“So, it’s your way or the highway?”
Two. I glared at her. “There is no ‘highway,’ Charlotte. So stop bringing it up. You are mine. I told you last night, when you let me pop that sweet cherry, that no other man would ever touch you. I warned you that you couldn’t turn back.”
“You have to know this isn’t about me wanting another man, Gabe. It’s about me trying to find a solution we can both be happy with. You’re asking me to give up everything, while you give up nothing!” she yelled at me. “Maybe it’s useless for me to even try. Maybe there is no middle ground. If so, I can solve this problem easily by going to California.” Three.
“Sweetheart, sit down,” I suggested, doing my best to keep my voice smooth. When she didn’t do as I asked, I infused steel into my voice. “Charlotte, sit your pretty little ass down, and do not ever threaten to leave me.” Four.
Something in my tone must have made her realize I wasn’t fucking around and she sat gingerly on the couch, eyeing me warily. “Your sass is sexy as hell, sweetheart, but you’re just asking to be punished for defying me in the one thing I’ve asked you not to push.”
“Punished?” Her voice squeaked adorably.
“Remember those cuffs?” A small spark of desire mixed with the curiosity in her eyes. I kept my face impassive, but inside I was smiling like a Cheshire cat. “Does that intrigue you?” I asked knowingly. She gave me just the barest nod, seeming confused by her own admission. “You want to know what it’s like to be tied up by me, dominated, owned by me, don’t you?” She blinked at me silently, but once again, I could see everything in her eyes. I was right about her submissive nature and thinking about later, when I would show her how much she’ll love it...I had to stop. It wasn’t time yet.
I stood and started walking towards the kitchen. It broke the trance-like state that had come over Charlotte.
“Where are you going?”
I glanced back. “I’m not asking you to give up everything, sweetheart. I’m asking you to mold your dreams. Maybe create new ones,” I said over my shoulder as I reached my destination and pulled a small box from a drawer and dropped it into my pocket.
When I returned to Charlotte, I went to my knees in front of her. I wanted her to know that my words were a request, and not a demand. That despite my dominant and over-possessive nature, there was give and take in this relationship. Not that I was willing to budge on this, but I figured giving her the illusion of having a choice would serve me better.
“Sweetheart, I know things between us are moving at lightning speed. But, I’ve loved you for months and now that I have you, I can’t give you up. I can’t do it, Charlotte. It would tear me apart.” Her face softened and I could see her love shining through.
“I had every intention of giving you some time before asking this. Not much, but some. However, I simply can’t wait. And, honestly, I don’t see a reason to. Not when I know you love me.”
She nodded and her eyes brimmed with tears, whether they were happy or sad, I wasn’t sure yet. “I do, Gabe. I love you more than anything.”
I pulled the little box from my pocket and opened it to show her a sparkling diamond set in rose gold filigree that was molded around it to form a rose. It was an antique, and when I saw it, it reminded me of my sweet Charlotte’s pink rosebud mouth.
“I want you to be mine in every way possible. I want you to be my wife, my lover, and the mother of all our children. I want you to raise them to be strong, independent, and smart, just like their mother. I know you’re young sweetheart, but I also know you will never be more ready to start a family with me than you are now. Because you will already be the perfect mother.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, but there was a smile hovering around the edges of her mouth. Her fingers ghosted over the ring and her smile grew. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, did you just answer ‘okay’ to my heartfelt, poetic, and utterly, devastatingly romantic proposal?” I asked with mock offense.
She laughed, “I’m terribly sorry to have offended your delicate sensibilities, sir.” It took everything in me not to rush her to the bedroom, get her naked, and hear her call me sir on a moan.
I shook it off as best I could, reminding myself that it was almost time. Removing the delicate ring from the silk it was nestled in, I started to slip it onto her finger—
“Wait!” I froze, but held tight when she attempted to pull her hand back.
“Wait, why are you asking me now?”