Page 117 of First Surrender
“You adopted him?”
“It’s actually a she. No one bothered to check before I guess.” He rubs his palms nervously down his sides as if he doesn’t know what to do with his hands.
“What’s her name?”
“She doesn’t have one. I was waiting, hoping you guys would come home someday so Dec could name her.” His eyes have always conveyed so much, and I can see just how much he truly missed us. It breaks my heart and heals it at the same time.
I reach out and take his restless hand, gently tugging him toward his room so we can have a moment to talk without Dec’s ears listening in.
As soon as I’m in the room that I missed terribly, that reminds me of the man I longed for desperately, I turn and spring into his arms.
“I missed you, so much,” I utter into his neck. His arms embrace me desperately, holding me almost too tight to breathe.
His forehead presses to mine and he inhales deeply. “You have no idea, sweetheart. I was losing my mind without you.”
“So much that you adopted a dog.” I laugh at the absurdity and he smiles gently.
“She saved Dec’s life, it was the least I could do.”
Of course, Jackson’s big heart couldn’t bear to leave the dog without a proper home. He’s a regular at taking in strays.
“We are ready to be home if you’ll still have us,” I whisper against his lips.
His eyes squeeze shut, embracing my words before his lips take mine. He kisses me with all the raw aggression he’s bottled these last two months, consuming me entirely. There’s nothing gentle about it and it’s exactly what I needed.
My back hits the wall as his lips drag down my jaw and my neck, tasting me, remembering me. “Don’t ever leave me again, fireball. I barely survived.” He bites my sweet spot and soothes it with another kiss.
“It would kill me, too.” I tug his head up to look at me. “I love you, Jackson. I’m never leaving, again.”
His breath catches in his throat and nothing but pure love is staring back at me. He needed to hear those words as much asI needed to say them, again. I meant them the day that Declan kidnapped us, but this is the moment I wanted. I needed to look Jackson in the eyes and finally be able to say the words out loud.
“I want to get married,” he replies, stunning me. “I have a ring because I need you to know how serious I am, but I need to do something first.” He moves away from me, leaving me slack-jawed.
He pulls a ring box from his nightstand and comes back, opening it to show me. It’s a beautiful, shiny, giant diamond. It’s meant for a princess. “Jackson…”
“I want you to have the wedding of your dreams. I bought the most classic ring I could find because you deserve something that will last forever. Something timeless, traditional, and hopefully one day you can pass it down to one of our kids. I want it to weigh your hand down so you always think of me, and I want you and the world to know that you belong to someone. To this little family we have, and the bigger one we’ll create. I want you to marry me, Nat…”
I’m not even sure I’m breathing, but he continues. “But I need Dec to be ready first.”
“What?”
“I’m not asking for his blessing because honestly, I’ll risk his anger if it means I won’t lose you, again, but I need to make sure that he’s ready for me to be a part of your family. We can wait until he is, but I swear I’ll put in the work to earn him again. Just like I did with you.”
I touch the diamond delicately, testing that it’s really there. It’s as smooth as it looks. It’s everything I could have ever dared to dream of.
“Let me talk to him then I promise I’ll get down on one knee like a proper gentleman and ask for your hand. I’ll do it in a much cooler place than this so you aren’t embarrassed totell the story of our engagement. I’ll hire a photographer, it’ll be perfect.”
“This is perfect.” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him with all the love in my heart. “I don’t need the elaborate story.”
“You might not need it, but you deserve it.” He places my left hand over his heart. “From here on out, I am giving you the life you’ve always wanted.”
“All I want is a life together, Jackson. A family with you.”
“Me too, but I want Dec to want it, too, or it will tear you apart,” he utters.
“Well, go. Go! I don’t want to wait anymore.” I push him toward the door and it makes him laugh. He spins on me quickly, kissing me fiercely. “I love you, sweetheart. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” I respond breathlessly. He winks at me before he heads down the hall to Dec.