Page 137 of The Grief We Hold

And she loved it.

“You’re trying to distract me,” she says.

Her eyes are wide and clear and show no sign of pain. “Is it working?”

She groans. “Somehow it is. I need to learn how to be firmer with you.”

I lead her hand to my cock. “I’m already pretty firm for you.”

Raven bites down on her lip as she rubs my length three times. “As fun as it would be to do something about that right now, Smoke will be here in five minutes.”

“He can wait.”

I run my fingertip along her collarbone, tracing the line where I came on her neck two days ago. Her cheeks heat in memory.

“Axel,” she says softly. And I think that’s my favorite way she says my name.

“I can be quick.”

“Axel, why do months have different days?” Fen shouts from the hallway.

We both look to the door. “That kid asks the best questions,” I say.

Raven uses the distraction to slip out of my arms. “Good luck answering it in a way a five-year-old will understand. This morning, he asked me if my right arm would end up longer than my left one because of the weight of the pins in it.”

I was going to do this later at the club picnic, but I decide now’s the right time. “I have a solution to that length issue by adding a little weight to your other hand.”

“If it involves more suggestions about sex…”

I laugh at that. “No. But it does kind of involve promising to have sex with me for the rest of our lives.” From the drawer next to the bed, I grab the box I picked up with Smoke yesterday and open it.

Raven places her hand over her mouth as she gasps and takes in the large oval diamond solitaire. “Axel.”

“I know your divorce hasn’t quite been finalized. But nearly dying gave me a new perspective on shit. I’m all in with you, Blue. No amount of time is going to change that. I’m only going to love you more and more each day. You’re my old lady. I love you and Fen more than I ever thought I’d be capable of. So, will you marry me? Will you wear this ring and show the world you love me just as much as I love you?”

She blows out a sharp breath. “Yes. Yes, I’ll do all that.” The words come out on a sob.

Raven throws her arms over my shoulders.

“Be careful with your hand.”

“Oh, shut up,” she says. “You just proposed, let me hug you.”

I chuckle as I hold her close. “You want to try the rock on, love?”

“In a second. This feels nice.”

“I meant what I said. Every fucking word.”

Her hand strokes the back of my neck. “Every word was perfect. I feel the same. And yes, now I’ll look at the rock.”

I kiss her neck, then simply breathe her in. “Let me put it on,” I say when I finally release her.

Her left hand shakes as she offers it to me. “Good thing I’m right-handed,” she says.

“We don’t joke about getting injured,” I scold playfully as I slip the ring over her knuckle.

“It’s beautiful.”

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