Dusk Before Dawn (Dusk Before Dawn 1)

I gave her a mock frown as I set her cute little bottom on the nearest countertop, moving to stand between her legs. “You’ll have to give me a fashion show so we know that everything fits,” I told her with a devilish wink.

Thana laughed and raised a knowing eyebrow. “Especially the ones that are nothing but scraps of lace and silk?”

My wide grin was unrepentant. “Definitely those.”

I pulled one arm from around her waist to dig in the pocket of the loose pajama pants I was wearing and fish out her last present. Then I held the small, colorfully wrapped gift up in front of her. “Let’s start with seeing how you look wearing this.” With a wicked smile, I added, “In fact, I’d prefer to see you wearing nothing but this.”

One corner of Thana’s mouth ticked up, but she wasn’t really paying attention to what I was saying. Her big blue eyes were as round as saucers, and she was staring at the box with what looked like apprehension. Worry crept in as I wondered if I’d let myself get too far ahead and she wasn’t ready for what was in there.

Before I could retract my hand and make up an excuse, she took it from me with trembling hands. When she glanced up at me, I felt a rush of relief to see that her trepidation was from the way she was fighting to suppress hope. I smiled warmly to reassure her and nodded at the package. “Go ahead, baby.”

She carefully unwrapped it, as though she was afraid she was going to set off a booby trap. It didn’t take all that long, but it felt like for-fucking-ever. Finally, she revealed the black velvet box and slowly flipped open the top.

An engraved thin gold band sat snugly next to a matching but slightly thicker one, and a platinum engagement ring with white and yellow diamonds all down the sides and a three-carat, square diamond on top. There were tiny gold accents along with the yellow diamonds to give the illusion of a matching set. However, there were over a thousand years between them.

“This belonged to my mother,” I explained as I lifted the gold band. “Before it had even become popular to use gold for wedding rings, my father wanted something that would last forever.” I pointed at the tiny engravings before looking deeply into her eyes. “These represent Eros, the god of love.” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I loved her, but I was already throwing so much at her, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her.

I plucked the other gold band from the box and put them together. “And this was my father’s.” Then I took out the engagement ring. “I had this made to match my mother’s band when we lost them a few centuries ago.” I lifted her left hand and kissed her ring finger. “It’s been here, waiting for you.”

Thana’s mouth had formed a cute little O, and her face was a mask of shock, but her eyes...they were filled with light and happiness. “Yes!” she suddenly shouted as she threw her arms around my neck.

“Yes?” I echoed, puzzled by her exclamation.

She pulled back and looked at me uneasily, her cheeks stained a deep crimson. “Weren’t you asking me to marry you?”

Ah, so there was the confusion. “No,” I stated emphatically, teasing her.

Her features crumpled, and I called myself ten different types of an idiot. “Baby, I wasn’t asking. I’m telling you. We are getting married.”

Her face lit up like the brightest moon, and it sent a flood of warmth through my body as well as a bolt of lust straight to my already hard cock. She put her hand out and wiggled her fingers, making me chuckle as I slid the engagement ring into place. “You’ll get this one on our wedding day,” I informed her with a wink as I tucked the bands into the box and put it back in my pocket.

“Now, about seeing you in nothing but the ring…” I bent my head and covered her mouth with mine as my hand slid up beneath her shirt to splay on her naked back. “Have I told you how fucking hot it gets me to see you in my clothes?”

I was seconds away from whipping the shirt over her head when there was a pop in the air, and Athan suddenly shouted, “I knew it!”

Thana startled so hard she would have fallen off the counter if I hadn’t had my arms around her. My head swung to look over my right shoulder, and I glared so hard at my brother that I was a little surprised when he didn’t drop to the ground, writhing in pain. “What the fuck, Athan? Did you not understand me when I said not to bother me?”