Page 59 of Forbidden

He picked up the painting that was leaning against the pillar and held it up. It was similar to the harsh-colored painting but had softer colors. Instead of having two bodies in it, the painting had two hands blending together as one.

“I’ve been working on these for years, but I knew the series didn’t end there. Now I have the ending, and I’m hoping it’s the beginning of our life together.”

He put the painting back against the pillar and started to kneel, but the candles were in the way.

“What are you doing?” I laughed.

“I wanted to kneel for my princess, but I obviously didn’t think this through all the way,” he said with a smirk.

Shane reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. He held it towards me, between his fingers, and smiled. It was a gold ring with a cluster of diamonds that formed a flower. I didn’t know why the ring was familiar.

“I don’t know if you recognize this ring,” he said. “Before we left your dad’s, I asked him for his blessing to marry you. I wanted to make sure he was alright with it. Well, he gave me this ring. He said it belonged to your grandmother.”

I took the ring from him and admired it.

“I remember. She used to wear it all the time. I loved this ring.”

He took the ring from me. “I’m not done.”

“Well, hurry up then.”

He laughed. “This isn’t going how I planned. I had this whole long thing I planned on saying, but fuck it. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Let me think about that…umm yes.”

“You had to think about it?”

“I didn't want it to be too easy,” I said.

“Why not? You are easy, you know.”

“Only with you.”

“Good, that’s the way it should be.”

He laughed and slid the ring onto my finger. I threw myself into his arms and we kissed. I couldn’t wait to begin our life together.

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