Peter knelt before her, unprotected and unafraid.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a ring,” he said with the sort of adorable, uncharacteristic earnestness that was going to earn him a good amount of time spent on her own knees in the near future. “I was in a hurry to get here before you left. And if you said yes, I thought you’d want to choose it yourself.”
He truly did know her very, very well.
Bending from the waist, she used her fingers in his hair to guide his mouth to hers in a lingering, sweet, unhurried caress.Not a claim anymore but a declaration: that they had all the time in the world. That she trusted him with her softness, not just her strength. That, like him, she wasn’t worried or wary any longer, because he was hers, and she was his, and both of them were too damn stubborn to let go of what they loved.
Then she ended the kiss with a flick of her tongue against his, because her love encompassed softness, strength, sweetness,andfierce need.Heat.
“We’ll choose my engagement ring and yours at the same time.” It wasn’t a request. “I know it’s not standard for men, but I want everyone lusting after your thighs and dying to ride your beard to know you’re taken.”
She paused. “And speaking of beard-riding...”
After all, he wasright there. And it had been aweek.
He shook his head, lips twitching. “My greedy Swede.”
“You’re complaining?”
“No,” he said, and grinned openly. “Bragging.”
Then he yanked down her panties and leggings in one swift, strong tug and set a new standard for knee-sinking excellence. Because whatever Peter did, he did with unshakable commitment.
And since he was currently doingher...
Well. Enough said.
Texts with Maria: Thursday Afternoon
Peter:You’ve broken me, Pippi
Peter:Shame on you
Maria:???
Maria:I’m delighted, of course, but further explanation would still be useful here
Peter:Am I or am I not the man who acted like a jackass and let you leave me because I was determined to take jobs that would keep me away from you for months or years on end
Maria:Yes, obviously
Maria:If one of us is behaving like a jackass, I think we should always assume it’s you
Maria:That general rule has stood me in good stead thus far
Peter:And are you or are you not the woman who said she’d miss me terribly if I were gone for too long
Maria:I believe we both remember the incident clearly, Peter, thanks so much for reminding me of that very happy day
Peter:If all that’s true, if we’re remembering things clearly, then why am I here on location in NYC and fucking miserable after two fucking weeks apart while you’re blithely doing your own thing in LA and seem happy as can be
Peter:YOU BROKE ME, WOMAN
Peter:SHAME ON YOU, I WAS IN MINT CONDITION
Maria:...
Maria:Of course I miss you, sötnos, but work helps, and seeing our friends helps, and I’ve FaceTimed my family a lot too