Page 190 of Gloves Off

His mouth twitches. “I know.”

“You want me forever, don’t you, you sick fuck?”

He lets out a sharp laugh before he winces.

“Don’t do that.” I hold his eyes. “I love you, too.”

His fingers come to beneath my chin and, so gently, he tilts my face up and kisses me. I feel it all the way to my toes. Our kiss is soft, sweet, and easy. Effortless.

“Be a good wife and say you’ll marry me.”

I laugh, lean down, and kiss him. “Okay.”

“Yes?” He pulls back to look into my eyes. “You’re saying yes?”

“Yes,” I whisper, smiling, searching his gaze. “Are we ridiculous?” We’ve only technically been together three months.

“I don’t care.”

“Me neither.”

He reaches for my hand and begins to pull the band off, the ugly, plain one he gave me months ago, but I snatch my hand back.

“Don’t.” I send him an accusing look. “I like it.”

“You called it acheap little piece of shit.”

“It is. But I like it. It’s mine.” I give him my hand again, and he rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling, too, as he slips the new ring on in front of the old one.

Alexei makes a face. “They don’t match.”

My grin broadens as I study my hand. The new ring is shockingly beautiful. I’m going to be gazing at this thing nonstop.

“At least let me get the old ring coated to match the new one,” Alexei says.

“Okay.” I smile at him. “I’ll give you that. But only because I love you.”

CHAPTER 88

ALEXEI

Later,after multiple concussion assessments by the medical staff and visits from my parents and Georgia’s, I lie in the hospital bed with my wife curled up at my side, her new ring sparkling in the dim lighting. She won’t leave me.

“Georgia, go home to sleep.” I tug on a lock of her hair.

“Alexei.” She brushes a hand lightly over my chest, over the tattoo I got thinking about her, and gives me a smile. The warmest, sweetest smile. My Georgia. “Bite me.”

I stifle a laugh. Her eyes warm.

“I’m not leaving you,” she adds. “I’ll probably sleepwalk back to the hospital.” She gives me an arch look. “Through traffic.”

I suck in a tight breath. “Okay. You can stay.”

Ward appears at the doorway, dark circles under his eyes.

“You’re awake,” he says quietly, a small smile forming on his mouth at the sight of the two of us lying here together. “I won’t interrupt, I just wanted to check in.”

Georgia slides off the bed, and my instinct is to reach for her to keep her beside me.

---