Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
I let out a breath. If he’s smiling, he can’t be that mad.
“Sorry I’m late.” I stride toward him and gather him in my arms, burying my head in his neck to inhale him.
His scent goes to my head in an instant, leaving me breathless.
God, I missed him, and it hasn’t even been that long.
He strokes my hair in that way he does when I’m lying on top of him, drifting off to sleep. “It’s not your fault you were held up.”
“I know, but I wanted to spend the weekend here with you.”
“Me, too.”
I pull away, staying close enough to smell a whiff of his cologne. “You’re mad I didn’t make it.”
“I’m not.”
“Don’t lie to me. You were looking forward to this, and I ruined it. I’ll be making Lukas’s life miserable.”
“Leave him alone. He barely knows how to deal with you.”
“You’re taking my brother’s side now?”
“No, I just like that you’re finally getting along with your siblings.”
“You’re still mad at me.”
“I’m not mad, baby.”
“Vaughn…”
“It’s just that I had something planned and it obviously didn’t take place because you weren’t here.”
“Oh.” I grin. “We can do it later tonight! What is it? Some niche restaurant you found?”
His eyes widen. “Actually, you’re right. I can just do it anyway.”
“Want to go right after the reception…”
I trail off when Vaughn lowers himself to his knee in front of me and pulls out a black velvet box. “I wanted to do this last night, even thought of decorating the courtyard and planned a romantic dinner, but I don’t need all that to tell you how much you mean to me, Yulian. You’re the reason I know what love is, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, ruling side by side, leaning on one another and just loving each other as best we can. Will you marry me?”
He opens the box, showing the two rings, and I stare, dumbfounded, all sorts of emotions sparking through me as I blink the moisture from my eyes.
“Yuli?” he asks, seeming on edge. “Baby, say something.”
“When I brought up marriage the last time we went to your parents’ place, you said we were too young.”
“That’s because I didn’t want you to propose first.”
“Is that why Gareth insisted I didn’t propose?”
“Yeah. He knew I was planning it.”
“Baby…don’t play with me like that,” I grumble. “I thought you didn’t want to do that with me.”
“I want to do everything with you, Yulian.”
“Me, too.”
“So…is that a yes?”
“Of course it’s a yes.” I grab him by the elbow and pull him up. Vaughn grins like crazy as he puts the band on my finger.
Mine has Volchonok in Cyrillic engraved on the inside.
His has Mishka.
“You like your ring?” Vaughn asks with a note of hope.
“I’ll never take it off. Like never.”
He grins, wrapping his arm around my neck. “Me neither, future husband.”
“I have a question, future husband,” I speak close to his mouth. “Can you become my husband, like, tomorrow?”
He laughs, and I kiss him through it.
Vaughn and I began with blood, and we’ll have blood throughout our lives, but we’ll be together despite everything.
As leaders.
As husbands.
As soulmates.
THE END