Page 93 of Maximum
“I was.”
My finger trailed from his hairline down over his cheek to his jawline. “I’ve never had anyone willing to fight for me.”
Maximum ran his thumb over my lips. “It’s been years since I’ve been in a fight outside the rugby field, but if someone hurt you…” He trailed off. “You don’t know how much I love you.”
“I don’t want you to fight, but it’s flattering that you would.”
“About that pact.” His lips felt soft when he kissed me and whispered into my mouth, “Are you ready to make one with me?”
“Does it involve blood?”
He smiled. “I was thinking more like a marriage certificate.”
My arms were wrapped around his neck, our mouths close together. “Are you proposing to me?”
“Hang on.” Lifting me off him, Maximum twisted his body and reached under the bed for a backpack.
“What are you doing?”
He was rummaging around in the bag until he withdrew a small jewelry box. “I bought this a while back, but I’ve been waiting for the right time. I was going to do an over-the-top romantic proposal, but I can’t wait any longer.” Opening the box, he got out of bed, wearing only white briefs, and kneeled down next to where I sat on the bed. “Fleur, I know you said that you’d never marry again but I promise you that if you take a chance on me, I’ll wake up every day determined to prove to you that you made the right decision.”
“Oh, Max.” My face melted as I held my hands to my cheeks.
“Please say yes. I’ve loved you from the first time I met you and I’ll love you for as long as there’s breath in my lungs.”
“Yes! I’ll marry you.” I was half crying, half laughing as I nodded my head and kissed him.
Maximum teared up and pulled the ring from the small box and placed it on my finger. “Is it the right or the left?”
“Who cares?” I laughed as he placed it on my right. “It’s beautiful.”
“You like it? I knew buying you a huge diamond wouldn’t be smart because you’d have to take it off when you work. This one is understated but made of solid gold like you.”
The design was simple, and it touched me that Maximum had known me well enough not to buy a massive diamond ring.
“Look.” He brought out another, larger ring and placed it on my finger against my ring. On each ring was half a heart and when put together the shape of a full heart appeared.
“I love it.” Taking the larger ring, I slid it onto his finger. “Oh my god, I can’t believe that we’re engaged for real now.”
Maximum got on the bed, his eyes shining with lust. “I feel like I just won the biggest championship in the world. Like I came in first in front of thousands of competitors.”
I couldn’t stop grinning. “You’re silly.”
“No, I knew you were special and that whoever got you was the luckiest man in the world. I feel like waking up everyone and telling them the good news.”
“Jolene will be happy.”
“So will the rest of my family. They really like you. How soon can I marry you?” Maximum was removing my clothes with eager hands.
“I don’t know, but I have a favor to ask you.”
“Anything.”
“I don’t care about a fancy wedding, but I would really love to have my parents here to celebrate with us. They might not have money for the plane tickets if we marry here, and I don’t have enough money to pay for them either.”
Maximum’s eyes glistened. “I’ll fly them up here on first class, don’t worry about it.”
“You don’t have to do that. They’ll be fine flying coach, and they can stay here at the farm. You’ve met my parents; they aren’t used to luxury.”
