“No, it wasn’t.”
“Do you think it’s okay?”
“Do you feel okay?”
She nodded, but the crease stayed between her brows. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to my body.
This bond.
This woman.
I couldn’t think straight around her. I’d never felt so desperately alone as when I almost lost her and I’d never felt as content as when she was with me.
I watched her quietly, the way her liquid gold eyes focused on the bond that was visible between our hearts. She was curious about the mechanics and I made a mental note to ask Erik so that she could have the answers that would settle her mind.
Her mind.
Fuck.
If her body was amazing, her mind was something else entirely. Quentin had always impressed me by how much she knew, how stoically she worked, and how curious she was.
This insufferable woman was mine for eternity. I’d make sure for the rest of our days that she was happy by my side. I’d start wars if it meant protecting her.
“Bubba?” Quen called softly.
I loved when she called me that. When she shook off the formalities and softened for me. Confirmation that I was part of the elusive inner circle that rarely took new applicants.
“What are you thinking?” she asked. Quen laid partially on top of me, chin resting on my chest and tipping her head to one side.
Curious. Always curious. Always looking for answers. If she wanted to know what I was thinking, then I would tell her.
“Marry me.”
Quentin froze. “I’m s-sorry,” she stuttered, finally animating again. “What did you just say?”
“Marry me,” I repeated the words for her.
I made no mistake the first time I said them. Marriage had been the odd fleeting thought since learning we were soulbound. It was never on the cards for me but the knowledge of our bond and looking at Erik and Sloan and then Sophie and Cassidy…
I wanted to make Quentin my wife.
She pushed herself up from me and got off the bed. I sensed it before she even opened her mouth. This was not what she wanted. Quentin had been stung before, whereas I’d never allowed anyone close enough. I prepared myself for her words.
“Have you lost your mind?” she asked. “Marry you? We don’t need to get married.”
She walked off into her bathroom; the sight making me want to take her all over again. The door slammed shut, separating us, and I rolled my eyes, getting out of bed and following her.
“And why not?” I asked through the piece of wood.
A few weeks of silence and distance cemented the fact that I no longer wanted my life to be empty. Knowing she was mine wasn’t enough. She should bear my ring on her finger, and one day, Quentin would carry our children. A family of our own. We would strengthen the bond we shared.
She flushed the toilet and opened the door to let me in. Quentin knocked on the shower and said, “You said we have an eternity together, so why do we need to get married?”
She stepped into the water, done with the conversation.
Not a fucking chance.
I followed her into the space. She turned to face me and I couldn’t help the way my gaze travelled down her body. The water fell off her curves with droplets clinging to her skin.
