He just shrugged. "I know he's your friend, and I actually even like the guy, but just knowing the thoughts he must be having about you, considering the way that he feels, was driving me mad. To cope, I had to come up with a strategy on how to deal with him. Seeing him with Jessa was like a light switching on. He's into her, more than I think he realizes, but he was just so hung up on you for so long that he was blind to it. Don't get me wrong, I sympathize with that. Being unreasonably obsessed with you has become one of my favorite hobbies, but I'll be damned if anyone else gets the honor."
I thought about Damien and Jessa. "It's a match that makes sense to me."
"An old friend of mine is in need of a new flight crew for his private jet. I've recommended Murphy and Damien as his pilots, and Jessa as his flight attendant. It will put the two of them in close proximity often. All we can do is hope that will be enough."
"That's so sweet of you. I was just worrying about how Damien and Murphy might not get to work together anymore, and how sad that would be."
He winked at me. It made my stomach do little flips. "I know you were. I have my eye out for jobs for your friends, since so many will be unemployed within the year."
God, I love him, I thought, for the millionth time. "Thank you for that," I told him.
He stroked my cheek. "I love your soft heart. I'll make it my life's mission to accommodate it."
We continued to briskly climb the trail. Even stopping frequently to enjoy the incredible views, we made the climb in just over four hours.
We had a spectacular view of the sunset as we reached the crater at the top of the mountain.
"We couldn't have timed it more perfectly," I said, in awe of the view. It was unquestionably the most beautiful sunset I'd ever seen.
"Yes, I know," he said succinctly.
I shot him a look. "You did time it?"
"Yes. I wanted today to be special. I wanted it to be perfect."
I still studied the view as he spoke, but I felt him studying me. I shot him another quick glance. "What's so special about today?" I asked, a serious note in his tone alerting me to his mood.
My heart stopped and then did one slow turn in my chest as he got down on one knee in front of me.
"I wanted you to have a perfect view of the world that I want to lay at your feet, my love," he began. His eyes were clear and impossibly beautiful with what could only be a plea.
My eyes filled with tears as I saw what he was doing, and how painstaking of an effort he'd made for it to be perfect.
He pulled a small ring box out of his pocket and I gasped on a sob. He opened it, showing me a ring with a large, princess cut diamond, surrounded by sapphires. I realized immediately that it must have been his mother's engagement ring. It matched the earrings that he'd already given me.
"I'll love you 'til I die, Bianca. Marry me." There was no question in his voice. It was all in his eyes, a vulnerability that was as hard for me to resist as his sure domination.
I had been both dreading and anticipating this moment. He had given me clear warning, because he understood me so well. Marriage represented so many scary things for me, it always had, and it was hard to change the way I thought about it. It was hard, but not impossible, not since James had entered my life, turned everything upside down, and changed my mind about so many things.
I was shocked at how quickly I held my trembling left hand out to him. "Yes," I whispered. I spoke again, making my voice more firm, more sure. "Yes, James, I'll marry you."
I traced a tear down his cheek with my other hand while he slid the ring onto my finger. It was a perfect fit.
He stood and pulled me against his chest in one fluid movement, kissing me with rough tenderness. I kissed him back with a hunger that would never be slaked. There was no doubt in my mind that I would love him until my own death. How not?
We made love in the dirt, next to the great mountain's crater, and with the glorious sunset still bathing us in its light.
I gave no thought to being seen as he tore at my clothes. The temperature had cooled as we climbed higher, and we had briskly layered up as we went. He got me out of those layers even faster. He tore off my pants, just opening my top. He did even less for himself, just pulling his stiff length out of his pants and impaling me with one rough stroke. He moved inside of me, a world of raw need in his eyes, need and gratitude. He must have been uncertain of my answer, and still he'd asked.
He moved inside of me with harsh precision, hitting every sensitive spot perfectly and repeatedly, and with merciless force. He had me on the brink before he spoke. "Say it, Bianca."