"Yeah," I said. "I'm good."
We finished eating and the chef brought out dessert. Chocolate cake with fresh berries.
I reached over and grabbed her hand before she could touch her plate.
"I don't know what the fuck I'm doing," I said, and I meant it. "But I gotta do this."
She looked at me confused.
"There's something about you I'm not used to feeling," I continued. "I'm not a lovey-dovey ass nigga. Never have been. But when I'm around you, I almost want to be."
She didn't move. Just listened.
"These past couple days, I couldn't even imagine going to sleep without you being next to me," I said. "And that's never happened in my twenty-eight years of living. Not once."
I paused, making sure she was really hearing this.
"I don't want to take away your choice," I said. "If we're gonna do this, if we're gonna get married, I want it to be an equal agreement. Yeah, I need you right now. And I want you to say yes. But the choice is ultimately yours."
Her eyes were locked on mine.
"I can promise you a life full of everything you've ever wanted," I said. "I'll be the provider and the protector. I'm really gonna try to stick to our marriage. And I will even try not to step outside of it. But eventually, if we're gonna make this work, it's gotta be more than an arrangement. Because I'm a man with needs. But if me having hoes is gonna bother you, then I won't do it."
I stood up and got down on one knee in front of her.
"Do this because you want to do it," I said. "Not because you're being forced to. Will you marry me and give me a chance to try to be what you need me to be?"
For a minute, she didn't say anything. Just sat there looking at me. Looking at the ring in my hand.
My heart was pounding. I thought she was about to say no, and I was gone have to crash out in this muthafucka. She was too damn quiet for too long.
Then she spoke.
"I don't know why," she said slowly, "but I'm going to give you a chance. I'm not one of those people that should be played with. If we're going to do this, we're doing it right and I expect you to stand on everything you've told me. Yes. I'll marry you."
I slid the ring on her finger. It fit perfect.
"Damn," I said, looking at her hand. "Should we kiss or some?"
She laughed hard, and leaned down and kissed me.
The second her lips touched mine, my dick got hard. Immediately. Like her touch was all it took.
I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She tasted like chocolate and something sweet. I wanted more.
When she pulled back, she was smiling.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," she said. "I just... I can't believe I just said yes to marrying you and I really can’t believe that you asked."
"Believe it," I said. Knowing damn well that couldn’t believe the shit myself.
—
"I don't want a big wedding," she said, looking at the ring on her finger. “My life has been crazy and I don’t want to deal with my people right now.”
I was leaning back in my chair, watching her. Watching her accept this. Accept me.
