“Stay,” he purrs. “I’ve got something for you.”
I roll my eyes. “If you say your dick…”
He scoffs condescendingly. “Then what? You’ll say no?”
“I’m not always going to…”
Elias pulls a small jewelry box from his pants pocket, and I trail off.
“Is that what I think it is?” I breathe.
“And if it is?” he asks just as quietly.
I roll my lips together, my eyes locked on the innocuous velvet container.
“We’ve known each other for a blip of time, Elias.”
Someone has to be reasonable here. Right?
The smile doesn’t leave his face. He’s completely unbothered.
“You know everything there is to know about me. I know everything I need to know about you. The small things? We’ll explore that together.” His gaze turns serious. “Because wewillgrow old together, Jules. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m never letting you go. Whether you wear this ring on your finger or not, you’re mine. Forever.”
My heart is beating so fast, I’m worried it’ll burst out of my chest like something out of an alien movie
“God, Elias.”
“Say yes,” he whispers, opening the box.
Inside, resting on a black pillow, is a gorgeous platinum ring with a princess-cut sapphire surrounded by small, round rubies.
I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth. “It’s amazing. But how can we get married when we haven’t even?—”
“Said I love you?” he asks, interrupting me.
“Well… yeah.”
Elias purses his lips. “I wanted to say something. But you kept stopping me.” He changes his tone to a higher-pitched one, mimicking me. “Not in front of your brothers, Elias. Not while my ass is hanging out, Elias.”
I punch his shoulder, gasping when he almost drops my ring.
Wait, my ring? Am I already thinking of it as mine?
“It’s not like you didn’t have ample opportunities to say something literally any other time,” I grumble, my face on fire.
“What about you?” he teases. “You could have said something.”
“You’re an asshole,” I mutter immaturely.
“An asshole who loves you,” he replies.
His words hit my heart with the precision of one of Cole’s knives hitting the bullseye.
“You do?” I breathe.
He closes his eyes as if asking God for patience.
“Haven’t I shown you, baby?”
