Page 173 of Crave

My stomach tightens with nerves out of nowhere. I shake my head and swallow any doubts.

She turns to me, looking down at me on the floor. I watch her face switch from confusion to excitement. Her hands fly over her mouth and she gasps.

“Alexei,” she gushes.

“Lara.” I respond with a grin.

Holding out my hand, she places her dainty one in it, and I tug her closer.

I’d wear her as a second skin if I could. I’m that obsessed. I never want her out of my sight.

“I have a very important question that there is only one correct answer for.”

I flip open the box to reveal the masterpiece I designed. A square-cut diamond, the biggest one they had, surrounded by little pink gems. Set on a silver band, because all of her jewelry is that color. Apparently it matches her skin tone best. I remember everything she tells me.

I wanted to make it really pretty, just like her.

So she looks at it every day and smiles.

“Yes, Alexei.”

I smile so hard my cheeks hurt.

“Hang on. Let me ask it properly. Will you, Lara Volkov. Pleasure me in being my wife?”

She bursts out laughing.

“What?”

“I think it’s ‘do me the pleasure of’?”

I shrug.

“You can pleasure me whenever you want to.”

She bites her lip, and it’s taking all I have not to pounce on her.

“Will you marry me, pchelka? Please?”

I bat my lashes at her for the full dramatic effect.

“Yes, sladkiy. One hundred million times, yes. Infinite yes.”

My heart almost explodes. Springing up, I wrap my arms tightly around her, my hand cradling her neck as I press my lips against hers, savoring the moment with my fiancé.

I kiss her until we’re out of breath then slide the ring onto her shaking finger.

“That’s so beautiful, Alexei. You have a good eye. It’s perfect for me.”

I tug her closer by the waist.

“I’m an expert in Lara. I’ve been studying for twenty years, remember? Maybe I could get a certificate.”

As her hand touches my chest, I can feel her warmth seeping through my skin.

“A marriage certificate? That’s probably the best one.”

When she pushes on my ribs, my eyes widen in surprise, causing me to stumble backwards and land on the mattress

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