Page 102 of Devoured By You

I looked down at her and she gazed up at me, the love in her eyes shining so brightly that I got a lump in my throat. Clearing it, I took a deep breath and lowered to my prosthetic leg. I’d been practicing this move for weeks, occasionally losing my balance. Even now, there were moves that felt strange, although most days, I hardly noticed the weight of the prosthetic. I’d wanted my proposal to be normal. Jill deserved nothing less.

Her eyes widened as I reached into my inside pocket and pulled out the ring box. Opening it to show the nine-carat diamond, I held it toward her.

“I love you, Tilly. I loved you before I knew that I did, and I’ll love you until my dying day. I’m forever grateful that I met you when I did, and the gift of our son is something I shall never forget. Marry me. Be mine for the rest of our lives.”

There was a split second where the room fell silent and fear took hold. The next thing I knew, she was on her knees, too, kissing me, her salty tears wetting my lips.

“Is that a yes?” I asked when we broke apart.

“It’s a yes,” she whispered.

I slid the ring onto her finger as our friends and family gathered around, and the entire restaurant broke into loud applause.

If I lost every cent in my bank account tomorrow, I’d still be the richest guy alive.

Epilogue

Jill

The best Christmas gift ever.

Two weeks later…

Sunlight warmed my face, the weight of Blay’s left leg over mine comforting. He removed his prosthetic each night to allow his stump to breathe, but other than that, he wore it pretty much all the time. Nowadays, those without knowledge of his amputation would never know. He walked without a limp, although it had taken a lot of work and painful physiotherapy for him to get this far. His strength astounded me. I couldn’t say, in all honesty, that I’d have coped nearly as well as he had.

I listened to his steady breathing, his hand on my breast twitching as he slept. Snaking my left hand through the covers, I examined the huge diamond on my finger. I’d lost count of the number of times I’d stared at it in a stupor over the last couple of weeks.

I hadn’t seen it coming.

Fourteen days since I’d gotten engaged, and I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. Not an inkling of suspicion had crossed my mind that Blay had planned to propose. He hadn’t shown an ounce of nerves. If the roles had been reversed, I’d have been a blubbering wreck. Thank goodness the tradition of men predominantly proposing had survived the feminist age.

The baby monitor resting on the bedside table remained mercifully quiet. Two nights ago, Lukas had fussed all night, and nothing had soothed him. Last night… he’d slept like the dead. That was babies, I guessed.

Speaking of babies…

My stomach tilted. I really should—

“Merry Christmas, soon-to-be wife.” Blay kissed my shoulder, rolling me onto my back and settling between my legs. “You look beautiful.”

He’d made the soon-to-be wife statement every morning since he’d proposed to me. “Are you still drunk from last night? I bet my hair looks like a bird’s nest, mascara gloop is in the corners of my eyes, and as I didn’t remove my foundation last night, I’ve probably stained the pillowcases.”

He nodded sagely. “Hmm, now that you mention it, beautiful might be a stretch.”

I put on my best resting bitch face. “I decline your marriage proposal.”

“Too late. You’re tied to me for life.” He kissed me before I could protest, sliding his tongue over mine. I lost myself in his kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

“Lukas…” Blay nuzzled my neck.

“Still asleep. For how long is anyone’s guess.”

“Better take advantage, then.”

He grazed his teeth over my nipple. I arched into him, moaning, pleasure gathering low in my stomach. Tilting my pelvis, I reached for him. Mother’s instinct told me we didn’t have long, and as much as I adored my perfect bundle of joy, a girl had needs.

Guiding him inside me, I sighed in bliss. He filled me so perfectly, as if we’d been made for each other. He rolled onto his back, taking me with him.

“Ride me, fiancée. And if you’re good, I’ll give you your gift.”

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