Page 206 of Divine Obsession

But before I could finish, his hands framed my face, his lips pressing against mine with a tenderness that left me breathless.Slow. Soft. Deep. I kissed him back, my free hand gripping his jacket as the flowers hung in my other.

When we pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, his voice dark and smooth. “Thank you for not giving up on me, Natalia.”

My hand came up, cupping the side of his face in a silent acknowledgment.

Stepping back but keeping his hand in mine, he nodded towards the park. “Let’s walk.”

“Where to?”

Something flashed across his ebony eyes. “Outdoor movie night.”

“No way it’s still going. It’s too late.”

“I want to check either way.”

I squeezed his hand back as we stepped into the park, the city’s noise fading into the background as the path stretched out ahead of us.

And just like that, the tension melted away, replaced with the easy comfort that had always been there.

Gravel crunched softly underfoot as we walked through the dimly lit paths of Central Park. Trevor’s hand was warm and steady in mine, his thumb brushing against my skin in quiet, rhythmic strokes that made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t explain.

We reached the grassy area where the outdoor films were shown – our favorite spot. The crowd that had once filled the space was long gone. Only the large screen remained.

I sighed, gesturing toward the empty lawn. “See? Told you.”

Trevor didn’t answer right away, his grip tightening ever so slightly. I turned to look at him, but his expression gave nothing away – just that usual unreadable confidence that always left me guessing. He guided me closer to the lawn, where something faint glimmered under the park’s fairy-light strands.

As Trevor held me close, the soft strains of old Parisian music filled the air, drifting from hidden speakers nestled among the lanterns. The delicate melody wrapped around us like a whispered promise. It was the kind of music that spoke of romance in cobblestone streets and moonlit rivers. An experience he’d given me in Paris a couple of months back.

The warm glow of lanterns and golden string lights transformed the familiar spot into something out of a dream. And as we stepped around the corner of the lawn, I could finally see that the screen was actually still lit up. As we stepped closer, the words flickered into focus on the black screen in a white font straight out of 1940s Parisian cinema:

Will you marry me, Natalia?

My heart stopped beating.

The timeless elegance of the words against the golden backdrop hit me like a wave, and suddenly the park, the night, the city blurred around me.

Only one thing stayed.Him.

Trevor stood beside me, his dark eyes watching my every reaction, his expression unreadable. Slowly, as if waiting for me to fully absorb the moment, he stepped in front of me, still holding onto one of my hands.

Then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.

My breath caught as his face softened, all the sharp, calculated edges of him dissolving into something raw and open. In his hand, he held a ring–

Not just any ring. A massive, pink oval diamond glinted there. The stone sparkled under the Manhattan lights. Bold, beautiful, and absolutelyperfect.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Trevor looked up at me, his voice soft and smooth. “Natalia Valentina Moretti, I’ve loved you for as long as I’ve known you. Even when I was too stubborn to admit it. Especially when I didn’t deserve you. You’ve been my reason for everything. I’ve built empires, but nothing has ever come close to having you look at me like this. I can’t– Idon’twant toimagine my life without you. I’m nothing without you.” His eyes held mine, unwavering. I couldn’t look away. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Protecting you. Building a future with you. Making you happy.Loving you forever.” He held the ring closer, his hand steady, his voice deep and soft. “I look at you and I see the rest of my life. I love you, Natalia. Will you marry me?”

The silence stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with the weight of everything we’d been through, everything he was offering. My chest tightened as tears blurred my vision, the answer forming on my lips before I even realized I was speaking.

“Yes,” I whispered, the word tumbling out like it had been waiting to escape. “Yes,” I repeated with a small laugh.

The tension in his shoulders melted, replaced by the most genuine, heart-stopping smile I’d ever seen on him. He slid the ring onto my finger with a care that made my heart ache, and when he stood, his arms pulling me into him, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared.

His lips found mine in a kiss that wassoft, deep, and entirelyus– equal parts passion and promise.

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