Jonah was so wonderful.
I opened the bag and gasped.
It was a gorgeous bra and panty set in purple silk and lace. The Midnight Reverie set from the lingerie shop near my office.
It would clash terribly with my green eyes. As much as I loved purple, I never wore it. But, oh, I longed to put it on. I longed to feel the soft fabric against my skin.
I would. After all, Jonah had told me to wear it. I wanted to please him more than anything.
I undressed, folding my clothes and piling them on the settee at the foot of the bed. I smiled when I removed my pink satin panties. Jonah had said never to wear cotton underwear in this room. I had stopped wearing it altogether, so I’d never be caught off guard.
Slowly I dressed in the violet lace, letting its softness caress my skin. I regarded myself in the mirror on the ceiling above the bed.
Not bad. Even with my green eyes.
I knelt at the side of the bed and waited for Jonah.
A few minutes later, I heard the doorknob.
“Beautiful,” he said in a low voice behind me. “You are simply stunning.”
I stayed put while he padded across the soft carpeting and took a seat in the leather Master’s chair.
“Come here,” he said. “Kneel at my feet, Melanie. Kneel and surrender to me completely.”
I smiled as I rose and went to him. I knelt in front of him.
“You’re so beautiful, with your blond waves teasing your shoulders. That lingerie doesn’t do you justice.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but he stopped me.
“I love you. I love you, Melanie.” He touched my hair, twisted a few strands through his fingers. “There will always be a darkness in me, but only because I want it there now. Because we both need it and enjoy it.” He cupped my cheek. “You’ve banished the bad part. You and your love. I thank you for that.”
“I love you,” I said.
Jonah pulled a small velvet box out of his front pocket and opened it. “I’m so happy about our baby, but I don’t want you to think for one second that he’s the reason I’m offering you this. That he’s the reason I want a life with you.” He pulled a ring out of the box.
I gasped. It was large. Larger than Jade’s. And it wasn’t clear. It was the lightest shade of purple. Lavender. Was it a light amethyst?
As if reading my mind, he said, “It’s a diamond. A mauve diamond. Very rare, just like you are.”
“It’s perfect,” I breathed.
He took my left hand and placed the gorgeous ring on my finger. “Then wear it. Forever. Show the world that you’re mine. Marry me, Melanie, and make me the happiest man in the world.”
I sighed and laid my cheek on his knee. “I love you, Jonah. I will be honored to marry you. And in this room, I surrender to you. Completely.”
Epilogue
Ryan
The last barrel of wine had been sent to bottling, and my busy season was finally over. I knew I had been neglecting my family, and it wasn’t fair to them, with both Talon and Jonah goin
g through so much.
Now that Jonah was back, the woman who had been stalking him was safely behind bars in a mental institution, and two of Talon’s abductors had been taken care of, life was finally getting good for my family.
Jade and Talon and Jonah and Melanie were planning weddings. Actually, Marjorie was planning everything. Soon we’d all be en route to Jamaica for the celebration. And Melanie was pregnant. I would be an uncle in several months. I couldn’t help smiling. It would be good for Joe. That man was a born father. He had taken good care of us when we were little, though of course he would deny that. But Melanie had been so good for him. Finally, he was letting go of the guilt that had consumed him for so long. He had been through so much during the last month. He deserved all the happiness in the world. He and Talon both did.