Page 63 of Kidnapped Forced Mate

Olivia shrugs, a smile growing on her lips. “I’ve been inspired,” she muses, taking my hand as I lead her to the balcony. With her toolbox clutched under one arm, she hops into my arms just as my wings protrude from behind my shoulder blades. I carry us over to the mountaintop, where a blanket is spread out with treats under candlelight.

Olivia gasps when she sees the setup –courtesy of my plan-making skills – and stares at me wide-eyed.

“You did all of this?” she marvels as she steps onto the rocks, allowing me to retract my wings and join her on the blanket.

“Yes,” I say boldly, taking the hand she offers out to me.

“Wow, Stryder Vulkan, you’ve really outdone yourself this time.”

I remain quiet as I kneel on the blanket while Olivia helps herself with the treats and removes the painting from her bag. On the other hand, I lug deep breaths to compose myself and prepare myself for what I’ve been hoping to do tonight.

When I finally muster enough courage, I remove the box hidden in my back pocket. Olivia turns with the painting of me just as I hold up a diamond ring in front of her.

“What?!” she exclaims, the painting slipping from her fingers and floating onto her lap. She meets my eyes with confusion in hers, her fingers trembling when she covers her mouth in shock.

Her reaction is everything I was hoping it would be, and I inwardly thank my older brothers for their advice. For months, I’d been scratching my head for ways I could make up for the past because that’s exactly what I promised Olivia. But she’s a simple woman, and the smallest things make her smile.

I needed to do something bigger, grander, more extravagant. So, I went to each of my brothers for advice. They all advised me that women love a grand gesture of love – like proposing marriage the way it’s done in the mortal world.

“Olivia Jackson…” I begin, witnessing the way her eyes gloss over with tears. Holding it tightly, I reach for her trembling hand before continuing, “... Thanks to you and Blair, I am the happiest dragon shifter alive. It would be greedy of me to want more, but you know how greedy I am.”

When I look at her hungrily through my lashes, she giggles into her palm.

I smile and say, “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

A frown flits past her face before she springs forward and throws her arms around my neck. It’s so sudden and unexpected, that she knocks me over onto the blanket, and I take her with me on my chest.

She bursts into a sweet melody of light giggles, lifting her head to stare into my eyes. My arms wind around her back, and I smooth my palms down her spine.

“What a silly question, Stryder!” she remarks.

“Wait… Is that a “no”?” I ask disappointedly.

“No, silly!” She rolls her eyes, playfully slaps my chest, and then presses her lips to mine. “It’s a natural “yes”.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief then. “You almost gave me a heart attack, woman!” I snort as I lift her onto my lap in a seated position. I remove the ring from the box and then slide it on her finger.

“Natural, huh?” I quip with a grin, sweeping the hairs from her face to etch this moment into my mind.

Olivia nods gently. “I told you I’m not going anywhere. You don’t need to bind me with a ring.” She lifts her hand to inspect the ring on her finger, a blush growing on her cheeks. “It’s beautiful, though…”

“It’s not just about the ring. I’d like to marry you on the island, for all to witness.” I recall, then, a time when I couldn’t stand being a part of Felix and Sierra’s wedding. I understand now, why it’s so important. A dragon shifter will do anything to appease his mate. Her happiness is mine. That’s why I feel so fulfilled right now, witnessing the way her eyes sparkle with glee. She leans in and kisses me passionately, then pulls away with a sneaky grin.

“I’m finally done with your painting,” she says as she lifts the portrait of me lying naked on the grass patch on the mountaintop. “But… There’s something else I’d like to paint.”

“Yeah?” I raise a speculative brow. “I’m listening.”

Olivia climbs off my lap and stands up. When I follow her, she points out toward the moon. “I’d been inspired by something I saw once. It was the exact moment I became certain that I loved you.”

Olivia tells me about the night she watched me fly back to the balcony on our castle floor after bringing her back to the island. She explains in great detail how perfectly the moon radiated from behind me, in dragon form. I’m prompted to shift then, gliding up as she directs me into position.

“Perfect!” she praises as she takes a seat on the blanket and pulls out her painting tools. When she looks up again, our eyes meet – hers the oceanic depths, mine the slitted eyes of the dragon.

“Magnificent…” she breathes in awe.

Not as magnificent as you are to me, baby doll.

Olivia gasps suddenly, then quickly springs to her feet, her brows knitting.

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