I awoke on Christmas morning, sunlight streaming through the window and warming my face, my eyes still closed. For a moment I was afraid to open my eyes, that it might reveal that yesterday had been yet another dream.
But there was the warmth of Birdie’s body tucked into my side, the weight of her head resting on my arm, Eugene curled next to our tangled feet. I opened my eyes and soaked in the sight of her, her hair tousled from sex and sleep, her breathing deep and even as she slept.
Not a dream. She was here, all of her.
I gently disentangled myself, being careful not to wake her. Eugene opened one eye, surveying me. I put a finger to my lips and, as if he understood, he closed his eye again and burrowed in deeper next to Birdie.
I padded quietly out to the living room, opening a cabinet built into the bottom of the bookshelves to access a small safe. I pressed in the combination and the door popped open to reveal a small velvet box—the only thing precious enough in my life up to this moment to bother keeping in the safe. But now it deserved to be on the hand of my wild, wonderful girl.
I opened the box, revealing the delicate ring, the center sapphire encircled with diamonds. I removed the ring, tucking the box into the bookshelf as I returned to the bedroom and slid back under the covers.
Birdie was curled on her side, her left arm resting on top of the blankets and holding them by her face. I gently took her hand, sliding the ring onto her third finger. By some small miracle, it fit perfectly—not that I would have changed course if it hadn’t. I needed Birdie to know that I was ready for our forever to begin now.
I surveyed the ring on her finger before placingher hand back down on the covers and sliding into my space behind her, my arms encircling her torso. I nuzzled my face into her neck, taking in the scent of her.
She stirred, humming contentedly as she stretched slightly before turning over to face me.
“Good morning,” she murmured, her eyelids still heavy as she blinked herself awake.
“Merry Christmas,” I murmured back, kissing her forehead.
She smiled sleepily. “Merry Christmas.”
“How do you feel this morning?” I asked, working hard to keep my voice casual.
Her smile widened. “Happier than I have ever been.”
My own smile broke across my face, my heart soaring, as I pulled her in closer, kissing her deeply.
She moved against me, taking in my warmth and running her right hand across my chest. She propped herself up on her left elbow, pushing me back against the pillows as she swung her leg over my body and straddled me.
She leaned down, taking my face in both of her hands and kissing me fiercely, passionately. She pulled away slowly, about to sit up, when she stopped moving.
“Knox?” she said, a question in her voice as she pulled her left hand away from my face. Her eyes were wide as she looked from the ring on her hand to me and back again.
I took Birdie’s hand in mine as I sat up, adjusting her to sit in my lap, her legs wrapped around my waist.
“This ring was my mother’s. And now,” I said, bringing her hand to my lips and kissing her fingers gently, “it belongs to you. Everything I am and everything I have belongs to you, Birdie. It would be the greatest honor of my life to be your husband. Will you marry me?” I asked, my eyes on her and only her. It had always been only her.
Tears flowed down her face as she nodded, chokingthrough her sobs. “Yes. Forever yes. The most enthusiastic yes!”
I smiled triumphantly, pulling her into a kiss, our souls entwining as she kissed me fervently. My hands roamed up her back to the base of her neck as I wound my fingers through her hair.
Birdie pulled back with a gasp. Eugene’s head flew up, suddenly alert.
“What?” I asked, my eyes flying open. “Are you okay?”
“I just remembered that I have something for you, too!” she said, climbing off my lap. She put her hands on her naked hips. “Shit, I wonder where my suitcase is.”
I laughed, pointing to the corner of the room. “I noticed it last night—looks like Oliver was thinking ahead of us.”
She chuckled as she walked to the suitcase and unzipped it. “Remind me to thank him later. For a lot of things,” she said, shooting a wink at me over her shoulder.
“We probably both owe him a few of those,” I laughed again, throwing back the covers and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. “I’ll be right back; I’m going to let Eugene out.”
Eugene and I returned to the bed a few minutes later to find Birdie back under the covers, snuggled in one of my shirts, a package wrapped in shiny red paper and a white bow in her lap.
I scooted in beside her as she handed me the heavy gift. I carefully untied the bow and took off the paper to reveal a leather-bound book. A quick flip through the pages revealed hundreds of colorful illustrations and descriptions of Tolkien’s creatures, countries, and so much more.
