mine, our mouths locked together. I collapse when my legs hit the couch, and she lands on my lap, never breaking the kiss.
When she pulls away, she says, “I’ve never been happier than I am right now. I don’t think anything could make this day any better.”
My stomach twists, and I know now’s my chance to ask her, hoping she’ll say yes and somehow I will, in fact, make her happier than she ever thought possible.
I lift up, taking her weight, and reaching into my back pocket. “Babe,” I whisper, feeling the ring between my fingertips. “I know we haven’t known each other very long…”
She’s silent, but her eyes are on mine, never leaving my face.
“But there’s one thing I know. I always want you in my life. Not only do I love you, Arlo, I want you to be mine forever.” I lift up the ring, and her eyes dip, widening as soon as she sees the light shimmer off the diamond. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Her mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. Tears flood her eyes, hanging on the edges, threatening to fall. “You…” she starts to say, but the words die on her lips as the tears begin to fall. “You want to marry me?” she whispers between sobs.
“I want you to be mine forever, babe. I’ve had a family my entire life, but I’ve never felt more at home than I am with you.”
“Yes! Yes! Oh my God, yes,” she says, sobbing louder as I take her hand, sliding the diamond ring onto her finger.
“This is my grandmother’s ring. She gave me her blessing and wanted you to have it so you know you’re as much a part of the family as any of us, including me. You’re not only gaining a man but the entire crazy-ass group.”
She throws her arms around me, almost choking me with the force with which she hugs me. “I have a family,” she whispers, the tears now falling onto my T-shirt. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”
“Babe,” I say, pulling back so I can see her face. I cradle her cheeks in my hands, staring into her eyes. “You’re the one who’s given me more than I ever knew I wanted. I can’t wait until you’re Mrs. Carmello Caldo.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, her lips are on me again, taking everything as quick as I can give it.
“I want you,” she whispers against my mouth. “I don’t want to wait.”
“Arlo,” I say softly, searching her eyes for any hesitation but seeing nothing but happiness and need. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Carmello. I’ve saved myself my entire life for the man I’d call my husband, and that man is you.”
“My wife,” I whisper, loving how that sounds on my tongue.
“Forever,” she whispers back as I move my mouth to her neck, kissing a trail down to her collarbone.
I stand, Arlo wrapped around me, my lips on her skin, and move us toward the bedroom, wanting to take my time with her and enjoy every inch of her body. I want the experience to be amazing, wiping away the one from her past.
Gently, I set her on the bed and take off my shirt, throwing it to the side.
“You’re really something beautiful,” she says, watching me with hungry eyes.
I unbutton my jeans and lower the zipper. “Baby, you’re the work of art.”
She lifts up, removing her tank top before shimmying out of her shorts, having nothing underneath.
The wind is knocked out of me for a moment before I slide between her legs, covering her warm, soft skin with my own.
“Are you sure?” I ask her again, staring into her green eyes.
“Stop asking,” she tells me, taking my face in her hands and pulling my mouth to hers. “I want you, Mello. Make me yours.”
My lips slide to her jaw, down to her neck, and lazily make their way to her breasts, readying my girl for her first time. I want her to feel pleasure and not pain, thinking nothing more than how beautiful the moment is.
Her legs fall open as I slide my hand down her side to her hip, finding the small tuft of hair I’ve spent hours burying my face in over the last weeks.
She moans as her knees drop to the sides, pressing into the mattress, opening her for me. Using my fingers, I ready her, knowing this may hurt, and that’s the