Page 140 of The Marine

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

AIDAN

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“Then marry me,” I say, pulling back and cupping her face.

“Okay, slow down Marine.” Briar laughs, wiping her tears. “I’ve just found out my last marriage wasn’t real.”

I know I’m glowering down at her right now, but I don’t care. I’m not letting her get away again.

“I still need to speak to Mom.”

“To ask permission? Because I swear to god, Briar, if y—”

“No,” she says, patting my pecs, and I really like her doing that. I press her hand into my chest and tighten my own around it.

“I’m serious. Say yes. I will wait and give you all the space you need, but I want to hear you say you will marry me.” I say firmly, which is hardly romantic, and she deserves so fucking much more. “The rest we will work out together.”

I see the clogs of her mind churning as the fingers of her other hand press into my back.

I did this wrong.

Shit.

I release her hand and see her face shift in surprise. Then I drop to my knees in the hotel where we first made love ten years ago.

I take her hand as she wells up.

“Oh, god.”

“Briar Sutton. Love of my fucking life. Will you please spend the rest of your life with me? Will you be my wife, my best friend in this stupid world? Will you let me do my damn job and protect you, love you, create a family with you, and be goddamn happy with you?”

She starts crying so hard I’m not sure if I completely fucked it up.

“Bri—”

Then she drops to her knees and wraps her arms around my neck.

“I’ve waited all my life to hear you say those words.” She cries.

With what feels like my entire body wrapped around hers, I lean into her ear and say, “Okay, but sweetheart, if you could please say yes, that would be really awesome.”

She leans back and I’ll be honest, she’s a total mess, but the most beautiful thing I’ve even seen.

Finally she nods. “Yes. Yes, Aidan Black, I will marry you.”

Thank fucking god!

I lift her up and swing her around. We fall onto the bed laughing and yeah, I might be crying a little.

Do not repeat that to anyone.

“Yes you are! You are fucking marrying me!”

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