Page 200 of Scatter the Bones

“Yeah?” I slide my hand over her hip and trace my fingers along her spine.

“Are you proposing?”

“Uh.”Fuck, see, I knew this wasn’t the right time. “Officially? No. I guess not. Just putting it out into the universe.”

“Testing it out?” she teases.

“Maybe.” I capture her hand and brush my lips against her knuckles. I’m supposed to get her a ring, aren’t I? Shit, Rooster just saw a ring in a window one day andknewit was the right one. Did he ask Shelby what she liked ahead of time, or did he just wing it?

Instead of making fun of him, I probably should’ve paid attention.

Except I never thought I’d give a shit about something like an engagement ring.

“What kind of ring do you want?” I ask.

She hesitates, staring at our linked hands.

How could I forget? She’s been engaged before. I bet that murdering asshole gave her a huge fucking diamond. She probably thinks I can’t afford something nice.

“You know me well. Better than anyone’s ever known me.” Her breath hitches like she’s fighting off tears. “I trust you.”

“You’re going to wear it for the rest of your life, so I think you should give me some inkling.” I brush my thumb over her cheek. “Are you crying?”

“No.” She sniffles and shakes her head, her hair sliding over the pillow. “You really want to know?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s why I asked.”

She holds out her hand and wiggles her fingers. “Nothing too big—I work with my hands so much. But I once saw this white gold, art deco-style ring once. Emerald-cut diamond in the center, halo of blue sapphires around it, and little diamonds in the band.”

I’m not sure what some of those words mean but that’s what Google is for.Wait.“So basically, blue and silver? Lost Kings colors?”

She ducks her head against my chest and shakes with laughter. “Yeah, I guess so. Makes sense, right? I feel like if I’m marrying you, I’m marrying your club too.”

Glad she understands that. “Yeah, kinda. Speaking of, I’d really like to give you my property patch. That’s like a ring in the MC world. Would you wear that for me?”

“Of course.” She doesn’t even hesitate. “At your club events, right?”

“Yeah.” I kiss her forehead. “You won’t be offended?”

“Not at all,” she whispers. “Should I be?”

“It’s a little…outdated, I guess.” I trace lazy circles on her hip with my thumb, grounding myself in the feel of her skin. “But it’s an important tradition in our world.”

“I like belonging to you.”

The words gut me in the best way. I shift closer, tuck her tighter into my side. “I like belonging to you, too.”

She’s quiet for a beat, then asks, “Does that mean you’re going to getProperty of Margottattooed on you somewhere?”

“If you want me to.”

Her laugh is soft but full, warming the space between us.

“Charlotte keeps joking that she had Teller get Sunshine tattooed on his dick. Is that where you want me to get it?”

“Well, you have enough room for all three words.” She snickers, and her whole body shakes against mine. I missed this—her laughter, her spark, that sharp tongue of hers.

“Think you’re funny, huh?”

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