Page 136 of Crimson Flames

If she wanted something bad enough, she would drop to her knees under the table for me. If I wanted something bad enough, then I would lift her from her chair and spread her out over the plans until she soaked them to an unrecognizable point.

There were moments that we disagreed just so we could ravage each other, and then there were moments where we came together in agreement with ease.

The foundation of our relationship became focused on the new life we were building together instead of the trauma that had thrust us into each other's embrace.

Nessa no longer ran to me because she was scared, needing me to be the wall that kept the rest of the world from her. No, she ran to stand by my side and fight the world next to the person she trusted to give her everything.

Which is why the table is now full of freshly lit candles, and flowers line the kitchen island on the other side of us. When her mouth drops open, I drop down to one knee.

“Nessa,” I croak out, my voice full of emotion as I take one of her hands in mine and lift a large ruby diamond on a simple band from my pocket. “I brought you back here because this is where I feel our journey began. This was the place I first told you I loved you, the place that I learned to love again, and the place where we dreamed of our first home together. While the picture of our lives may look different, I know that my future will always be with you.”

Sliding the ring onto her finger, I press a kiss just over it before asking, “Will you be my wife?”

Instead of answering, she drops to her knees in front of me and claims my mouth with a kiss as fresh tears track down hercheeks. She holds me close, her arms embracing me as I pull her into my chest, standing to deposit her onto the island between two vases of flowers.

Her legs wrap around my back as my palms travel up her calves until they are grabbing her perfect ass.

“Yes,” she breathes into my mouth while beginning to unbutton my shirt.

We take our time to explore one another, as if we were starting anew. This time knowing that forever is not just for us, but for the family we have created.

Cillian will propose soon as well; Kai is helping him come up with the perfect plan. But I’ve known this is what I wanted for a while now.

When Cillian came to me with the idea to have the papers drawn up just in case Ronan tried to force her into marriage, this was exactly how I pictured asking her.

By the time we fall into bed together, sated and blissfully happy, I feel like I have won the lottery. I never could have imagined the universe gifting me something as precious as the family I now have, but I do know there is not one day I will ever take for granted with them.

Nessa rolls over, sliding her leg around my hip, her face barely an inch from mine.

“You know, when we did this for the first time, you changed something inside of me.”

Her hand slides into my hair, those nails scraping along my scalp in the most delicious way.

“What was that, Little Fox?”

“When we had sex for the first time, you looked into my eyes afterwards like I was something precious. For the first time, I finally stopped to wonder why I didn’t believe that I deserved the world.”

My nose presses to hers, and I rub back and forth before placing a soft kiss to her lips and whisper, “You deserve it all.”

Our mouths meet again before we settle back into each other’s arms. “And you have given me everything.”

Chapter 56

I’ve never seen Cillian as jealous as he was when I came home with the bright, red ring on my finger. Hell, I think bringing him home to Boris for the first time was less tense than the way he froze up and stormed off to his room.

He came back later to apologize, but I think Kai was the one who made him do that. Kai couldn’t have been happier for me. He practically jumped into my arms when he saw it and then did the same to Boris.

Even though we are already technically married, I think seeing the ring made it real for all of us. It matches the red in Aiden’sstones perfectly, and I already know I will never want to take it off.

Which leads to the reason for my anxiety now. I’m on the jet with Cillian, headed someplace where I know he will ask me to marry him. I’m slightly afraid there is going to be a competition for who gave me the better ring. I have already thought through all the scenarios.

I could wear Cillian’s on my other ring finger, but that could also cause jealousy. I could take turns with them on each finger, but I never want them to think that the reason I switched fingers is because I’m mad at someone or favoring someone else.

Kai and I went for a drive last night and he asked me about it. He helped me see that we have all been through so much, so it shouldn’t matter what finger I wear the ring on, as long as I wear it.

Which is a joke because all three of these boys can act like jealous toddlers at the drop of a hat.

Cillian’s hand squeezes mine as the plane begins to land. I can feel his excitement humming through him like a live wire. Whatever he has planned, I know it will be perfect.

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