I freeze.
"What—"
I reach back, curiosity spiking through me. My fingers brush against something small and soft—velvet. A box. A velvet box.
Oh my God.
My breath catches in my throat as I close my hand around it, feeling the plush texture, the slight weight of it. The shape is unmistakable. Square. Small. The kind of box that holds only one thing.
My heart stops.
I flip over, breathless, clutching the box like it might vanish. Julian kneels beside me, eyes dark and intense, a nervous smile tugging at his lips.
I open it.
White gold. Square diamond. Simple. Elegant. Perfect.
I squeal—an actual, embarrassing squeal.
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"
Julian laughs, relief flooding his face. "I haven't even asked—"
"Don't care. Yes."
I kneel beside him, hand shaking as he slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly.
We kiss, deep and urgent, my hands tangling in his hair. He pulls me close, arms tight around me like he's afraid I'll disappear.
"I'm going to make you the happiest woman on earth," he promises, a soft whisper against my lips.
"Ditto." I pull back, grinning. "I promise lots of blow jobs."
He bursts out laughing, burying his face in my neck.
"God, I love you."
"Love you too."
We collapse onto the bed, ring glinting in the candlelight, and for once—finally—everything feels exactly right.
About ten minutes later, Julian rolls onto his side, propped on one elbow, that mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Hot tub?"
I trace the edge of my new ring, still can't stop looking at it. "Romantic."
"Very." He kisses my shoulder. "Let's make it a race."
I sit up. "What?"
"First one in the hot tub wins."
"Wins what?"
"Bragging rights."
I narrow my eyes. "You're on."
