Before, I’d been waiting for the right time. I wanted it to be perfect; Lenny deserved that much. I wanted roses, candles, a fucking meteor shower, the aurora borealis, and the second coming when I got down on my knee and promised the world to her.
If the past had taught me anything, though, it was if I kept waiting, I would die. I took a harsh turn just before our street, honks ringing in my ear. Lenny could wait another thirty minutes, there was something I needed to grab from my PO box.
I quickly handed her the box of chocolate and sausage. She thanked me, a big grin on her face. Crumbs fell over her chest as she dug into the sweets. If I hadn’t been certain before, when we were going through all the shit, I knew right then. With a bit of chocolate smudged across her chin, sitting cross-legged, watching some shit musical…I would never, ever let that woman go.
Just as she was about to tear into the sausage, I got down on my knee.
“What are you doing?” She looked at me, taking a bite of the sausage. “Did you drop something?”
I pulled out the ring and thrust it forward. About a moment later I realized I hadn’t prepared anything to say. Maybe I wasn’t going to wait for the second coming, but shit, I could have at least prepared a fucking speech.
“What the hell is this?” she exclaimed, standing off the bed. Sausage and chocolate flew everywhere.
“I thought it was pretty obvious.” I shrugged, gesturing at the ring. The colors caught the light, like the ancient ring knew more than us.
“You want to marry me? Why?” She hurriedly brushed crumbs off her pajamas. The top was a long sleeved button up with side pocket, the bottoms were tied with a thick bow. Either silk or cotton, I wouldn’t be able to tell until she was in my arms. When she’d stood, the fact that she hadn’t buttoned her shirt entirely was made obvious. Her left breast was partially exposed, the nipple peeking out.
“Lennox Moore.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ve loved you since the day you crashed into me in the hall. Are you seriously asking me that?”
“Is it because I’m pregnant? You don’t want a bastard or something?” Lenny tugged on the bottom of her shirt fretfully and her entire breast became exposed. I shifted on the floor uncomfortably, my cock hardening. Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. Now was not the time.
I had the rest of my life for that. Hopefully.
Slowly, I stood up off my knee and brought Lennox in by the arms. “I’m a bastard, you know.”
“I don’t mean your attitude, Vic. I mean in the eighteen hundreds Victorian English way.”
“Yeah, me too.” I pulled her in close by the fabric of her open shirt. I carefully undid the rest of the buttons until the flaps hung open on either side. I slid my hands in, cupping her, then I brought her naked chest close to me.
“Oh…” Chin on my chest, she looked up at me. Her big eyes gleamed like the stone. “I guess it never came up. Well, I don’t care either way, Vic. I love you and I don’t need a ring or a piece of paper to prove that.”
I laughed. “After everything we’ve gone through, I think I know that.”
“So what is this?” She took the ring out of my hand. “Why?”
“Is it so hard to believe that I love you?” I kissed her neck. “I want to marry you, Lennox Moore. I want to make you mine in every way possible. If branding was a thing, I might consider it.”
She furrowed her brow and looked into the face of the stone. “You’re an ass, but I trust you.”
I lowered my hand and slid it between her pajama pants. No underwear. Her tummy was slightly rounding, her skin was hot, her pussy was wet. I groaned. “God, I want you Lenny. Forever. Always.”
Lenny fell into me and I caught her. I would always catch her. I drummed my fingers against her clit. She tried to snake her fingers around my neck but I caught them.
“Not yet, put the ring on.”
She slid the ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful.” A second later she added, “I’m not letting you brand me.”
“We’ll revisit the idea later.”
Later we sat in bed, discussing how to tell our friends and family. Lenny wanted to tell everyone at the same time, to avoid hurt feelings. I really didn’t think anyone would give a fuck when they found out, but she was adamant.
With the conversation at a lull, I reached on the nightstand and grabbed the remote. Time to watch Aliens. Payback for all those goddamn musicals.
“Some couples get engagement photos done,” I remarked.
“Oh! Oh!” She turned to me, excited.
“You actually want to do that?” I raised a brow. “I was joking.”