Page 19 of Blood Descendants
These diamonds are all way, way bigger than “normal.”
“I really don’t know yet,” I say, scrambling to seem like a functional woman who totally expected to be here today. “This all still seems like a dream. I’ve hardly had two seconds to think about it.”
“Aw,” Carissa coos. “Whirlwind romance, huh? But look at you two. If I had a man who looked at me like that, I’d say yes in a heartbeat, too.”
My eyes rip up to Ares. And he offers a smile. The first full one I’ve seen on him yet. And my heart stops.
His teeth are snow white. And perfectly straight. They damn near look fake.
And a smile transforms his entire face.
He looks younger.
He looks less like the vampire he is.
And, despite the fact that I can’t see his eyes, considering he’s still wearing his sunglasses, he does indeed look like a man who is crazy in love.
Yes, yes, yes,my heart screams without thought.
An awkward sounding chuckle comes out of my lips.Dobetter, Lana,something in the back of my brain says. And so, I lift a hand, caressing the side of his face, and soften the look in my eyes. “It didn’t take much convincing.”
Because no, it really didn’t.
Not to save my best friend.
Not when my fake fiancé looks like this.
Ares covers my hand with his, pulling it across his face until his lips press into my palm with a kiss that scorches my entire body.
Carissa makes a needy noise. “Ugh. I already can’t wait to see your wedding pictures. I have a feeling you’re going to melt the camera with all that heat, though. Come on. I’ll show you some options.”
I’m pretty sure Ares is going to melt my clothes off with the way he’s looking at me. But he just gives a smile, one that touches his eyes. And he wraps a hand around my waist again as we walk down the display case.
Maybe it’s the fact that Ares is a vampire. But he’s watching with focused intensity the entire time I look at ring after ring with Carissa. And he’s largely quiet, other than to say things like, “You like that one, Kitten?” or, “No, bigger.”
“Ares,” I hiss in a low whisper at one point when I see a price tag that is seven figures. “We both know what this is. Don’t waste your money.”
“My last name is Hunt, Vengeance,” he says as he leans in close, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. Instantly, goosebumps flash over my entire body. “Trust me, there’s a certain level of expectation that comes with it. Bigger,” he says, raising his volume slightly as Carissa begins to pull out a display. She abruptly puts it back and reaches for another instead.
Round. Square. Marquis. Princess. My head is spinningwith the names. I certainly never expected to learn every cut of diamond this week.
I try on dozens of rings. And Ares watches intensely with every one.
But something flutters in my chest when Carissa pulls out one particular set in its own display.
Radiant cut. It looks truly massive. It’s set on a simple band. But it has a double wedding band that accompanies it. Square diamonds encrust the wedding band, a sharp contrast with the simple engagement band.
And it feels like magic when I slide it on, and it fits perfectly.
“Platinum, D-FL five-carat center diamond, one-carat wedding band,” Carissa says, her tone nearly reverent.
I don’t even know what half of those terms meant. But from her tone? I know I don’t want to see the price tag.
“That car outside is for you, Lana.” I look over my shoulder when Ares speaks. There is indeed a black SUV waiting at the curb. “It’s going to take you down the street. They’ve got instructions to help you. I’ll catch up with you in an hour.”
“I thought…” I start, confused.
“We’re all done here, Vengeance,” Ares says, his tone cool and even. But there’s something in his countenance that is confident, and a little mischievous.
