Page 62 of A World of Ruins

‘Something happened.’ I sound distracted. ‘Something with Sarilyn.’

He cocks his head.

‘I knocked her to the ground,’ I say. This time he shoots me one of those cocky smiles I now love more than anything, and the look he is giving me is as if he is proud.

‘I nevertouchedher,’ I clarify, brows all the way up to my hairline.

The glow in his smirk fades upon realisation, only to swiftly return. It transforms into a radiant smile before he seizes the sides of my face and kisses me. First once, then repeatedly. He’s grinning, solidifying my confusion.

‘What—’ I can barely get the word out as he plants another kiss on my lips, and I chuckle. ‘Did I do something?’

He shakes his head slowly as he presses his forehead against mine. ‘I just missed you.’ He kisses me again, whispering, ‘So, so much.’

My smile trembles against his lips as I touch his hand. ‘I wanted to get you out sooner – I did, I really did—’

He shushes me, shaking his head. ‘I hate it when you apologise.’

I laugh, closing my eyes. ‘Why is that?’

‘Because I prefer it when you’re insulting me.’

I grin. ‘If it’s an insult you want, I have many. Ones that start off with how much of a punchable face you have.’Kissable. Kissable face, but he knows that anyway.

‘Much better,’ he breathes before capturing my lips fervently. A sharp gasp escapes me as he grips my waist, and I press a hand on his chest to steady myself. The kiss isn’t slow; it never is between us. Darius feeds into my hunger for him, his tongue teasing my own as if he wants to savour me, every moment.

My head arches back as he angles his neck, deepening the kiss and consuming me with his all. And as he pulls me onto his lap, we draw back, looking at each other. His eyes reflect a determination that matches my own. Despite the circumstances,a glimmer of hope dances in his gaze as he strokes the side of my face, and I smile like I am in a dream.

Just then, for this moment, I remember what I want, which is to be forever with him.

‘Darius—’ I whisper, my heart unbridled with love. ‘Marry me.’

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Darius freezes beneath me, hearing the words we’d once promised each other. ‘I thought we had decided I would be the one to ask you on the third try?’

I shrug, humour pulling the corners of my mouth into a gentle smile. ‘I changed the rules.’

His smile lights me up aflame. Holding on tight, he flips me over so that I’m underneath him, and I squeal with laughter.

Through the darkness, I manage to see the glow in his eyes and rummage through my pocket, content when I pull out the ring he’d once made and show it to him. ‘Is that a yes?’

He chuckles and nods without hesitation. ‘When would I ever say no to such an offer from you?’ Sliding his hand beneath me, he lifts me from the ground and keeps me tight against his chest. ‘Although we have no one to wed us right now, Goldie.’

‘Then we will do it,’ I say. ‘Just us.’

With a soft smile, he takes a small step back from me, and I already miss his touch.

I chuckle as he clears his throat, fixing the collar of his ripped and bloodied shirt before he whispers my name and looks me in the eye. ‘In the presence of—’ He glances around. ‘No one.’

I laugh louder.

‘I, Darius.’ Leaning closer so that he grins against my lips, he continues, ‘Take my beautiful, stubborn Goldie as my wife. To love and to annoy you all my life.’

I can’t stop smiling as tears fill my eyes.

‘I make a vow to be there for your friends and your family, even if that means sacrificing my own life with it.’

A chill runs over my body as he says ‘sacrifice’, but he doesn’t notice the slip in my smile because I don’t let myself think about it for long. I won’t let this moment be ruined by the thought of never seeing him again.

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