Page 83 of Mystique of the Fallen
“Ice cream?”
“Of course, Venerable Knight. Chocolate or Vanilla?”
“I’ll go vanilla.”
The second the man walked on to the next table, Roman frowned. “Don’t fill up on ice cream, we have dessert at home.”
“Can I eat it off you?”
“Negotiable. But uh…I have something to ask you first.”
“Okay, shoot.”
Roman’s mouth thinned, and he tossed his napkin on the table. “Romance, Valerius. That’s our aim, remember?”
“Oh, yeah, right. Sorry. Dear, what lovely question did you have for me, oh love of my heart?”
To Grant’s surprise, Roman stood. He tugged awkwardly on his jacket and pulled something from his pocket. Grant’s gaze widened as Roman lowered himself on the carpeted floor of the yacht onto one knee. Roman held out his hand and popped open what Grant realized was a ring box. Inside was a thin band that shifted from black to silver as the light hit it.
“Grant, you are the answer to every wish my heart made for my other half since I was first resurrected in 1369. Would you do me the honor of becoming my bonded mate for eternity?”
Biting his lip as he desperately tried to hold in the tears that were already wetting his cheeks, Grant shoved his seat back and ignored everyone but the man kneeling at his feet. Grant cupped his beloved face and kissed him as tenderly as he knew how.
“The honor is mine, Roman,” Grant whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Roman said. He grabbed Grant’s left hand and plucked the thin ring from the box and slid it on as the other passengers Grant had forgotten existed burst into applause. “Thanks for being my everything.”
Grant brushed their lips together and loved the way Roman dipped his tongue in to taste him. “Thanks for taking care of my heart and planning this night. I never expected anything like this. You’re wonderful.”
“Does that mean I can have half your ice cream?”
Delighted with Roman and life in general, Grant laughed. “Stand up and take a bow for our audience so they’ll stop staring and I’ll be happy to share my dessert. But you better not have been lying about there being something sweet waiting for us later.”
“Trust me, there are people sneaking into our home as we speak.”
“Okay, that’s terrifying,” Grant muttered as Roman stood and thanked the passengers for their patience.
Roman returned to his chair and held his palm out. Grant eagerly grabbed Roman’s hand. His incredible, thoughtful mate had delivered on romance and given Grant memories he’d cherish forever. Just as he did Roman himself.
Chapter 29
The nerves that had festered in Roman’s belly the entire day were history. As he walked off the yacht with Grant at his side, he internally preened at how he’d pleased his mate. Romance was lovely, but what Roman had wanted most was to ensure that Grant had an experience to treasure as he looked back on the night they made the decision together to bind their souls.
Happiness glowed in Grant’s green gaze, along with a tenderness usually reserved for their passionate nights together. Roman led Grant to the Dérive station so they could teleport home and kissed him softly.
“Tell me, Calixtus, am I teleporting directly to our bedroom to strip?” Grant asked.
“Is your memory faulty? No, I have some things to show you.”
Grant’s eyes raked Roman’s body from head to toe as they came to a stop inside the Dérive station. “I’ve seen every glorious inch of you, and I’m eager to reacquaint myself with your delicious taste.”
“Big surprise that romance makes you horny,” Roman said. “Meet me in the living room.”
“Like I can’t get naked in there,” Grant remarked as he released Roman’s hand and shimmered away.
“Like I don’t want him getting naked everywhere,” Roman muttered to himself before he joined Grant at home.
Roman discovered his mate gently cupping a ranunculus flower in the gigantic bouquet Killian and Dravyn had created for them. The large flowers ranged from a buttery yellow—reminiscent of the big kernels in the bowl of popcorn next to the black-and-silver vase—to a vivid green and pleasant blue.
