"I first dreamt of you on your twenty-first birthday. Then, when your mum got sick, your pain reached out to me. I tried to come to you as a man in your dreams, but you wouldn't see me, so I went as a leopard. Your pain was mine, love, I had to try and help you. I didn't know where you were, so I had to go into your dreams to ease your discomfort." He stopped, lowered his eyes and took a deep breath.
"But why? Why did you dream of me in the first place? And why couldn't I keep away from you after we did meet?" This whole thing was confusing her, none of it made sense.
"The simple answer is because we're mates. We were made for each other, destined to be together." His voice was quiet, as if he knew she'd struggle with the information. And she was most definitely struggling. He continued on before she had a chance to respond.
"When a male shifter's mate turns twenty one, he begins to dream of her. Seeing glimpses of her face and hair; as time goes on he will see more of her. Eventually, if he still hasn't met her, he will see places and things she holds dear which will enable him to go in search of her."
"Predestined mate, huh. So tell me, Dominic, do you really even like me? Or is it just this mating thing that is forcing your hand and making you seek me out?" Adele was starting to get angry. She did not like the idea he would be with her, just putting up with her, because he thought he had to. She wanted a man who loved her for her, who wanted to be with her.
"I mustn't have explained it right. Please don't be angry. Let me try again. Being destined mates means we are, quite literally, made for each other. Our personalities are designed to compliment each other, our bodies to fit together. We are perfect for each other in every way because we are mates."
Dominic shuffled his chair closer; he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose before laying his head down next to hers so their foreheads touched.
"Adele, I. Love. You. How could I not? You are beautiful both inside and out. You have a heart as big as a mountain. You show compassion and empathy to everyone you meet and you protect your own more fiercely and completely than anyone I've ever known. Just look at your current injuries. You could have just kept running away and saved yourself, or you could have just let him take Kelly. But you didn't. You went too. You stayed close when you got away. You fought hard, damn hard to get to her and save her. A child who was a stranger to you mere months ago. I admire and respect you so much, beautiful." He took a deep breath before he stroked her cheek, stared into her eyes and continued.
"Don't you understand? You complete me, Adele. When I'm with you I feel whole. When I found out that bastard had you and I might not make it to you in time, my heart stopped and my soul cried out in agony. You are as vital to me as air, my sweet Adele. Marry me and I promise I'll spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you."
It took a full minute for Adele to comprehend what Dominic was saying. No one had ever said things like that to her before and she was having trouble working out what to do...then his final sentence sunk in. He wanted to marry her?
"Did you just ask me...to marry you, Dominic?" she asked him firmly.
"Yes, Adele, I did. Will you? Will you say yes? Be my mate, my wife?"
She stared into Dominic's eyes as she thought about his proposal. There was a small part of her that was still unsure about the whole shifter aspect, but deep down she knew what her answer was. She loved him with all her heart, and he completed her just like she did him.
"I love you, Dominic. When I was being dragged down those stairs, when I thought I wasn't ever going to come back up, it was you who filled my thoughts. At the thought I would never see you or be held by you again, made my heart bleed for the loss. Then when you came charging through that door to rescue us, I knew you would be the only man I would ever love. So, yes, I will marry you, Dominic."
He gave her the biggest smile she'd ever seen, and with tears in his eyes he leaned forward and kissed her gently so as to not hurt her split lip.
~ * ~
Dominic knew he was grinning like a fool as he and Kit walked into the jewelry shop, but he didn't care what anyone thought. Adele had said yes. He was going to marry his mate. Kit's laughter snapped him out of his trance.
"Sorry, what was that?" he said to the smiling sales assistant in front of him.
"Can I help you, Sir?" the young lady asked, apparently for the second time.
"Ah, yeah, you can. I need an engagement ring."
"Do you have any ideas what you're looking for?"
He just looked blankly at the assistant. This is why he'd brought Kit--he had no freaking idea! The assistant obviously picked up that he didn't have a clue and started with simpler questions.