“She told me that life takes us where we’re supposed to be, even if that road is bumpy and there are detours. My road has been hard, but I know it’s led me back to you.”
“She did, huh?” I smile. My mom is one-of-a-kind incredible, always knowing the right thing to say at the right time. I hook a finger under her chin, tilting her head up. Her gorgeous, misty eyes meet mine. “I wish I had never let you go.”
“Don’t let me go now.”
“Never,” I whisper. “Never again.” As I stare into the eyes of the woman who single-handedly brought my heart back to life, I can’t keep the next words from leaving my mouth no matter how hard I try. I didn’t plan on doing this now, but I can’t imagine a more perfect time. “Marry me, Alyse.”
“What?” she murmurs in shock.
“Marry me,” I say with conviction, positioning her so she straddles my thighs. “It doesn’t have to be tomorrow or next month or even in six months, but I want nothing more than to be your husband. I want to spend every single day of the rest of my life worshipping you, taking care of you, loving you. I’ve never loved a single person more than I love you, Alyse, so marry me. Let me spend the rest of my days showing you just how much you are wanted, because no one will ever want you as much as I do.”
“Asher…” Her eyes swim with unshed tears.
“Don’t say anything unless it’s yes.”
“No ‘yes or no’ ultimatum this time?”
“No. Because all I want to hear is yes.”
“Okay.” A devilish smile spreads across her face, but I’m still waiting to hear only one word.
“Okay? Is that a yes, or is that just an okay?”
“Yes.”
“Yes it’s a yes, or yes it’s just an okay?”
She laughs, her smile bright and happy. Cupping my face, she sobers a bit. “Your proposal was more of a demand than a question. You’re very bossy.”
My lips curl. “You love it.”
“Yes.”
“Yes you love it or yes you’ll marry me.”
After a few beats, she answers, “Yes to both.”
“Alyse…” My eyes close briefly before opening and capturing hers. I find myself tumbling into her dark, fathomless pools. I plan on staying blessedly adrift there forever. “God, I love you.”
“Show me. Show me I’m yours.”
I stand, wrapping her legs around me, my cock pulsing, dying to slip into her wet heat after two nights away. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you. Over and over.”
My mouth latches onto hers as I carry her to our bedroom and gladly fulfill her every demand this time.
Chapter 43
Alyse
“Oh my God, you look amazing!” I squeeze my sister tight, hardly able to believe how fantastic she looks. She’s absolutely glowing. Even in the two short weeks since I last saw her, her belly has rounded out a bit further.
“Soaking in vitamin D for two weeks does wonders for a person.”
“Somehow I don’t think that a few rays have you glowing like that,” I tease.
“You’re right,” Livia giggles.
“I missed you,” I tell her, truly meaning it.
“I missed you, too.”
“Liar.”
“No, I really did. It was great to spend some quality alone time with Gray, but I’m also glad to be home and able to get back into a routine. Sleeping in my own bed. Spending time with my sister.”
Gray and Livia returned from their honeymoon last night, and I’ve been dying to spend some alone time with her. I have so much to tell her.
“Can I get you anything?” I ask.
“No. I’m good. Thanks.”
I pour myself another glass of wine before taking a seat beside her, nerves setting in.
“So are you going to tell me about the blinding rock that’s weighing down your left hand?”
I can’t help but smile as I gaze at my almost three-carat cushion-cut platinum engagement ring that Asher and I picked out last Friday. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop smiling for over a week. He was pissed that the boutique jewelry store he wanted to take me to was closed on January first, so we had to wait until the next day. That was a whole week ago now. “Yeah, about that…”
“About that,” she mimics.
“I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. I wanted to tell you in person.”
She nods. “You look radiant, Lysee. So happy.”
“God, I am, Libs. Sickeningly happy. You don’t think it’s too soon?” I don’t. I know with every fiber of my being that Asher’s the one for me, but I guess I’m also seeking the approval from the one person outside of Asher who really matters.