A smirk tugs at my lips. “That’s because I like keeping you on your toes.”
He giggles, the sound soft and breathy, brushing against my chest.
“When did you even buy all this?” he asks, eyes glinting with curiosity. “The ring… the house?”
“I bought the ring when we were in Monaco over the summer,” I reply, running a hand through his hair. We’d spent those warm months along the French Riviera like I had promised, then flown to Thailand again since he loved it so much the first time.
His brows lift in surprise. “You bought it almost three months ago?”
“Yeah,” I say with a small smile. “And the house—I bought it last month. I just needed to finalize a few things before bringing you here to propose.”
He gives me a teasing smile, “That’s actually really sweet. Now I have to get you a ring too.”
I arch an eyebrow. “You don’t have to.”
“Of course I do,” he argues, pouting adorably. “If I’m wearing one, then you are too. There’s this Cartier gold band with diamonds around it. I’m sure it would look so good on you. Or maybe the Trinity band—”
I don’t let him finish. My mouth finds his, swallowing the rest of his sentence in a kiss that steals both our breath. He lets out a soft, startled sound, his fingers gripping the back of my shirt as he melts into me.
I deepen the kiss, tasting the sweetness of his lips, the warmth of his breath, the way his body melts for me. Every time I kiss him, it’s like falling again—harder, deeper, without a chance of ever finding the bottom.
When his tongue brushes mine, I groan, breaking away before I lose every shred of control and rail him against the wall of our new house.
He’s flushed and dazed, lips parted, eyes glassy with emotion.
“I love you so much, Alex,” he whispers, voice raw and trembling.
I rest my forehead against his.
“I love you more, baby,” I breathe. “More than I ever thought I could love anything.”
His lashes flutter as he exhales shakily.
“Take me back to the penthouse,” he murmurs, cheeks pink. “Please… I need you.”
I give him a small knowing smile. There’s no need for words; I already understand. I need him just as badly, maybe more.
So I kiss him again, slow this time, deep and promising. A kiss that says I’ll show you when we get home. Then we walk hand in hand to the car, the air cool around us, but my chest burns with something fierce and steady.
When we settle inside, the quiet hum of the engine fills the space between us. He keeps staring at the ring on his finger, turning his hand as if he still can’t believe it’s real. Then he looks at me and smiles.
It’s the kind of smile that could make a god fall to his knees.
“You make me the happiest person in the world,” he says softly, voice almost breaking. His eyes glimmer with something I know I’ll never get tired of seeing—love, unfiltered and whole.
And in that moment, watching him, I realize this is forever, and I will protect it as long as I live and never take it for granted.
