready to start the rest of our lives together, and I couldn’t have been happier.
Truth had been the prize of love and I’d been happy to pay for it.
The end…for now.
The Patricians series continues with the final book Bittersweet Love (Archie/Taylor’s story) coming your way early 2021! Follow me on facebook or join my newsletter for more details.
About Me
I’m a trained lawyer, world traveller, coffee addict, cheese aficionado, avid book reviewer and blogger.
I consider myself as an ‘Eclectic romantic’ as I love to devour every type of romance and I want to write romance in every sub-genre I can think of.
When I’m not busy doing all my lawyerly mayhem, and because I’m living in rainy (yet beautiful) Britain, I mostly enjoy indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with my crazy puppies and writing stories I hope will make you dream and will bring you as much joy as I had writing them.
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Keep calm and read on!
R.G. Angel
Also By R.G. Angel
The Patricians series
Bittersweet Legacy
Bittersweet Revenge
Bittersweet Truth
Bittersweet Love (Coming in early 2021)
Standalones
Lovable
The Tragedy of Us
The Bargain (Coming in November 2020)
