Page 131 of Wicked Arrangement

“You’re looking very handsome yourself,” she comments, her eyes hungrily looking at me.

By now, my bruises have faded, cosmetic dentistry has sorted out my teeth, and with my suit covering my scars, you wouldn’t know what I went through recently to look at me. I wish I could say the same for Artem and the others, but I won’t let myself dwell on that tonight. Tonight is about me and Kim.

The waiter comes over and pours our drinks, champagne for me and a sparkling non-alcoholic one for Kim, before hurrying off to get our first course.

“Cheers!” Kim says, holding up her glass.

“To us,” I reply, clinking mine against hers.

“So, what’s all this for then?” Kim asks, gesturing around her. “Not that it isn’t beautifully romantic,” she hurries to add.

I chuckle, “I should have known you’d get right to the point, Kim, you’re always so astute.”

She smiles and cocks her head knowingly, waiting for me to continue.

“Well, I guess there’s no time like the present,” I say, feeling suddenly nervous which is crazy since she’s already said she wants to marry me. “When I told your grandmother the other day of my intention to marry you and asked for her blessing, I realized that it was a pretty poor proposal for you. So, with that being said…” I add, getting up from my seat and going over to stand beside Kim.

I drop to one knee, pulling out the ring box inside my pocket and opening it to reveal the ring inside. It’s a beautiful yellow diamond ring set on a platinum band with two diamonds on either side. It’s classy and not too ostentatious, I know Kim wouldn’t want anything like that. I had considered getting my mother’s ring back from Jackson—it had been Marta’s before—but that felt cruel, and besides, I want Kim and I to make our own future, a fresh start.

Kim gasps and places her hand to her mouth, eyes widening as she looks at the ring, “Yaroslav! It’s beautiful!” she exclaims holding out her left hand expectantly.

Ever the impatient one my future wife is.

“I haven’t asked you yet,” I chuckle.

“Whoops, sorry!” she replies with a gleeful giggle before patiently waiting for me to say what I want.

I find I can’t quite put my feelings for her into words, they’re too big. But I give it my best shot.

“Kim, you are the woman of my dreams and soon to be the mother of my child. I never thought I would be so lucky as to find a woman like you, let alone that you would love me back. While I can’t promise I will change, or that things won’tsometimes be tough, I can promise you this: I will always love you and protect you and our family. I want to grow old with you and with you by my side, I know we can face anything the world throws at us,” I say watching her reaction as tears glisten in her eyes. Finally, I finish my speech with, “Miss Kimberly Walsh, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Kim nods, jumping out of her seat to embrace me, “Yes! Of course, yes!”

I place the ring on her shaking hand and we both admire how perfectly it fits. I pull her in for a deep kiss, feeling like the luckiest man on earth. The musicians launch into a beautiful rendition of what I am sure will now become our song and we slowly dance on the beach. Once it is over, we sit back down and raise our glasses again.

“To our future,” we echo.

The waiters bring our meal, and we excitedly discuss wedding plans, plans for the baby, plans for the future, and how delicious the meal is. Every time Kim takes a bite and moans, I can barely hold myself back from jumping over the table and tearing her clothes off.

“My love, I’m afraid I have to ask you to remove the locket and return it to me,” I say gesturing to the necklace she still wears. “Or at least what’s inside,” I add.

“Of course,” she replies, slipping it off, “You want the family photos?”

“Not exactly,” I reply, opening it and carefully removing the small flash drive hidden inside.

Kim looks at it in surprise, “What’s that?”

“On this tiny device contains some of the most valuable secrets in the world. It’s what Innokentiy and Sharkozi were really after. Whoever holds this, holds immense power that could be highly dangerous in the wrong hands. I knew no one would suspect it to be worn on display by you and that you’d keep it safe. But now it’s simply too risky. I’m going to keep it somewhere secure,” I explain.

I hesitate before handing the necklace back, “If somehow someone found out this is where it was hidden, you wearing this could put you and our baby in danger…”

“Then keep it, as much as I love it, I’m sure you can find something else special for me to wear,” she replies and I’m relieved that she seems to want to protect her and our child as much as me, that I won’t need to fight her on this.

“Thank you my love, I will,” I reply, leaning across the table to kiss her deeply.

She eagerly returns the kiss, making my cock twitch excitedly in my pants. When I pull away, Kim bats her eyelashes at me, her eyes greedily taking me in, I can tell she’s hungry for more than our meal now. “How about you keep that promise of ravaging me on the beach now?” she teases.

“I thought you’d never ask,” I reply before sending all of the staff away until it’s just us alone on the beach.

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