Page 154 of By His Vow
It’s…
“Tate, you really need to say something right about now,” he mutters, still down on one knee before me, his hand trembling as he holds out the ring.
“I-I know, I’m sorry. I just?—”
He jumps to his feet the second I apologize, and disappointment flashes across his face. He tries to cover it, and he probably thinks he does, but his poker face isn’t good enough.
“Wait,” I say, reaching out and wrapping my hand around the side of his neck.
His pulse flutters rapidly against my palm, giving away everything he’s trying to play off.
I hold his eyes firmly and continue. “I’m sorry. I just got a little lost in the shock of it all. Can you please get back down?” I ask, my voice quiet, nervous.
“B-back down?” he parrots.
I nod, biting on my bottom lip as the weight of what I’m asking him begins to press down on me.
Slowly, so fucking slowly, he sinks back to one knee before me and holds the ring out.
“Go on,” I whisper.
He sighs, a smirk threatening as he understands what I’m asking.
“Tatum,” he starts, “will you do me the honor of making the next year of my life probably the most insufferable, and annoying, and impossible one I’ve experienced yet?”
I can’t help but laugh.
I make a show of considering it, but I’m going to need more than that.
“Everything I have, you’re welcome to borrow, and I promise to give you more thrills than anyone else is capable of, leaving you wondering how you’re going to continue life without me.”
“Idiot,” I mutter, my smile wide and honest.
“So, will you?” he nudges.
“Will I?”
He shakes his head, losing patience with me.
Start as we mean to go on, right? What did he say about me being insufferable?
“Tatum,” he warns, causing tingles to erupt between my thighs. “Will you be my wife?”
I suck in a breath, allowing myself one more second to consider just how fucking insane this is before I give my answer.
His eyes widen in impatience and his jaw ticks, but I don’t make him suffer any longer.
“Yes, Kingston. I’ll marry you.”
I tell myself the words spill from my mouth as I think about that little cottage and its cute garden. But the truth is, anything outside of this moment, this man, is far from my mind.
In a rush, he flips open the ring box. I hadn’t even realized that he didn’t show me what was hiding inside before.
“Oh my god,” I gasp as the stunning yet simple round solitaire ring sparkles under the soft glow of the fairy lights strung up around us.
It’s huge. At least five carats.
It’s…too much.