Viper (Hell's Handlers MC 9)

His gorgeous eyes bored into hers, serious and so mesmerizing. “Baby, you are number one. Always. And I didn’t show that to you, but if you come home to me, I promise I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

“The rest of your life, huh?” she asked with a smile while running a finger over a dark ring under his eye. He seemed to have been taking as good care of himself as she’d been doing the last few days. “That’s a long time.” And it sounded incredible.

“Not long enough if you ask me,” he said as he pressed his erection into her. He shifted back and forth, grinding against her sensitive nerve endings and igniting a wildfire of need. As she groaned in frustration and want, he dug around in his front pocket between their bodies.

“What are you—oh, my God, Viper!”

It couldn’t be…

Between their bodies, he held up a silver colored ring with a single round diamond. Their lower halves were flush against each other, with his hard cock nestled in the softness of her belly as though neither could bear to be separated any longer. The gorgeous ring caught the sunlight, projecting a sparkly array on the wall.

“I-I…it’s so beautiful,” she whispered. Her throat thickened and tears prickled her eyes. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined meeting a man like Viper. Many times throughout her college years, she’d tried to resign herself to marrying a rich, stuffy, bore chosen by her father. She’d always assumed she’d have a passionless marriage to a man she merely tolerated. And here she was, with a man who’d given her everything she loved about her life. He’d given her independence, freedom, family, and love.

So much love.

“No, baby, that’s you. So beautiful. So kind. So loving. So perfect for me in every way. I know I should be down on my knee for this, but I’ve been away from you for two days and I need to be as close to you as I can right now, so I’m staying right here.”

Her heart beat so hard she almost couldn’t hear him. Nodding, she managed to say, “That works for me.”

This was happening. This was really happening. He wanted to be with her for the rest of their lives. To bind himself to her. To never leave. To love her…forever.

“Cassandra, we rarely talk about the day we met. We’ve both put it behind us and moved forward, but to know that from the first time I saw you, when you were cold, hurting, and scared, something in you called to me. Your strength amazed me. Your courage floored me. And your trust humbled me. Cassie, I’m sure I’ll screw up from time to time, but, baby, I promise you with everything in me that I will always, always love you.”

“I’ll always love you too,” she cut in, unable to keep the words inside. “Forever, no matter what.”

“Not your turn to talk yet,” he said with a mock scowl, drawing a shaky laugh from her.

Then they both fell serious again. Viper dragged his thumb across her mouth and Cassie couldn’t help but lick the pad as it traveled. Her body heated, softened, and made itself ready for him.

“There is not a thing in this world more important to me than you, Cassie,” he whispered though they were the only ones in the house. “Without you, I might as well just give up. You…Christ, Cassie,” his voice cracked, and he shook his head.

Despite the grip she had on his waist, her fingers began to tremble. They’d been together for years. By now, they’d had a host of intense emotional experiences and times of deep connection. But nothing compared to the way he bared his soul to her in that moment.

He pressed his forehead to hers. “When I wake up in the morning, I immediately seek you out because I can’t begin my day without feeling you against me. When I’m working, I count the hours until I’m back in your presence. Whenever something happens good or bad, I get this feeling right here.” He pressed a closed fist to his stomach. “This unbearable ache in my gut that doesn’t abate until I’m able to share it with you. The nights I have to be away from you? Baby, they are pure hell. I wake up ten times, reaching for you only to see a brother’s ugly fucking face across the room.”

This time, she let out a watery chuckle. She’d given up the fight against tears. They rolled down her cheeks in fat wet drops. Everything he said, she fully understood and felt herself. His heart lived in her chest as much as his own.

“Please, tell me you’ll be mine forever, Cassie. I know we’ve often said we didn’t need to get married to be committed and happy. And we don’t need to. But I want to. I want you to wear my ring, and take my name, and be mine in every way. Please give me the honor of calling you my wife. My wife.”