Hard

“Baby?”

She opened her eyes. “Hmm?” She sounded sleepy and well-loved. “I want to ask you something, show you something.”

“Okay.” She lifted her hand and smoothed her fingers over the scruff on his cheek.

He looked at her for a second and then stood and went over to his dresser. Opening the drawer, he grabbed the small black box and focused on it for just a second, but he curled his fingers around it before he lost his nerve. When he turned to face her again, he saw the way her eyes were wide as she stared at what he held.

She shifted on the bed slightly, and he could see she was nervous and the realization of all of this on her face. Moving back toward her, Corbin dropped to his knees and took one of her hands in his.

“I love you.” He smiled and cupped her cheek for a second, smoothing his thumb along her soft skin. “I love you so damn much,” he said almost to himself.

Damn, I’m so fucking nervous.

She had a soft smile on her face.

“My past is kind of messy,” he said, wanting to be serious but also trying to keep it light as he winked at her. “But everything I went through, everything I thought was what I wanted in my life doesn’t compare to the reality of being with you.”

“Corbin...” Her voice became thick.

“You’re the only woman I want to spend my life with.” He opened the box that held the princess cut diamond solitaire. He knew nothing about rings, but when he saw this one, he knew it was the one he wanted Izabella to wear.

He was nervous, and that was something he’d never experienced before in his life. They both loved each other, and he was pretty sure she’d say yes, but that didn’t mean this wasn’t one of the most terrifying things he’d ever done.

Looking down at her hand and focusing on her ring finger, Corbin knew just spitting out the damn words was what he needed to do. He was probably looking like an asshole not saying anything.

“Baby, I love you so fucking much it hurts.” He stared into her eyes. “I love you, Izabella,” he said again, wanting her to see that honesty.

“And I love you.”

He took a deep breath. “Izabella Heart, you’re the love of my life. I’d die and kill for you, want you as the mother of my babies, and need you in my life.” Fuck, my heart is about to beat out of my chest. “Will you marry me?” He took the ring out, slipped it on her finger before he lost his damn nerve, and waited for her answer.

For a second, she just stared at the ring, her eyes wide, her mouth parted. Had he thought wrong in guessing she’d say yes? But then she started crying, and a smile covered her lips.

She lifted her gaze from the ring to his face, her smile now showing her straight, white teeth. “I love you,” she whispered and cried a little harder, but then she started laughing, too. “Yes, Corbin, I’ll marry you.”

He grinned and had her in his arms and off the bed a second later. Corbin held her tightly, and as that little missing piece inside him filled, he realized at this moment he’d just found his other half.

Yeah, it was a sappy fucking thing, but hell, even a man like him could understand what true love was, and that was exactly what he had with Izabella.

The End.