Page 72 of My Wicked Princess (Club Wicked LA 1)

Moving out of the bedroom and into the living room, I glanced around, bemused to realize I could fit everything of mine left in this house in probably two boxes. Bit by bit, I had transferred my life over to Tyler’s place. Maybe I’d been subconsciously moving in with him, my heart blinding my brain to the fact so I wouldn’t do something stupid and panic over it. With the help of a good therapist, I was beating back my demons, but with Tyler’s support, I was killing them for good.

I was stronger than I had been even a few months ago, my old wounds—while still tender—finally healed by Tyler’s love.

I was finally strong enough to admit to myself that I wanted to be tied to Tyler forever. I wanted to wear his collar and his ring. To make a statement to him and to the world that we belonged to each other.

I left soon afterward, driving around and running some errands on an odd autopilot, my mind filled with thoughts of the future.

By the time I made it home, it was late afternoon, and Tyler was inside probably getting food ready for the BBQ. We were having some friends over tonight for dinner, and the weather was so nice, we’d probably end up eating on the roof. Tyler and I had spent the last few weeks remodeling the space and putting up a privacy screen and some layered mosquito netting in one corner over a big outdoor couch so we could make out beneath the stars without giving the neighbors a show. After I came in and gave the cats love—Tia and Mia were both thrilled to have me living there—I went up to the kitchen, following the sound of running water.

I should feel nervous or worried, but all I felt was a heady rush of anticipation. Like I’d been waiting for this moment for so long, even if I wasn’t aware that it was coming. My thoughts made no sense even to me, so I stopped thinking at all and just appreciated as I rounded the corner to see Tyler working in the kitchen. His hair was a little longer than when we’d first met—I liked it long enough to grab onto during sex—and some of the tension lines on his face had softened during the time we’d been together.

He was rinsing off some limes in a colander when he caught sight of me, his blue eyes instantly warming.

“Hey, princess.” He looked down at the bag from the hardware store in my hand as he turned off the water. “Done with your errands?”

Once again, I waited for any feeling of fear or panic, but only found a glowing sense of rightness as I took a few steps forward and handed the bag to him. “This is for you.”

“Oh?” He set aside the limes then dried his hands on a towel hanging from the stove’s handle. “What is it?”

“Open it and you’ll see.”

He raised one eyebrow, a talent I envied, then reached into the bag and pulled out three things. A length of chain with a padlock attached, two pieces of a broken key, and a large silver nut. He shook the bag, but when nothing else came out, he gave me a puzzled look.

Picking up the circular nut and holding it in front of him, Tyler said, “Okay, I give. What am I missing here? Is there some kind of hidden meaning I’m not getting?”

Picking up part of the broken key, I said, “This was my key to Shyla’s house. I won’t need it anymore.”

His frown started to soften as I picked up the length of chain. “This is the collar I hope you’ll put on me.”

Tyler started to speak, but I cut him off by picking up the nut and saying, “And while this isn’t a ring, I hope that someday you’ll wear mine.”

“Stay here,” Tyler barked as he dashed out of the room, leaving me and the cats staring at each other.

His feet thundered up the stairs, and I looked at the ceiling, following his pounding feet as he ran to our bedroom, then bounded back down the stairs. He ran so fast, he was a little out of breath, but the smile on his face as he sprinted back to me had me grinning like a madwoman in return. When he reached my side, he slid to his knees and took my left hand in his own, his right clenched on his thigh. Through his fingers I could see a small velvety box and I’d watched enough romantic comedies to know what that meant.

Joy—pure joy and happiness—exploded inside of me as Tyler said, “I had a whole big shindig planned out, but I like your way better. Nora, will you do me the honor of wearing my ring and being my wife?”

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