Page 86 of Asher

He winked, stood, and then tossed me over his shoulder.

Catcalls and hoots sounded as he carried me out of the clubhouse and out to his bike.

He sat me on his feet, then wrapped his hand around the side of my neck, “Need to do something first.”

I lifted a brow, “And that is?”

He winked, then reached into his kutte, pulled something out, and then did the very last thing I expected.

He dropped to one knee. Right there in the middle of the parking lot outside of the clubhouse.

My hands came to my mouth, and tears formed in my eyes.

Then, like a shield had been moved from his eyes, those amazing hazel eyes with tawny flecks in them showed me every emotion a woman wants to see in the man she loves.

Want. Need. Heat. Hunger. Love.

“You were seven years old the first time I met you. And I didn’t know it then. Didn’t know that all these years later, I would finally understand the reason I was put on this earth. I promised you I would wait for you. I went to war for you. I worked my ass off to be there for anything you ever needed. I have strong shoulders to carry your burdens. Strong arms when you can’t walk anymore. And a strong heart that loves my club and my daughter but a heart that has areas that have been locked since I took my first breath. But those areas, Doll Baby, you carved your name into them without even trying.”

He took in a breath and then whispered, “I want you to know that I want everything with you. Fucking everything. And I’m here on one knee in front of you before we take that step, showing you, proving to you, that I am the man for you, Chloe. I love you, Doll Baby. Love you until the stars fall from the sky. Will you marry me?”

I didn’t even try to blink back the tears, in front of me was everything I’ve ever wanted and then some.

Which was why I replied with, “I will love you ‘til the world turns to ash.”

And my man being my man, he knew my answer, stood up, wrapped me in his arms, and pulled me into his chest.

Then my lips met his in a kiss so hot I forgot where we were.

That was until he pulled back, both of us inhaling much-needed oxygen into our lungs.

He grinned, then took out the black velvet box, opened it, tagged my left hand, and slid a ring on my finger.

Only then did he let me see it.

And. Was. Perfect. Utterly perfect.

It was a vintage-style set with a huge rock.

I grinned, “Are you trying to say something with this rock?”

He winked, pressed a soft kiss on my lips, then said, “Gotta make sure those motherfuckers know that you’re taken.”

I grinned.

***

His hands were on my ass, and my lips were melded to his, carrying me up the stairs to his house.

Somehow, without us losing our connection, he unlocked the door.

We didn’t make it past the living room.

It would seem that the only place close enough was to the couch because the moment he sat down, my lips were moving away from his lips, over his beard, and to his neck.

His lips were trailing a path along the column of my neck, and it felt so good that I had to stop what I was doing, close my eyes, and just feel.

That was until I heard something, and that was why I moaned breathily and called out, “Asher?”