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“Are you not drinking?” Lachlan asks.
“Nah, not when I gotta get my girl home safe.”
“You two should stay here,” Emerson suggests. “Or with us.”
Monroe sits up and turns to look at me. “Are you going to drink with me, boyfriend?” she asks.
Reaching up, I brush her hair out of her eyes. “Is that what you want, gorgeous?”
She smiles and nods. “Yeah, it’s been a while.”
“I like taking care of you.” It’s the truth. Something flipped inside me when Monroe offered to marry me. Suddenly, I’m a man with a woman to care for and protect, and I take that job seriously.
“Have a drink with me.”
“We’re staying,” I tell Lachlan, keeping my eyes on Monroe. Her smile lights up her face, and she leans in, placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth.
We’ve done that a lot in the last few weeks. Forehead kisses, kisses on the cheek, and those that linger just on the corners of our mouths. I’ve yet to fully taste her lips, and I think it’s time I change that. I slide my hand behind her neck and lean in, but I’m interrupted by Maddox, who dangles a beer between us.
Sitting back in the chair, I take it from him, and he smirks. Asshole. Payback is a bitch, and I’ll remember this. He knew what I was about to do; hell, I wasn’t hiding my intent to kiss her.
Monroe settles back against my chest. She grabs my arm and wraps it around her, and my annoyance with Maddox fades away. How can I think about anything else but her?
As the night moves on, Monroe and I both switch to water. We’ve had three drinks between us, but we’re still staying. No way in hell am I risking her. Sure, it was one drink, and hours have passed, but I would never be able to live with myself if I hurt her or someone else.
Monroe wiggles around on my lap, moving to the opposite side, and pauses when she feels the ring box. I’m cursing myself for not locking it in my truck.
She turns to look at me. “What’s that?” she asks.
“What’s what?”
I play dumb. I’m not sure this is the right moment to ask her. I glance around the fire and see that Roman has Emerson snuggled up on his lap. Forrest and Maddox are talking about the football game that’s on tomorrow and who they think is going to win. Lachlan is half asleep, his chin buried in his chest, arms crossed. Drake, Lisa, and Lyra all left not long ago. It’s just the original crew, and none of them are paying a bit of attention to us.
“What’s in your pocket, Legend?” Monroe asks. The light of the fire dances in her eyes.
“His pocket rocket,” Lachlan mumbles, opening his eyes.
“No. That’s much bigger.” Monroe waves him off.
She’d know. Every night she’s spent in my bed, she wakes up with my hard cock pressed against her ass. The first time, I felt guilty and jumped out of bed to make breakfast. However, the next time, I waited for her to wake up. I wanted to see her reaction to the fact that my body wants her.
That I want her.
She didn’t even mention it. In fact, this is the first time she’s said a word about it, and the need to kiss her grows stronger by the minute.
My hand moves to cradle her cheek. “That’s something I bought for you.”
Her eyes glisten with tears. “Show me.”
“I was hoping for something a little more romantic,” I confess. I trace my thumb across her cheek. Her skin is so fucking soft.
“You’re holding me in front of a fire. What’s more romantic than that?” Her voice is soft, keeping the conversation between us.
“You really want to do this here?” I ask her.
She bites down on her bottom lip. “We’re surrounded by our friends.”
“I want it to be a moment you’ll never forget. I want you to look back and smile when you think about it. I want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted.” I lean in a little closer.
