Page 246 of Branded
“Damn right I do. You’re my pain in the ass.”
“You’re so romantic,” she teased.
Solemn eyes. “Is that why you haven’t said yes?”
Her fingers traced nonsensical patterns on my chest. “Well, I mean, technically, you just shoved a ring on my finger—one, I’m just saying, that was swollen so that it was impossible to get said ring off—and left it at that. You haven’t actually asked.”
That was true.
So, I rolled us, sliding off the edge of the bed, drawing her to her feet and taking myself down on one knee.
“My fierce protector, my ball-buster, my beautiful, smart, strong woman”—I kissed the ring on her finger—“you were a dream, a fantasy, and somehow I was lucky enough for you to become my reality.”
Tears—more happy ones—dripped down her cheeks. “Raph,” she warned.
“You wanted romance, honey, but I can only give you the truth.” I kissed her palm, the inside of her wrist, her pulse rapid fire against my lips. “You’re my heart.”
She inhaled. “Raph.”
“You’re my soul and my hopes for the future and my happiness in the now, and so I’m asking you— No. Maybe I’m begging you to be my wife.”
A sniff, her hand dashing across her cheeks, wiping away the tears, and she nodded.
“Is that a yes?”
Another sniff. “I mean, technically you still didn’t ask the question.”
I grinned, nipped lightly at the inside of her wrist. “A smart ass even when I give her romance.”
Dancing blue eyes. “You like my ass.”
“I love it.” A beat and then I gave her what she needed—because I always would. “Will you marry me, Beth Mason?”
Her hand on my cheek. “I would love to marry you, Raphael Gomez. You’re my forever, my always. You looked at the broken pieces of me and somehow thought they were beautiful, and I promise, promise that I will do the same for you. Forever and always.”
Now my eyes were wet.
But I didn’t give a fuck that the wet escaped, not when she was in my arms, my ring on her finger, her mouth on mine, her body pressed tight.
This was my future.
And I couldn’t wait to live every moment of it.
Blowout
Breakers Hockey #6
Breakers Hockey Series
Broken
Boldly
Breathless
Ballsy
Bewitched
