Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
But a ring.
A single, cut diamond in a platinum band. It was a beautiful rock, a princess cut, absolutely gorgeous.
I took a breath then looked at him.
He remained by the door, watching me. “It’s yours whenever you want it.”
Still in disbelief, I stared. “You made it sound like marriage was for some time in the future—”
“I didn’t want to ask you to marry me to get you back. I didn’t want to use it as a bandage for our problems. Unless I earned you back on my own, I didn’t deserve to ask you to be my wife. But now that you’re home…fair game.”
I picked up the ring off the nightstand. “You didn’t have to do this, Cauldron. I never needed a proposal from you. I just wanted—”
“A commitment.” He came around the bed, coming closer to me. “I know. But I want more than that. I’m asking you because I want us together forever, every day, the two of us. So please stop torturing me and say yes.”
“Cauldron…”
“Or spare me by saying nothing at all…and put it on whenever you’re ready.”
My eyes shifted back and forth between his, seeing the way he turned guarded in preparation for rejection. “Cauldron…you know my answer is yes.”
His eyes released their suspense and relaxed. “Then put it on.” He grabbed my hand and guided the diamond ring onto my finger. It was a perfect fit because my jeweler fiancé knew my exact size.
It looked even more beautiful on my finger. With every subtle turn of my hand, I watched it sparkle. I watched our eternal love dance across my eyes. “It’s beautiful…”
“I sold off everything else but this—because I wanted it to be yours. I won’t bore you with the details of this diamond, but I can tell you there’s no better one in this world, none with this clarity.”
“Honestly, you could have given me a ring with a button glued to it and I still would have loved it.”
He smiled. “If only I’d known beforehand…would have saved me a lot of money.”
I chuckled, enjoying the break in tension that had my muscles so tight. Cauldron had just asked me to marry him…and I said yes. I could have chosen not to forgive him. I could have said it would never work between us. Could have moved on with my life. Might have found someone else. Might have slept with Bartholomew. But I never would have been as happy as I was now—and that was how I knew I’d made the right decision. “When should we get married?”
His eyes lit up brighter than they ever had, glowing like the summer sunset. “How about in the spring?”
EPILOGUE
CAULDRON
It was a beautiful spring day, the temperature moderate but hinting at the impending summer. Flowers were in bloom across the property, red geraniums and white lilies. The lawn had been perfectly manicured for our wedding, and the ocean breeze made it all the way up the cliff.
Grave clapped me on the shoulder. “You look nervous.”
I looked at him, seeing him wear a teasing smile. “You look like shit.”
“Really?” He glanced past me to where Elise sat in her dress. “Because I woke up with Elise on my dick, so I don’t think that’s true.”
“She just has bad taste.”
“Well, she tastes pretty good to me…”
I rolled my eyes. “TMI.”
We were like kids again, teasing each other for every little thing. He stood beside me in his suit, ready to hand me the rings when my bride left the house. It was a small wedding, just a dozen people, including my father.
The violinist started to play.
“Showtime,” Grave said. “Hopefully she shows up…”
“I will punch you on my wedding day.”
“And I’ll punch you right back.”
I took a deep breath when I saw the back doors open. It was hard to see her because of all the trees in the way, but I caught glimpses of her white gown. She eventually made it down the path, curving around the trees until she came into view.
On my father’s arm, she looked more beautiful than I’d ever seen her.
Long, blond hair in beautiful curls, her eyes bright like the sunshine, and the diamonds I gave her making her sparkle. Her gown trailed behind her, and she held the bouquet of white flowers to her chest as she drew near.
Her eyes landed on mine.
Mine locked on hers.
The rest was like a dream.
She floated to me like a cloud, and before I could take a breath, she was in front of me, my father placing her hand in mine.
I clasped it, feeling its softness in mine. I faced her, seeing the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. She was mine to cherish. Mine to hold. Mine to love as long as I lived. Our love started on a yacht with threats of violence, but it ended with a story from an entirely different book.