Page 63 of Under His Embrace

But of course, Franco would want to protect Caleb too. Now that I’d lived here and witnessed how ruthless these men were, Iknewthey’d keep my life secure. Against Wes. Against my parents. Franco had my back.

“No, I’m not suggesting anything like incest.” I rolled my eyes.

“I know. I know. I’m just teasing. But seriously, there is plenty of room for all of us. My place doesn’t have that indoor pool room in the conservatory, but we’re all in and out of here every day, anyway.”

I grew giddy, excited about my future. “So, just like that, you’re saying I should move in with you?”

He furrowed his brow. “No.”

My expression fell.

“I’m saying you should marry me.”

27

FRANCO

For the rest of my life, I would cling to this memory.

Stunning Chloe silent. Wowing her and maybe giving her a little dose of actual shock.

Her mouth dropped after I told her my intentions. Her lips remained parted in anOthat gave me filthy ideas. It was nice to know my girl still loved giving head. But it was even nicer to know that she wanted to stay with me.

For good, I hoped. Officially, as my wife.

We were only ten years late to make it happen.

“Will you marry me, Chloe Dawson?”

She clamped her lips shut and strained to swallow. Not long ago, before we started talking and relaxing, she seemed sleepy and lazy, so lax snuggled in bed with me. Now, her eyes were wide open. Clear and alert.

“What did you just say?”

I grinned, enjoying this way, way too much. I'd wanted to say those words to her so many times when we were younger. We talked about marriage and loosely agreed that, yeah, of course, we’d get married one day. We were adamant back then that we were soulmates, that it was Kismet for us to meet and fall in love,no matter how young we were. According to that one saying,When you know, you know. Well, when we knew, we knew.

“Marry me, Chloe.” I slid closer to her, needing to feel more of her soft, warm body flush to mine. “I won’t let you go again. I hated that I did before. I won’t let you go. Or Caleb. I want you both in my life for good, officially.”

“Oh, Franco…” She sighed, speechless for more. Her eyes shone with tears, but the happy smile on her face led me to believe she was holding back tears of joy.

“I want a chance to get to know my son.Ourson. I want a chance to have another child with you. All the kids we want. I’ve lost too much time with you, and I want the opportunity to have my time now.”

She sniffled, blinking back the tears that built along her lids. “I’m… Damn. Sorry. You’re overwhelming me.”

“In a good way?”

She leaned in to kiss me. “In a very good way! This is more than I ever could have counted on happening.”

“Why?” I had to understand. “What will it take to show you that I love you with all that I am?”

Her smile was soft and delicate. “I feared you’d be so mad. All this time, the longer I kept Caleb from you, my fears worsened and deepened. I was nervous to get my hopes up too high. This is, literally, all that I could have ever dreamed for.”

I wiped my thumbs over her cheeks, swiping the stubborn tears away. “Don’t cry.”

“It’s a happy cry.” She kissed me again. “I dared to hope that you’d still love me. I’m not doubting you. I’m battling the walls I built up to protect myself. I’m knocking over all the times I told myself to be realistic, the assumptions that I stacked up that claimed you’d never forgive me for hiding your son from you.”

“If you’d tried to hide him for any other reason than to keep him safe…”

She shook her head. “No. Hell no. He’s your son, and I wanted you to have each other. It was all the other stuff in life that stood in the way. You don’t understand how hard it was. I ran from you. I broke it off with you in such a bold, sudden, and harsh manner by taking off without a goodbye. Yet, you loved me enough and knew yourself enough not to pursue me.”

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