Page 114 of River
“Like what?’
“Like a present.”
“No. I loved yours. A voucher for a summer picnic with beautiful views and outdoor sex is probably the best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten.”
“What do you want for next year?” she asked in her drowsy sexy voice.
“I don’t know.”
“Then close your eyes and let your deepest wish rise from the depth of your desires.”
Following her instructions, I closed my eyes and saw the images of River and me together in my mind. “You! I want you!”
“Do you want me in sexy lingerie or in a certain position?”
“No.” Opening my eyes again, I looked deep into her eyes and spoke the words without any filter. “I want to marry you.”
River’s eyes widened. “Noah.”
“You asked.”
“Yes, but…” She blinked. “What are you saying? Did you just propose to me?”
I wet my lips. We were naked under the duvet in a small room. I’m sure she would have expected at least candlelight and rose petals for a proposal, but this wasn’t planned.
“Noah… say something.”
“I’m sorry, but you asked for my deepest wish, and that’s to marry you.” I felt my neck heat up with the fear that she might feel pressured. “I understand if it’s too early for you. We’ve only known each other since that time in Bali, but it’s how I feel.”
“Itisearly.” River’s voice was breathy.
“I know, but when we went to Kit’s wedding, I spoke to Owen, and he told me that his biggest regret was all the time they’d wasted not being together. I feel like we already wasted seven months apart, and for every day that passes, I fall deeper in love with you. When we make love, it’s like we’re a perfect mold, and no one laughs at my silly jokes like you do. River, the days you leave for London are the worst, and the days when you return are the best.”
Her blonde hair fell across her forehead down on the pillow, surrounding her pretty face, and those gorgeous eyes were now looking deep into mine. “I feel that way too.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t plan this, but I won’t take my words back because I really want to marry you and for us to be together for the rest of our lives.”
“Then ask me.” Her hand found my hands and intertwined our fingers.
“Will you marry me?” My heart pounded in a steady rhythm like a boat full of Vikings banging on their armor to tell their people they were coming home.
River’s eyes welled up, and she nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Noah.”
It felt surreal, but I cupped her face and kissed her hard before pulling back to be sure. “Yeah?”
“Yes!”
Closing my arms around River, I pulled her on top of me and squeezed her tight. “You just made me the happiest man in the world.”
“Is your heart racing as fast as mine?” she whispered.
“Faster.”
We lay for a while, whispering promises of eternal love and making wishes for the future, but eventually, we drifted to sleep. During the night, we changed position, and I ended up spooning River. Maybe that’s what led me to have a powerful erotic dream about her. It was dark in the room when I woke up, but with my hard erection and her warm body pressed against me, I couldn’t possibly roll over and continue sleeping. The thought that River had agreed to marry me and that we were now engaged, made me bury my face in her hair and wrap my arm around her, whispering into her ear. “Butterfly.”
“Mhmm.” She stirred as I began playing with her breasts.
“Can you get on some type of birth control?”
