Page 14 of Santa's Candy

“You what?” I asked, trying to keep impatience from my tone, but Iwasheartily impatient. Not at her, but for the start of everything I’d have with her. That we’d be together.

“I was thinking. While I was down here. I was thinking about how everyone seems to know about us and how you’ve always been the one to push. And…well…it’s my turn.”

“For what?”

“To push. Or…well…to make my feelings clear, anyway.”

She took a deep breath, but this time, I didn’t rush into that space, holding my breath as I anxiously waited in anticipationandworry. If she didn’t feel like I did… Honestly, I didn’t know what I’d do.

Her hands skimmed along my chest and onto my shoulders before she cupped my face and stared into my eyes. “I love you, Pax. I…Iloveyou.”

If I hadn’t been kneeling, I would have staggered. Joy exploded in my chest. Gathering her tight to me, I pulled her off her seat and onto my lap as I sat back on my heels. My hand buried in her hair, and I brought her mouth to mine.

“Marry me,” I demand between kisses, minutes later. “Candy…Candace Noelle, marry me.”

“Are you asking?” she giggled.

“No. You’re going to marry me.”

“Pax…”

“It’s been eight years coming for us, baby girl. Hell, we’ve known each other forever, so it’s been longer. It’s not like this isn’t sudden.”

“I know.” She leaned her forehead to mine, her eyes closed. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too. God, I almost forgot to say that. You got me so excited. All I could think of was holding you.”

“I know you love me,” she assured me with a soft smile, caressing my face then gently scraping her nails back into my hair. “You might not have said the words before now, but the way you are with me made me brave enough to take the leap and tell you first. I didn’t doubt your feelings.”

“And you also know you’re going to marry me then,” I growled, so fucking ecstatic I couldn’t begin to contain my happiness or my need for her now. It didn’t matter that we were in her parents’ basement. I needed her.

“Yeah, I think I am,” she said.

“You are,” I insisted.

“I am.”

“Good because I’ve been carrying this around.” I dug into my pocket and pulled out the ring placed there earlier today. I’d had it in my suitcase because I’d hoped, perhaps foolishly, to give her during this vacation. I didn’t feel quite so foolish now.

I held out the gleaming princess-cut solitaire as I grabbed her left hand. We both stared as I slid the gold band onto her marriage finger.

“You’ve been carrying around a ring for me all these years?” she asked in disbelief.

“No. I bought it after the wedding last year. I thought, if there was a chance during our time here, if things by some miracle things turned around…”

“And you got your miracle.”

I nodded. “I got my fucking miracle. You’re marrying me, and you’re moving in with me when we get back home.”

“Pax…”

“There’s no need for us to have two sets of living expenses when we’re going to be together every night anyway,” I insisted.

“Pax.”

I shook my head, and my hand tightened on hers. “I told you I wasn’t giving you up anymore.”

“Me having my own place isn’t you giving me up. Also, you promised you wouldn’t push me around—outside of sex.”

---