Page 80 of Possessive Ink

“Those are pink sapphires, and the center stone is a diamond. The band is rose gold, like your collar,” Gaelle tells her.

“Atticus, it’s beautiful,” Lemon says, not pulling her hand from Gaelle’s hold, but turning to look at me.

“Gaelle and I worked up a design years ago. I didn’t know she’d actually made it until yesterday,” I tell her softly. “But it looks like it was always meant to be there, and now it always will be,” I tell her, tugging her away from Gaelle and pulling her into my arms.

“Where are you going to get married?” Holly asks excitedly.

“Where do you want to get married, Princess?” I ask her.

Blinking, she looks up at me in shock. “I…”

“We can figure out the details soon. All that matters is that in six weeks, you’re going to be my wife.”

Gaelle fusses with the ring, insisting that Lemon take it off so she can make adjustments. It takes her less than an hour to resize the band so that it fits perfectly, and when I slip the ring back onto Lemon’s finger again, I bring her hand to my mouth and press a kiss to the ring and her finger beneath.

“Baby, we need to get going. I’ve booked us massages at two p.m., and I want to get us settled into the room before then,” Gaelle announces.

“Thank you so much for bringing the rings,” I tell Gaelle, reluctantly letting go of Lemon so I can pull my friend into a hug.

“You’re welcome. Thanks for giving us an excuse to leave the in-laws early. I don’t think we’ll be able to get back out here for the wedding, so we’ll need to make plans for you and Lemon to visit us once the baby is born.”

“We’d love to, and let me know when you’re ready for that tattoo.”

“What tattoo?” Holly asks excitedly.

“Atticus is going to design a piece for me after the baby is born,” Gaelle says.

“Oh, I want a tattoo. Can I get a tattoo too?” she says, her belly bouncing as she vibrates up and down.

“We’ll see,” Gaelle says. “If you behave.”

“I never behave. That’s why you love me so much,” Holly says, sticking her tongue out playfully at her wife.

After we follow them outside, Lemon curls into my side as we wave them off.

“Are we really getting married?” she questions as the electronic gate slides closed behind them.

“Yes, of course we are.”

“I don’t even know what your middle name is,” she admits.

“I don’t have one.”

“We know nothing about each other. This is a lovely fantasy, but we’re basically strangers,” she blurts, panic lacing her words.

“Settle, Princess. We’ll learn all the things we need to because we have the rest of forever to know each other,” I assure her.

“God, you’re so calm. You make me feel calm, but I shouldn’t be calm because this is crazy. In the few days since we met, I’ve quit my job, gotten a new one, had sex, been collared, called you Sir, told you I love you, and now we’re getting married. This is too much. It’s all too much.”

Pulling her into my arms, I hold her close, her muscles tight and tense from how overwhelmed she is. “Settle, Princess. I know this all feels like a lot right now, but we can just take one thing at a time. We have no plans until tonight, so let’s grab some boxes, and we can start packing up your things from your apartment. Regardless of me and you, I know we both agree that getting you away from your crazy roommate is a priority.”

She inhales slowly, not speaking as her muscles start to relax and soften.

“I do need to start packing regardless,” she concedes.

“Okay. So let’s go then,” I encourage, not giving her a chance to protest. Keeping my arm around her, I steer her into the warehouse and toward where Marcus is frantically typing on his cell. “Marcus,” I call, not wanting to startle him.

Jolting, he spins to face us, clutching his hand against his chest. “Oh my god.”