Page 136 of Unbreakable Thread

Her frown turns into a smile. “What a smart friend you had.” Sol takes a spoonful of rice. “I remember that memory. You sat on your side of the bed, and I sat on mine. We both chatted about our day with our parents.” She smiles. “Thank you, Max, for reminding me.”

My palms begin to sweat, knowing what I’m about to do next. I dump the dirty dishes in the sink. Maybe I should brush my teeth and shower first. Sweat gathers around my nape. Grabbing a paper towel, I pat the perspiration around it. I’m not good at being romantic. I can only hope this day is one she will always remember. Warm hands wrap around my middle, her head resting on my back. When she does it, it feels like a baby koala to my broad back.

“Te amo, Max.” Her voice is a soft caress to my soul.

Pivoting to face her, I gently rasp my knuckles on her pink cheeks. Looking down at her. “I love you, amor, more than words can say.” I lace her hands in mine, without knowing she always knows how to calm the storm within me. “I want to show you something.”

The women who decorated had arranged hundreds of white roses into a perfect heart shape, and in the center, they’d spelled out, “Will you marry me?” with tea lights nestled in crystal holders. A winding path of scattered rose petals and twinkling fairy lights guides us toward the gazebo, which stands like a silhouette against the indigo twilight. My thumb finds the remote in my pocket. When I press the button, hundreds of tiny bulbs illuminate at once, casting a golden glow across her face. She gasps, her eyes widening with recognition, and her hands quiver in mine. We’ve both dreamed of this moment for too long.

“Max.” Her voice trembles.

I lead her to the center and pull out the ring. I drop to one knee. My heart stutters with excitement and nervousness. I look up to the woman who knew nothing of me and still gave me a chance when I didn’t have a penny to my name. She never looked down on me but loved me anyway. She took my side over the world, gave me hope and a dream, and taught me what love truly means.

“Sol, I’ve waited for this moment so damn long.” I clear my throat. “You’ve weathered every storm with me. I promised you a rainbow would follow. I intend to protect you and the kids and give you that rainbow of happiness. I love you so much. Will you marry me?”

Her eyes swim with tears. I take the ring out of the red velvet box. Her chin trembles. She nods. “Yes…yes, Max.” Sol’s voice quivers. “I want to be together forever.”

“So do I.”

She wraps her arms around me, and we almost tumble over. Our lips collide. A blazing kiss that would light this world on fire. Breathlessly, we pull apart. I slip the ring on her finger. She stares at it. “Your mom’s ring,” she whispers.

“I took it in to get fitted for your size and add more gems to customize it more for you, then added your initial on the inside next to my mom’s.”

She extends her hand out, gazing at it with dreamy eyes. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for trusting me with your mom’s ring. What an honor.” A tear slides down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb. “I love it. The news article said you were in a jewelry store. Is this what you were doing?”

My lips lift into a smirk. “I’ve been planning this way too long. You think I was ever going to let you go?”

“I was actually upset you didn’t come breaking down the door.”

Note to self, never listen to anyone and do what I feel is right. I thought Carlos was giving all the right advice to give her space. She didn’t need space—she needed me to be there for her.

“I knew you liked my crazy ways.” My voice rumbles in the crook of her neck.

“Life would be boring if I didn’t have you unhinged.” She smiles. “The gazebo looks beautiful. Did you decorate it? Scratch that. Who did you have decorate?”

I hoist her up gently, and she wraps her legs around me.

“I hired someone.”

“They did a beautiful job.”

“Uh-huh” is all I say, carrying her inside, my lips on her delicate neck.

Gingerly, I set her on the kitchen island and spread her legs. “Max, what are you doing? What if they come back?” She knew Leo and my dad were going to clean up the house.

“They are staying at my dad’s until tomorrow morning. We have the house to ourselves.”

A mischievous glint sparkles in her eyes. “What do you have planned?”

What do I have planned? So many unholy things. If she could read my mind, it might excite her or terrify her. It certainly isn’t a game of strip chess we’re playing. I don’t have the patience for that right now.

The delicate threads of black lace snap between my fingers. Her lips part, her lungs freeze mid-inhale, then release as her head tips back and her body is bowed. Lifting her dress up, I slide her to the edge of the island. My tongue slides between her soft thighs. My fingers move to her wet entrance. She doesn’t hold back on her moans. They fill the space between us. My dick pulses with the need to fuck every hole in her in all areas of the house. But first, I want to taste every part of her and watch her unfold at my touch.

“Max.” Her breath is heavy and desperate for more. My fingers thrust into her faster, and my tongue works around her throbbing area. So willingly, she strips her clothes off her full breasts, ready for me to suckle. “More…Max.”

“Anything for you, amor.” She has me at the mercy of her feet. She always has. Only her. Always her. “Lie down and put your legs on my shoulder.” She does with no hesitation, never mouthy when I’m between her legs, and only sounds of pleasure escape those full lips. Lifting her ass, I dive into her entrance and do the most unholy things with my tongue, and my finger slips into her other hole, which has her body shaking. “Let’s get married tonight.” My voice is dark and deadly serious. I want to make her my wife tonight. I’ll find a priest and have him come to the house and marry us. Now.

“W-what?” she cries out in pure bliss. My mouth devours her pulsing needs.