Page 74 of Reignite

Gray stepped into our bubble of fun, saving me from saying anymore. “Dani, I need to steal Angel away from you for a while.”

“No worries. I’m going to go chat with Cade and Vanessa about our new adventure.”

Gray waited for Dani to cross the room before he said anything else. “She’s going to take this place off your hands?”

“Yeah.” I was sad, and happy, and relieved, and ready to move on. Devils and Angels was the embodiment of a dream, a struggle, a journey I’d needed to go on, and I had learned so much about myself.

I’d thought having a harem, becoming a Dominatrix, and finally opening the club would prove to the world, and to myself that I was worthy. Worthy of respect, worthy of sex, worthy of love.

But it wasn’t the club that helped me learn that lesson. It had been Gray.

When I lost him, I’d almost lost myself. I would have eventually come back. I had already started when Gray returned to my life. But that Angelina was different, wounded. I was grateful that was a path I didn’t have to travel.

I liked--no I loved--who I was now, and I didn’t need anything but my own skin to prove who I’d become after all this time: the real me.

Gray took my hand, caressing the inside of my palm. “Good. But while it’s still yours I have one more thing I’d like to do.”

Gray led me to the stage and in front of the cross. This was the last place he and I had played together here at the club before our lives went to shit.

A butterfly did a dance with some of her friends in my stomach.

“I have something for you. Some things. For both of us.”

He knelt, like he had that last night we’d been here, but this time it was different. This time we weren’t doing this for anyone else. This was for us.

“Angelina. You seduced me from the beginning. I have been yours since the day we met.” He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it. I’m sure there was a sparkling ring inside, but all I could see was the sparkle in Gray’s eyes. “Will you marry me?”

“You stole my line.”

He grinned and slid the ring onto my finger. “Say it, Angel. Say yes.”

“Yes.”

Applause started behind us, but Gray stood and held up his hand, silencing them “I’m not done yet.”

Was there more to a marriage proposal than I knew?

He reached into his other pocket and pulled out two chains, one darker and thicker than the other, both with a wing shaped locket dangling from them.

He laid the thicker chain in my hand. “Open it.”

I popped the charm open and inside were the words I’m yours forever.

“Gray, this is beautiful.”

“Put it on me, my love. Collar me, because I am yours, forever.”

My mouth dropped open and I looked between the locket and Gray several times. “You’re asking me to collar you?”

“Yes. This is a symbol, as much as the rings are, that I belong to you.”

My hands shook as I reached around his neck and clasped the chain. Gray fulfilled my every need, making me better than on my own.

“Now you.” He placed the collar on me and I heard the click of the clasp, felt the weight of the charm on my skin.

These symbols meant everything to me. But I would be happy without them, as long as I had Gray in my life.

“I love you, Grayson Baker.” I kissed him and the cheers Gray had silenced before filled the room.

“I love you, Angelina soon-to-be Baker.”

I touched the chain, held the locket in my hand. “Hey, I didn’t get to see what mine said inside.”

Gray smiled. “You’re mine, forever.”

And I was his. Forever.

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