Page 122 of Always Yours

I glance up to him, and my goodness, the look on his face destroys me. His eyes are hooded, soft and full of such tenderness for me. His lips are parted, but it’s the flush along his cheeks that has me gasping for air. “My parents got married with a crappy ring when my dad found out about me. That ring was turned into a necklace that my mom still wears to this day. Fast-forward to after I was born. They fell in love and wanted to do life together forever, so my dad got her this ring. He got her a lot of different rings, but this one was always intended for me to give to my future wife. When I was a baby, he put it in my hand to give to her. It was his way of righting all the wrong things he did to her, replacing all the bad with endless good. My dad never told anyone he loved them—my mom was the first—and Austen, you were the first for me,” he says, his voice full of so much emotion.

“Just like how my dad replaced all the bad memories with good for my mom, I want to do the same for you. I want to fill your life with all kinds of amazing things so that your past will never haunt you again. I want to love you, Janie. I want to love you in the way that you should have always been loved and then some. I want your everything, your everywhere, and your always. I just want you. Forever.”

Tears flood my gaze as he whispers, “I grew up watching all these people be in love and always hearing about their love stories. I never wanted one until I met you, and now I want the best love story out of everyone. Because you make me want to be the best at everything I do. As a hockey player, a person, and as yours.”

My tears spill over, and my lip quivers as I stay locked in his gaze, still gasping for my breath. “I was going to ask your grandpa, but I’m sure he’ll say no, which would cause a whole lot of unnecessary drama. And then I thought about it, and I don’t have to ask anyone but you. Because it’s your choice.” When a tear trickles down onto his beautiful face, I come completely undone. A sob rips from his chest as he takes the ring out of the box and holds it up to me. His hand trembles as my soul sings for this beautiful man. Who is all mine.

“Austen, my Janie, my world, my everything, will you marry me?” he asks, his eyes full of emotion along with his voice. “Know in doing so, you’ll be continually tormented in and out of bed, but you’ll also be endlessly loved, because nothing in this world could ever keep me from loving you.”

I cover my mouth to keep the sob in as I gaze at Dimitri, completely taken by him. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Yes is usually what the girl is supposed to say,” he reminds me, and laughter bubbles out of me.

“I know that. I mean, aren’t I supposed to say something else, like thank you or give you my declaration of love?”

His eyes bore into mine. “Austen, you’re taking my moment here.”

I snort as his eyes dance with mine. I lean in, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Yes, Dimitri. I want nothing more than to be your wife.”

His shoulders fall in relief, which is maddening to me since there is no way in hell I could say no. He slides the ring down my finger, and it may be snug, but I don’t care. I’ve never wanted a ring on my finger as badly as I do in this moment. I take him by his shirt, pulling him to me and crashing our lips together. He cups my face, kissing me as our hearts beat together, our tears mingle, and our love for each other surrounds us. As we part, only slightly, I open my eyes to find him already looking at me. I smile against his lips, and he does the same before he runs his fingers along my cheeks.

“I fall in love with you every day, Dimitri,” I whisper against his lips. “I swear, it feels brand-new each time.”

“As it should. And if it ever changes, let me know so I can do something different to make you fall for me, because I don’t want to love anyone but you for the rest of our days.”

I close my eyes and press my lips to his, completely in love with this man. This insanely inappropriate, maddening hunk of hotness that is all mine. He kisses me gently and deliberately before he pulls back, kissing my top lip. I gaze into his eyes, breathless, and I know I just fell in love with him all over again.

“I love you, Dimitri.”

He kisses my bottom lip. “Oh, Janie, I love you more.”

He brings my hand up, kissing my palm before he kisses the ring on my hand. “Now, since you’re in a dress and we don’t need to tear any shorts, hop on up here so I can show you how much I love you in another way.”

I just gawk at him. “How do you go from swoonworthy to wanting to bang in two seconds?”

He grins, pushing his seat all the way back. “It’s love, Janie. I love you and I want you, all the time. Now hop on and scream how much you love me.”

I hold his gaze for only a second before everything inside me urges me to do something completely different. I swallow hard as I whisper, “No.”

His eyes widen in surprise, but the lust is still there. So bright that everything inside me tightens up. “Well, I read this situation all wrong,” he laughs, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

My heart gallops in my chest as I whisper, “I’d rather show you another way.”

His gaze is half hooded and dangerous. “And what way is that?”

I lean in, my hand coming to where his cock is throbbing under the thin fabric of his shorts. “With my mouth.”

A strangled breath leaves his lips as his eyes burn into mine. “Austen, I would love nothing more than to have all that glossy lipstick stain my cock, but are you sure?”

I slip my hand into the waistband of his shorts, pulling them down and freeing his erection. He hisses out a breath, his eyes wild as I grip him at his base. Our eyes meet, and I nod. “I want to show you how incredibly much I’m in love with you.”

He takes my face in his hand, his fingers trembling against my heated flesh. “I should say something really, really sweet, but I’m going to be real honest with you. You haven’t even dropped those lips to me, and I’m already ready to bust,” he admits, his eyes making me breathless. “I mean…fuck, Janie. Show me, just fucking show me, and watch how fast I explode.”

A little smirk pulls at my lips as my gaze stays locked with his. “You could have at least said I love you too,” I tease before I run my tongue along the head of him, my pussy clenching at the sound that leaves his gorgeous lips.

Through gritted teeth, he proclaims, “Oh, Janie. I fucking love you, and you know it’s true.”

I do. I truly do. I take him then, and as he mutters my name almost like a curse, I fully enjoy him in my mouth.

Because I want to.

Because I love him.

Because he is the easiest choice I’ve ever made.

---