to the corner of the blanket, I grab the little black velvet box that I laid there. I do this without breaking our kiss.
Once I have the ring in my hand, I pull my lips from hers and take her in. Her face is flushed and her lips are swollen from our kisses. Her eyes tell me what she won’t… she wants more. I plan to give her just that. I just have something to ask her first.
My heart is about to beat out of my chest. My palms are sweaty and I want to wipe them on my thighs, but she’s on my lap and then there’s the ring I have clutched in my palm. I can feel the diamond digging against my skin.
Leaning in, I place my forehead against hers. I will my heart to slow down, as I open my mouth to speak, but the words won’t come. I’m so overwhelmed in this moment that I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it. I know what she’s going to say, but in my heart, this is real. I want her for a lifetime, longer if possible.
“Evan?” I can hear the concern in her whispered plea.
Lifting my head, her worried eyes watch my every move. I grab her hand, careful to not drop the ring, and bring it to my lips. “I wouldn’t change anything about this, McKinley. I have only one regret when it comes to saying our vows.”
Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t comment.
“McKinley Rae Mills, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?” I slide the ring onto her left hand. My eyes don’t leave hers, and when I see tears begin to fall, I start to worry this was the wrong thing to do. That this was too much for our situation. It’s not until I see her blinding smile and she wraps her arms around my neck, sobbing as she buries her face there, that I realize they are happy tears.
I hold her as she cries and fear sets in. What if I read her wrong and this isn’t what she wants?
“McKinley, baby, I need to see your eyes.” She sniffs and lifts her head.
I cradle her face in the palms, wiping her tears with my thumbs. “Will you marry me?” I ask softly.
Again, the smile—my smile—lights up her face. “Yes, yes, yes, yes!” she says through tears. Then her lips land on mine.
Our kiss is passionate and filled with all the things we’ve said and all the things we haven’t. I roll us over and lay her down on the blanket, never breaking our kiss. I reach back for the blanket and pull it up over us. I don’t take it past kissing and neither does she. The moment worked out better than I planned, and I give myself an internal fist bump that this beautiful, loving creature is going to be my wife.
Chapter 40
McKinley
Everyone is asleep by the time we get home. Carol left us a note on the counter saying she has Lexi with her in her room and she moved the pack-n-play.
“I miss her,” I say as we’re climbing in bed.
“Me too. It’s weird to not tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.”
“Yeah, she kind of swoops in and steals your heart when you’re not looking.”
“She does,” he agrees. He pulls the covers over us as we lie in bed face to face. I lift my hand to move his hair out of his eyes and my ring shines in the moonlight.
“We’re getting married,” I say in whispered excitement. I can’t hold it back. I’m going into this eyes wide open, but I’m going to relish the fact this man is going to be my husband and cherish each moment until it ends.
“We’re getting married,” he repeats before his lips capture mine. He starts slow, but I need more. I open for him and he takes the invitation and slides his tongue against mine. We duel and I drink in the taste of him, all the while my hands are roaming over every inch of him I can touch.
I want tonight to be different. Up to this point, it’s him giving me pleasure. He never lets me reciprocate. Tonight, that changes. I block out the fact that we’re in his parents house. All I see is Evan, and all I can think about is having him unravel from my hands and mouth.
Gently, I push him back on the bed, rising up over him. I take