Page 31 of Stalking His Assassin

I shake my head and cup her cheek, drawing her attention back to me. "I don't think we do. I don't want a girlfriend. I want a fiancée. No, that's not true either. I want a wife."

Her eyes widen and her lips part in shock. "W-wife?"

I smile. "Absolutely. This is permanent, little wolf. You're mine, and I'm yours. I want the whole world to know it."

"Yes. Let's do that," Grace says with a blindingly bright smile.

"What are we doing?" a strange woman's voice asks. "And are you wearing pink?!"

Grace presses a quick kiss on my lips, then turns to the woman and throws her arms around her. The woman's eyes grow comically wide, and it takes her several moments to return the exuberant hug. I have a feeling Grace isn't very affectionate even with the woman she considers family.

"Getting married!"

"What?! You're getting married?" Harper asks, pushing Grace away enough to hold her shoulders and look at her like she's checking that it's truly her friend in front of her.

"Yes. Christos asked, and I said yes."

I clear my throat, drawing both of their attention. "Actually, I didn't propose."

Grace frowns in confusion. "But?—"

"I said I want to make you my wife."

"And I said yes."

Harper snickers. "He didn't propose, dork. He just said he wanted to."

Grace looks between Harper and me, her confusion turning into a pout that's somehow equal parts cute and heartbreaking. I didn't plan on asking her yet. I wanted to have a ring and make it special for her, but I can't handle her sadness. She's had enough disappointment in her life already. Too many people have failed her, and I won't be one of them. I also don't want her to worry that I might leave her again. A romantic proposal isn't more important than my girl's happiness.

Even though I don't have a ring, I take Grace's hands and get down on one knee. "This isn't exactly how I planned on asking you to marry me, but we've never done things by the book, so why should my proposal be any different?"

Grace laughs, and Harper looks like she's in some sort of alternate universe.

"Grace, I promise to be the partner you need in all things. I promise to keep your heart safe and love you like only I can. I swear to chase you to the ends of the earth if ever you run for the rest of our lives if you'll marry me. Will you be my wife?"

"Yes," she says, then throws herself into my arms, nearly knocking me to the ground with her excitement.

"I love you, little wolf."

"I love you too."

A sniffle drags us out of the moment. Harper has tears in her eyes even though she's smiling. Grace's cheeks heat with a blush at the realization that there was a witness to our intimate moment.

"I cannot believe that just happened," Harper says, pulling Grace into a fierce hug.

"Wasn't exactly how I imagined our introduction," I say without remorse.

Grace steps away from Harper, coming to my side. "Harper, this is Christos. Christos, this is Harper."

Harper holds her hand out to shake, and I'm surprised by her firm grip. "I was going to wait until I got to know you a little, but considering my best friend just agreed to marry you now feels like a good time. If you hurt her, I will kill you, and no one will find your body."

Grace bursts out in laughter at the threat. Harper frowns at Grace's laughter but keeps her eyes steady on mine in what I assume is supposed to be an intimidating look. I fight to hide my amusement from my face because I respect the hell out of her for being willing to defend her friend. I wonder what she'd say if she realized she just threatened a trained assassin. Or that Grace is likely to kill me before anyone else ever got the chance.

"Message received," I say solemnly.

"Good! Now that that's all settled, let's go eat. I'm starving for some tacos," Harper says before climbing into the backseat.

Grace smiles up at me. "We better go. She gets hangry."

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