Page 70 of The Jorogumo

Our friends understood, of course, which was why I didn't mind telling them everything even though I'd really been hoping to be at our place and naked by now.

When we finally got home, I made Haruto wait as I dug around in one of my shelves.

When Haruto had told me he'd propose at some point, I'd decided it would only be fair to get him a ring too. Of course, I'd asked Draven to make it as well, and the smart dwarf made them in a pair without telling either of us that the other had also commissioned one.

"Liam?" Haruto called out from below—yes, I'd learned how to maneuver around his webbed platforms on my own, though it'd taken practice and some crawling on all fours—and I crowed in victory when I found what I was looking for.

"Coming!"

"Not yet," he threw back instantly, making me laugh.

When I reached solid ground again, I stood in front of him, then took his left hand in mine and slid the ring on his finger.

He glanced down in surprise, his eyes snapping from his ring to mine, as if he thought I might've slipped mine on his finger.

"What?"

"I asked Draven to make one for you too," I said with a sheepish shrug, and Haruto smiled softly as he brushed his thumb over the ring.

"Thank you," he murmured, and I nodded.

"Now, I want you to get naked and lie down on the hammock, arms and legs stretched out on either side of you."

Oh, fuck yes. I scrambled to follow his order, throwing my clothes this way and that with no care where they landed.

Lying down on the hammock spread out like a starfish, I didn't feel the least bit uncomfortable or insecure. Haruto hadspent hours showing me exactly how much he loved my body, and I had no reason to be embarrassed by it anymore.

Hell, I didn't even wish I was smaller or daintier like I used to, because Haruto loved me just the way I was, and he still saw my gentler side. He'd never tried to put me in a box or stick labels on me.

I shifted as I got comfortable, and my ring glinted in the light, making me smile. I couldn't wait to marry Haruto in front of the family we'd built together.

That night, as Haruto kissed me, licked me, bit me, touched me, and made sweet, crazy love to me—because he might not experience it in the same way, but that was exactly what he was doing, whatwewere doing—I felt his love and adoration in every touch, every brush of skin against skin.

I felt treasured, worshiped, adored in a way I had never been by anyone else. Haruto's love for me was one of the strongest feelings I'd ever experienced, second only to the love I felt for him.

Afterward, we curled up under the covers, pressed firmly against each other as we breathed the same air, our hands clasped together between us, twin rings gleaming on our fingers.

"I wonder if Draven put some magic on your ring too. I didn't ask him to, but he might've anyway."

Haruto kissed the top of my head, then smiled at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "We can ask him later, if you want."

I nodded, sighing happily as I let my eyes fall shut. "I love you. I'm really excited to marry you."

"Me too, and I love you as well."

"Silas said he and Touya would like to plan and organize the wedding."

"Well, Silas is good at building things, and Touya is good at planning, so that's a good idea."

"Hmm... I'll tell them tomorrow. When do you want to get married?"

Sleep tugged at me, but I wanted to hear his answer, so I forced myself to stay awake, blinking blearily at his chest.

"As soon as possible," he answered in a confident voice, and I smiled, utterly delighted.

"Perfect. We can get married tomorrow."

"If that's what you want," Haruto agreed easily, and I snorted.

---