"That's better," I say, unable to keep from smiling.
"Well? Are you going to answer?"
"We're already legally married. Don't I have to say yes?"
"That's not how proposals work." He tickles me again, and I wrap my arm around his shoulders.
"I'm pretty sure it is in this case. You've already locked me in."
He laughs and pulls me closer. "Just say yes so I can feel like I did this properly."
"Yes," I say, and then I kiss him. "Yes, I'll marry you. I'll be your wife. I'll spend the rest of my life with you."
"Good. Now can I stop feeling guilty about the whole forcing you into marriage thing?"
"You should still feel a little guilty about that. But I'm willing to overlook it under the circumstances." I settle back against his chest and his arms wrap around me again. "I have conditions, though."
"Of course you do. What are they?"
"No more dangerous jobs where people are shooting at you, nothing that could get you killed. I'm not gonna spend the rest of my life worrying every time you leave the house that you're not coming back."
"That's fair. Yuri already told me he's moving me to a different role. It'll be boring compared to what I've been doing, but it'll be safer."
"Boring sounds perfect, like exactly what we need." I pause and then add, "And no leaving me alone in scary places. If we're doing this life together, we do it together. No more sending me away while you handle the dangerous stuff."
"I was trying to protect you."
"I know. But I'd rather be scared with you than safe without you. Do you understand?"
He's quiet for a moment and then he says, "Yes. I understand. No more leaving you behind."
"Good. Then we have a deal."
He tilts my chin up and kisses me, and his hand slides down my back and I'm suddenly very aware that I'm naked under these sheets and he's only wearing underwear. The kiss continues, and I can feel his body responding to mine, but exhaustion is pulling at both of us.
"We should sleep," I murmur against his lips.
"We should," he agrees, but he kisses me again anyway.
Eventually, we do stop, settling into a more comfortable position with my back against his chest and his arm draped over my waist. His breathing slows and evens out, and I think he might have fallen asleep when he speaks again.
"Thank you," he says quietly.
"For what?"
"For saying yes. For coming to Russia with me."
"You can't get rid of me that easily." I lace my fingers through his where they rest on my stomach. "We're in this together now. For better or worse."
"That's from wedding vows."
"I know. We never actually said them properly during our first ceremony. I thought I'd throw them in now."
He chuckles softly and presses a kiss to my shoulder. "For better or worse. I like that."
"In sickness and in health."
"Till death do us part…" That saddens me a little, considering death is inevitable for everyone.
