Page 124 of Wedlocked

Overwhelmed, I stumbled back. He caught me. Kept me close. The hand not pressed into the small of my back curled around the back of my head, pulling it down so he could lean in and whisper.

“Marry me. Marry me. Marry me. Let me slip a ring on your finger, an ultimate promise that I won’t ever leave. No matter what changes in life, I’ll be your constant. Marry me. Marry me. Marry me, Matthew. Let me love you forever.”

My scalp tingled and my skin prickled even after his whisper went quiet. The parts of me that had been jittery were now pleasantly drowsy.

Oh, he was clever, asking me to marry him ASMR style. Only Arsen could manage to present such a life-changing offer to mebut do so in a way that made my entire nervous system weep with relief.

The fingers gripping his nipple piercing flexed, my entire hand stretching out and then settling over his chest. The echo of his whisper still floated around my brain.

Marry me, Matthew. Three M’s. I like threes.

His palm rubbed against the small of my back, face still bowed beside my ear. “Questions require answers, baby.”

I lifted my head and met his gaze. “You really mean it?”

“I’ll get down on one knee right here and now,” he said.

When I didn’t smile, he bent, one knee hitting the carpet.

I grabbed his arm. “Get up, bear.”

He stood. “Is that a no?”

I chewed the inside of my lower lip. “Are you doing this because of the name thing?”

“The name thing?”

I gave him a look.

He sighed. “I won’t lie. Kruger trying to slap his name on you pissed me off.”

I drew back.

“Hey.” He pulled me in. “I’m not mad at you. I never was. I couldn’t even get mad at you if I tried.”

“So you’re mad at Kruger?”

“Yes and no,” Arsen said.

I scowled.

He smiled and kissed the end of my nose. It made me realize I was standing there naked. Frowning, I slid my hands under the open shirt at his chest and peeled it down his arms.

He smiled and watched in approval as I tugged it around me, shivering a little as his body heat enveloped me. Hastily, I buttoned just one button and then looked at him expectantly.

“It’s crooked,” he mused, reaching out to redo it.

“Bear,” I said, putting my hand over his.

“I think I’m more mad at myself because Kruger seemed to realize something I hadn’t.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What?” I asked, hand falling away from his.

He took that as an invitation to undo the wonky job I did with the button. “He offered you his name to make you feel more settled. Part of his family. So you would know nothing between you would change even after he marries Jess.”

“So?”

Arsen let go of the shirt. “So that’s my job.”

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