That made me blush even more. I couldn’t help the smile. I felt so at peace. So loved and treasured. Alessio did this to me.
He pulled away slightly and presented me the flowers. “These are for you.”
I took the flowers with a soft thank you. “I love these flowers. They’re my favorite.”
“I know,” he replied ever so arrogantly.
I looked around the creek. Next to the tree, I found some pillows, a basket, and a large blanket laid down. My eyes moved back to Alessio’s, and I pointed at the tree.
“What is this?”
He shrugged and cleared his throat.
Alessio swore under his breath, and he avoided my eyes for a few seconds. He took a deep breath before meeting my gaze again.
I waited for him to speak.
He opened his mouth but then snapped it shut again.
He hissed, running his fingers through his hair agitatedly.
“I had this planned. I even fucking practiced,” he growled under his breath.
“O-kay?”
I held the flowers closer to my chest, waiting for him to continue.
“Right,” he said, clearing his throat again. “You deserve everything, you know that, right? Even a romantic proposal. I want to do this right.”
Oh. Oh. OH!
I gaped at him. He was proposing?
Was it possible for my heart to beat faster? I didn’t know, but it sure felt like it.
“Flowers…” he said suddenly. Alessio pointed at the flowers, and I nodded slowly.
Okay. Flowers.
“It’s you…I mean, flowers represent beauty. That’s you. The most beautiful.”
That was really sweet. Like really, really sweet. So I told him. “Thank you. That’s really thoughtful and sweet.”
“The pink peonies are supposed to be romantic,” he continued.
I looked down to see two light pink peonies in the middle of the white bouquet. Awww.
“But I’m giving you the white because that’s the first flower I ever gave you. It was the start of us,” Alessio broke off at the end and paused. “Why the fuck am I talking about flowers?” he asked suddenly.
“I think it’s sweet. The meaning behind why you gave me the flowers. I love it,” I replied honestly. He really did think this through, even if he was being a little funny at the moment.
He looked so lost and bashful, confused but really determined.
“Okay.” He nodded. Alessio took a deep breath again.
I saw him jerk at his tie in frustration. Unable to see him like this, I moved closer and laid a hand over his wildly racing heart.
“It’s okay, Alessio. Stop trying so hard,” I soothed gently. “Just be yourself. I need only you.”
“I ruined the proposal, didn’t I?” he asked, a frown on his face.
I leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Nope. So far it’s perfect. Just say what you want to say. From your heart. That’s all I want.”
He nodded and took a step away from me.
Only to kneel on one knee.
I brought a shaking hand to my mouth and held back the tears.
Alessio took my hand in his. He placed a soft kiss at the back of my hand, letting his lips linger there. “I love you, Angel.”
With his lips still against my skin, he continued. “I was such an asshole when we first met.”
He paused and let out a low chuckle. “Okay. Maybe sometimes I still am. But you changed me, Ayla. You made me feel when I didn’t want to. When I didn’t think I was capable of feeling.”
A tear slid down my cheek. He brought his head up and kept holding my hand.
“You taught me how to love when I didn’t even believe in love. I thought no Angel existed. I had lost hope a long time ago, but then you came into my life and proved me wrong,” Alessio said, his voice a little scratchy with emotions.
“I know I’m not the perfect man. But I know I can be the perfect man for you. I will be the one who holds you at night, wipes your tears away. Makes you smile and laugh. I will be the man that makes your heart flutter. I will make sweet love to you.” He paused, and his gaze moved over my face.
I saw a small smirk. I should have guessed what was coming next, but I didn’t because I was so lost in his sweet words and captivating blue eyes.
“I will be the man who fucks you too. Slow. Fast. Deep. Rough.”
I shook my head, a small laugh bubbling from my chest. “You are impossible.”
He shrugged before swallowing hard. Alessio was silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
“Give me a chance to love you, Angel. Let me love you the way you deserve. Let me be the man for you. Will you marry me, Angel?”
I couldn’t do anything except nod. My voice…my words were robbed from me.
My throat was closed up with emotion, and I swallowed back my sob. Alessio continued to break and mend my heart with his words.