Page 190 of Wicked Proposal
“Yeah. Alina especially. She used to play nurse with her dolls all the time.”
“Really?”
“Really. Had me patch up half a dozen teddy bears.”
Mia cups my face. “I love you, too, you know.”
“Because of my sister’s teddy bears?”
“No,” she laughs. “Because ofyou.I hadn’t said it back yet.”
She rolls her hips once, twice. Soon, we’re kissing again, out of breath and out of our minds. Soon, I’m sliding into her again.
“Three days from now,” I murmur as I fuck up into her, “there’s a swearing-in ceremony. New recruits. I want you to be there. To announce our engagement.”
She moans, head thrown back, hanging on for dear life. “Isn’t that—soon? I mean—mhh?—!”
“I don’t want to wait,” I whisper. “Not one second longer than I have to. All you have to do is say yes.”
She’s riding me now, chasing the high of her pleasure. “Yes,” she gasps. “Yes, yes,yes?—”
Three days from now, it’ll be out in the world. We’ll have a date, a place, a claim staked for all of New York to see.
After that, Mia will be safe.
And mine.
59
MIA
“… and then Ally said she wants to play basketball, too!”
I half-listen to Eli’s school tales, my mind elsewhere. The ice cream cone in my hand is melting, strawberry stickiness sliding down between my fingers. Somehow, I completely forgot I was holding it.
Strawberry.Memories flash before my eyes: chocolate-covered strawberries and promises under the stars. Everything a girl could ever wish for.
But can I truly have it?
“Mommy?”
Eli’s voice snaps me out of my reverie. “Yes, munchkin?”
“You’re not listening,” he says, arms crossed over the picnic bench. “You’re ADHDing again.”
“I’m not sure that’s a real word.”
“Marcus uses it.”
“Oh, well, ifMarcususes it…”
“Mommy!” Eli half-giggles, half-pouts. “Stop teasing!”
“No can do.” I grin. “You’re just that teasable.”
Then I activate the Tickle Monster.
“Mommy!” Eli squeals as I reach over the table to tickle him between neck and shoulder. “Stop! Your ice cream!”
