Page 54 of Alpha's Redemption

“Having fun with Dad?” Valen laughs.

“Did you set me up?” I ask him, and he laughs through the link.

“Yep, Dad said you were dropping Valarian over and you were going to make me dinner?”

“Well, it looks like Chinese now. It's almost dinnertime already,” I say with a sigh.

“Good thing I organized dinner, then,” Valen says.

“It better not be your sausage; I intended to cook actual food,” I growl.

“It is real food, but you will definitely have a feed on my sausage later,” Valen laughs.

“What are you making?”

“Hurry home and find out,” Valen purrs through the mind link. I laugh, then cut the connection.

Driving home, I park underground before grabbing the small, velvet box and slipping it into my handbag. It feels like it weighs a ton; I can't believe I am actually going to do this. My palms become sweaty as I wait for the elevator to take me to the top floor. By the time I reach our floor, nerves twist my stomach as I push open the penthouse door while giving myself a mental pep talk; Zoe's idea is sounding better and better.

Yep, I am going to do what she said or I will chicken out. I wander down the entryway, flicking the hall light on and shaking my head, wondering why it’s so damn dark. I know he’s home—I can smell something cooking.

“Valen?” I call out, but get no answer. I mutter to myself. Dropping my bag on the hall stand,I rummage through it and grab the small box out, gulping. I turn the corner into the living room and kitchen area to find the whole place lit with candles on every surface and rose petals scattered across the floor.

Stunned, I stop and gape, wondering how long I was gone—this must have taken some time to set up! It’s only 5:30 p.m. and when I left here at 4:30, the place was normal. Now there are hundreds of candles. I consider the fire risk briefly until Valen clears his throat, making me realize he’s right in front of me on one knee.

“I intended to do this next week. But Dion called, so I had to improvise,” Valen says.

“How?” I ask; This would have taken more than an hour!

“Marcus and Tatum, while I cooked and screamed like a banshee for them to light them and rip roses apart,” Valen chuckles and I peer down at him.

“You don't get to take this from me,” he whispers, turning his palm over, and opening a velvet box, revealing a ring.

“I watched, I saw, and I loved you more, so Everly Summers, will you marry me?” Valen asks. Thank the Goddess he asked, because I was about to chicken out.

I can't stop the stupid grin that splits my face or the tears that roll down my cheeks as I nod my head.

“Yes,” I reply, and he lets out a breath before taking my hand and slipping the ring on my finger. I peer down at it. I recognize this ring! Only, now it’s shiny and the stone is replaced.

“Is this…” I’m about to ask, recognizing it as one of Valarie's rings, and he stands up.

“My mother's, yes. Valarian helped choose the stone, but,” he slips the ring off again, showing the inscription inside it is what he said.

'I watched, I saw & loved you more.'

“I will spend the rest of my life loving and watching you,” he whispers before slipping the ring back onto my finger, lifting my chin, and kissing me.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Everly

I kiss him back before remembering his ring in my hand and pulling away. He growls, gripping the back of my neck; his lips cover mine again as he kisses me deeply, his tongue dominating my mouth.

Oh, well, I guess I'll give it to him later,I think as he pushes me against the entryway hall stand.

My ass hits it, making everything on the top rattle, and my handbag falls off with a thud. I put the ring box in the small bowl that rocks precariously on the edge just as he grips my thighs, making me shriek as he sits me on top of it.

He chuckles, his lips moving to my neck, but I grip the collar of his shirt and yank his head toward me. I bite down on his lip with a growl and kiss him while my fingers work down his buttons, trying to undo them as desire burns through me, searing my veins and making my skin warm. As soon as I finish undoing his shirt, he pushes himself between my legs and my fingers trail down the hard ridges of his chest and abs before I tug on his belt.

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