Page 19 of Destiny Reclaimed
Gwennie turned at the waist and plucked a tissue from the box on the end table, wiped her fingers, then tended to his ear, brushing gently as she smiled warmly with those bow-shaped lips of hers. Since he’d been gone, she’d changed the shade of lipstick she wore from a soft pink to a reddish-brown. The color of a sweet potato. It added an aura of elegance to her.
As she brushed over his stitched earlobe again, he welcomed the authenticity of the reminder—the lasting memory created from the travel—the success of the travel—history preserved—his family’s heroism preserved. The soon-to-be scar on his ear would always be there to remind him of his father's heroism. His heart seized. Unfortunately, it would now also always be there to remind him his life with Gwennie would forever include lies.
Time travel.
Gwennie.
Selfishly, he wanted it all, and he’d do whatever it took to get it all.
For now, she seemed to accept the answer about his injury without further question and refocused her attention on the object in his hands.
Jack cleared his throat. "Sweetheart."
Flecks of green lit up in her soft caramel gaze as she lifted it to meet his. His heart rate ratcheted up a notch, making him have to work to tamp it down with hope not to sound like a bumbling fool when he asked his question.
He opened the box.
Gwennie’s eyes watered more as she stared at the solitaire diamond housed in a smooth platinum setting. This ring bore several meanings to him. A single solitaire indicating she was his one and only, and a platinum setting to denote the sheer durableness of their bond, and his commitment to her.
"Gwendoline Tebon, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She flung herself toward him, giving him only enough time to open his arms as to not crush the box he held between their bodies.
“Yes! Yes!”
Adrenaline rushed his veins. After all this time, his love was finally going to be his. All through the war, she was what got him through. Mission after mission. Close call after close call. His every thought was about getting out of Vietnam and starting a life—family—with Gwennie. With a sneak peek into his future, he knew it would happen. He’d seen their son.
––––––––
Gwen’s heart flutteredwildly as she clung to Jack. When she’d seen the small velvet box in his hands, she knew it could only be one thing, and she wanted it—him—more than anything. The entire time he was at war she prayed for his safe return and this day.
Jack eased back slightly. His dark gaze focused on hers as he lifted his hand with the velvet box, still open, resting on his palm bringing it to her sightline. He pulled the sparkling ring from the satin then reached for her hand. His movements were excruciatingly slow. She wanted the ring on her finger, now, as well as the band to go with it.
With her gaze glued to the diamond, she watched as he slid it onto her finger. Once on, he placed his fingertip under her chin and lifted it slightly. His sexy, dark gaze deepened. He tossed the velvet box onto the couch and lightly cupped her cheeks with his hands. The warmth from his palms seeped into her as her heart continued to race. She’d longed for his touch for two years and it was every bit as fulfilling as she’d hoped for and recalled from the past.
“I love you, Gwennie. More than words can say.” The seriousness emitting from his gaze and the conviction in his tone was second to none.
“I love you, too.”
He lowered his lips to meet hers. She soaked up every ounce of his soft, sweet kiss and basked in the blissful sensations it created. The slow burn was almost too much to bear. She wanted more. As if he’d read her mind, he opened his mouth and ran his tongue over the seam of her lips. Without hesitation, she opened for him. Still moving cautiously slow, he dipped his warm tongue into her mouth and brushed it lightly against hers. His tantalizing, unique flavor, with a hint of coffee, seeped into her. She pressed herself firmly to his lean body. In response, his kiss turned hotter, wetter, and harder, as his hands lowered from her cheeks to her shoulders, down her sides, then clasped around her lower back.
“Ahem.”
Jack paused, and she followed suit, but she stood in place, hoping she hadn’t heard anything and could keep letting her husband-to-be kiss her senseless.
“Ahem.”
Reluctantly, she stepped out of her fiancé’s hold and scrutinized the source of the interruption.
Her parents stood in the archway staring at them awkwardly, but approving smiles stretched across their faces.
“So, I take it congratulations are in order?” her mom asked.
“Yes,” Gwen replied as she lifted her hand to display the gorgeous diamond ring on her finger.
Her mother scurried forward to get a better look, then embraced her. When she pulled back, she turned to Jack and hugged him as well.
Her normally impassive father pulled her into a strong embrace. He’d never been the hugging kind but had been more so since her brother was killed in action. His show of emotion was better late than never, Gwen figured. She always knew he loved her even though he didn’t express himself much.
