“Good evening, Mr. Blackwood. You may go straight up.”
“Thank you,” Xander says.
We go up the stairs to the library room where my dad’s desk and books have lived for the last year. This isn’t the first time we’ve been back here. In fact, one of my favorite things to do while I’m working on my second book is to come here and write at his desk.
Xander puts his hand on the small of my back, following behind as I go through the door. Inside, the room is decorated with fairy lights everywhere. They light up the shelves perfectly, showcasing the books with a warm glow.
“What is this? Why is the room all lit up?” I ask.
Xander chuckles as he guides me to the old leather couch and pulls my hand to sit down next to him. “Because candles were too risky.”
I stare at him, not following what he’s saying at all, until he stands up from the couch and kneels in front of me.
Oh. My—
“Ash,” he says. There’s a tremble to his voice, and when he takes my hands, he’s shaking. I take a deep breath.
This isn’t happening, right? Is it? No, it’s not.
Xander looks at me, love, hope, and uncertainty written all over his face.
Oh my god, it fucking is happening.
I squeeze his hand to give him reassurance.
“I wanted to bring you here because I know how important your family is to you. How important it is for you to be close to your parents. I already asked Victoria, and she—”
“You asked Victoria?” Why would he ask Victoria?
“Yes—wait, how do you know what I’m asking.”
I raise my brow and lean over to give him a soft kiss on his lips. “Go on, ask the question, baby.”
He smiles. “I love how confident you’ve become since we met. It’s so sexy, and I can’t get enough of it.”
“That’s not the question though, is it?”
“Oh Ash…my beautiful, kind, generous, fun Ash. Every moment of my day is filled with thoughts of you. When I’m not with you, I want to be with you, and when I’m with you, I don’t want you to go away.” He pauses, and then laughs. “God, that came out creepy.”
“A tad, but I get what you mean. Carry on.”
“I knew from the moment we met that you were different, special. But not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d feel this way about you, or that my feelings would be returned.”
I smile. If only he knew how those feelings were returned a million times over.
“I’m procrastinating here because I’m a wimp, and scared you’ll say anything else but yes.”
“Spoiler alert, I’ll say yes.”
He shakes his head. “Okay, okay. Ashton Phillip Cinder, a year ago I asked you if you wanted to come to the ball with me as my boyfriend. I’d like to ask you to step into the ballroom with me today as my fiancé. Ash, will you marry me?”
What?
Xander looks at me and his face falls, his eyes downcast. “You…you said you’d say yes.” His voice is so quiet, almost a whisper, and it’s then that my brain goes back to the right gear.
I jump off the couch and onto him, which obviously means we end up on the carpet with me on top of him.
“Yes, yes…fuck yes, Xander. Always. I love you so much, baby.” I claim his mouth in a hot, wet kiss and feel him harden under me. I wonder what color panties he’s wearing today and can’t wait to show him the new ones I bought. He’s pliant under me, wrapping his arms around me and then bringing his hand up to cradle my neck and keep me in place. Like I’d go anywhere.
