I lick my lips as Callum pulls a ring out of his pocket and offers it to me.
“Callum.” His name is a whisper on my lips. I can only imagine the complications that will come with marrying royalty. Will I have to sell my café? Will I have to move to London? How will everything happen?
But as I stare into his brown eyes, so hopeful and full of love, I know that I’d do all of those things and more to be with him for the rest of my life.
“I have so many questions,” I admit as I lean in to rest my forehead on his. “And before I answer, I need to tell you that I love you, too. We haven’t said the L-word before now.”
“I love you so much, Aspen.”
“Yes, I will marry you, Callum.”
He leans back and stares at me as if he’s surprised.
“Did you think you’d have to talk me into it?”
“Honestly, yes.” He laughs and slides the ring, this stunning emerald ring with diamonds, on my finger, then pulls me in for a soft, romantic kiss.
“Holy shit, we’re getting married,” I say against his lips.
He urges me to my feet and tugs me into the bedroom.
“These flowers were a nice touch, by the way.”
“That was the resort because they know it’s our last night here,” he replies and kisses my shoulder as he pushes my sundress off and lets it pool around my feet.
Aside from my panties, I’m standing naked in front of him.
“I wasn’t planning to get married again,” I admit to him. I’m naked, and this is the time for confessions. “Not to anyone. Because loving someone that much means setting yourself up for loss.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through. The thought of losing you that way isn’t fathomable.”
“I wanted to die, too.” He pulls me in to hug me close, skin to skin. “And then you happened. I wasn’t ready for you years ago, Callum. Even if we’d started dating then, it wouldn’t have worked because I hadn’t finished healing yet. And I certainly would have run in the other direction if you’d proposed. I needed time. And maybe hanging on to the anger is what gave me that time.”
“And now?”
“Now, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I know everything is about to change big time. That it’s not as simple as you moving to Montana and us living a quiet life in my little house with my little business.”
“I wish it was that simple. For your sake.”
“I’m marrying all of you. The man and the prince. And you have important responsibilities that I admire very much. We’ll figure it out.”
“You’re a wonderful woman, Aspen. I’m a lucky bloke.”
I grin as his mouth descends to mine, and with all of the words we needed to speak spoken for now, we fall onto the bed. Instead of the frenzied, intense sex I’ve come to expect from him, Callum’s hands are gentle, almost lazy as he glides his fingers up my side to my breast.
His lips wrap around the nipple as his hand travels down my belly to my core.
If intense sex with this man is fabulous, gentle sex is out of this fucking world.
“If you’re trying to kill me, it’s working.”
“I’m enjoying you,” he whispers and kisses my chin. “Your skin, your scent. The raspy tone of your voice when you’re turned on.”
“I’m damn turned on.”
“I know.” He’s at my side, not nestled between my legs. And rather than shift, he lifts my leg and guides himself into me. “So slick, so perfect.”
“Holy shit.” This position is new, and the angle is ridiculous. I reach down to press on my clit as he moves in a slow rhythm, set to drive us both mad.
I’ve never felt so exposed, so linked to another human being as I do at this moment.
Callum kisses my shoulder, and I feel the tension begin to build, low in my belly.
“I’m going over.”
“Yes, darling.” He moves just a bit harder, a smidge faster, and that’s all it takes to push me into the orgasm. I bear down, and he follows me over, then pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly.
I glance down at my left hand.
I’ve only ever worn a simple gold band on that finger. And now, it’s a huge emerald.
“That was Queen Victoria’s,” he says casually and brings it up to his lips for a kiss.
“I can’t wear this.”
“Why ever not?”
“Callum, it’s priceless. What if the stone gets lost or stolen?”
“Given that it will stay on your hand, and you have constant security, I’d say it being stolen is unlikely.”
“This is a family heirloom.”
“Indeed. And it’s staying in the family. My father gave it to me to give to you. He brought it with him to Montana.”
I stare at him, stunned. “What?”