to a knee in front of me.
“Stephanie Christophers, we have had a long road to get to this point, and I’m not sure I would have survived it without you—I know you’re probably expecting it, but I have waited more than five years to ask you this question. I have never had any doubt that you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, and even if you’ve made me wait until my hair is gray and my back hurts when it’s cold, I love you. I’m not sure I’ve ever loved anyone but you, and I would like to ask you, finally, if you will marry me.”
The grin that had been on my face somehow grew even wider. I looked down at the man that held my entire heart and felt everything. I was melting under his gaze.
“Of course, I will marry you, Adrian. I’ve known I would say yes to this question from the second I woke up in that hospital and saw you waiting for me. There’s never been anyone but you, no matter how much I tried.”
I laughed dryly at the last part, and Adrian stood, holding my hands in his own. I was finally able to get a clear look at the ring, even as tears filled my eyes. It was a small silver band, with diamonds set around it in varying patterns of sizes. It took me a moment to realize that they looked like vines, and it became infinitely more beautiful. Then, my vision blurred with the wet droplets that began falling from my eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Adrian said, even though he looked like he was about to cry himself.
Instead of answering, I kissed him. I kissed him and kissed him and kissed him and kissed him some more. It was like I couldn’t get enough of him, of his mouth, and of everything he meant to me. Our life that we had built together was only more perfect with the prospect of walking down an aisle one day and declaring that I was his and he was mine, in front of everyone we loved.
His hands ran up my back, skirting under the t-shirt I had on, and suddenly, all thoughts of the dinner he had prepared were gone from my mind. We’d had sex plenty of times in the years we’d been together, but every time, it was as special as the first time.
Without thinking too much, I pulled my shirt off, and Adrian hummed in approval. I couldn’t understand how he never got sick of me, never thought I was anything less than beautiful, even with all my scars. Although, I knew he felt the same. Even though his eyes were showing signs of wear in the crow’s feet that were threatening to land there, even though we’d been together too many times to count, even though I knew every inch of his body better than my own, every time I saw him naked, it was a new and enlightening experience.
I pulled his sweater over his head, and he was smiling when he reappeared, his hair fluffed madly from the action. I smoothed it and kissed him again, my eyes falling shut as our torsos pressed together. The warmth of his skin felt burning against mine, but in the best way possible, and I felt his hands undo my bra with practiced expertise while we kissed. Once my bra was out of the way, we were completely free of any barrier on our upper halves, and I reveled in it, pulling him closer and closer. I kissed each of the shoulders I had cried on multiple times, ran my fingers down the arms I had fallen asleep in most nights for the past five years, and grazed my teeth down the firm lines of the chest and stomach where I had found comfort by curling into when the nights were long.
I dragged my nails over his nipples, only to hear him hiss as I sank lower. I couldn’t deny the satisfaction that seeing the silver band on my finger gave me as I did this. It was a way he had marked me as his, and even though there was no doubt about it, I wanted the whole world to know. I wanted everyone to see the ring and know that I was madly in love with one man, and that he was madly in love with me.
His arms traced over my back and settled on my