Page 133 of Aching for His Discretion

“Levi,” I whispered, practically out of breath, and he tilted his head.

“Tesoro.”

I breathed in deeply as he wiped the fallen tear that came from my eye.

“You saved me, Teegan,” he whispered, and I shook my head as tears continued to fall.

I tried not to sob. “It was only a bullet wound in your arm. You would have been okay,” I whimpered, reminiscing about the first time we met.

He smiled as he placed a small kiss on my cheek. “Not that sweet girl,” he chuckled, and I wrapped my arms around his torso as he continued, “You saved me,Tesoro. Everything I am, everything I can be, everything I will be is because of you. I realized that without you, life is meaningless. Nothing in this world amounts to what you are and what you will become. You were born to help people. And in the midst of studying and working to save the lives of others, you saved mine. It’s only right I return the favor in some way.”

“It was only a bullet wound,” I cried out again, and he sighed as he shook his head.

Pulling me closer, he said, “Tesoro, it’s more than a bullet wound, and it’s more than half a million dollars... it’s you. You’re priceless.”

“You’re insane,” I whispered, shaking my head, and he chuckled.

“Well, why do you think I went to see a therapist, baby?” he joked, and I hit his shoulder as I shook my head. After a moment or so, he became a bit tense as he spoke again.

“And I wanted to keep this other surprise hidden, for another few months or so. Maybe even a year, but…”

I pulled away as he opened his top drawer, pulling out a small velvet box that made my eyes widen in absolute shock. He placed it on the desk, and I simply stared at him as he looked at me almost nervously.

“I have something else for you that’sdefinitelyworth more than half a million dollars,” he said truthfully, and we sat in silence as I simply stared at him in utter shock.

“You’d think I was even more insane if I told you I purchased it at the same time I purchased your necklace,”he admitted, and I was sure you could hear a pin drop in the room.

“Levi,” I uttered, unable to formulate any other words. “We only knew each other for a month,” I whispered in utter disbelief, and he nodded.

“Which is why I gave you the necklace first.”

“You spent over half a million dollars on a ring,” I whispered.

“In cash, yes.” He nodded, and I continued looking at him.

“What if we’d stayed broken up?”

“Then I would have something to remember you by,” he responded, and I looked at him incredulously.

“I’ve never even worn it.”

“But I’ve envisioned you in it…”

“And you’ve had it for the last three or four years.”

“It’s what got me through our breakup period… Well, alongside the cameras, the tracker, and the frequent updates that told me how you were doing,” he continued.

I couldn’t speak. I didn’t even know what to say. Picking up the box slowly, I looked down at the ring that was practically blinding me.

“Though I’d like you to wear it now, you don’t have to. Not until you’re ready.”

“Ready for what?” I whispered, though I knew the exact words that sat on the tip of his tongue.

“Ready to say yes when I ask you to be my wife.”

I sighed as I placed the box on top of my medical school loan receipt.

“Say something, Tesoro...” he practically pleaded as I stared down at mygiftsthat sat on his desk for a few more minutes.

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