Dmitri shifted closer, and I held my breath. His hand settled against my stomach, and my whole body reacted with a small, involuntary tremor. I lay still, pretending I was unbothered.
He pulled himself closer until my back pressed against his chest, his breath warming the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
I missed him holding me like this. I loved this man so much, it scared me.
“Marry me,” he whispered against my ear. “Marry me, Inna.”
I shut my eyes and bit down on my lip, tears coming out again. Why was he doing this to me? Why did he know exactly how to reach inside whatever wall I built and dismantle it from the inside?
His hand moved under the blanket until his fingers found my left hand. He held my ring finger between his.
“Say yes.” His lips brushed my ear. “Say yes, baby. Marry me. Please.”
That broke something open inside me. “You will leave.”
“I need you.”
A sob caught in my throat. “I don’t want commitment. I want to live the years I lost.”
“Let’s live together,” he whispered, kissing my cheek.
I shook my head. Why couldn’t he just understand? “I don’t want children, and I know you’ll want that eventually.”
“I will have you.”
“Dmitri.”
“Let me be your man.” He began sliding the ring onto my finger slowly, giving me every opportunity to pull away.
“But—”
“I love you.” The words landed against my ear as the ring reached where he wanted it to be.
Everything in my head went quiet. Every argument, every fear, every carefully constructed reason I kept holding on to went silent at once, like someone had turned the volume off.
He bought another ring because he wanted to propose. Did that mean he really wanted me? Did it mean he wouldn’t let me go even when I tried? He was serious about it.
He turned me slowly towards him, and I moved voluntarily. This was where I risked my heart. I told myself I would try him, I would choose this love and stay. If he were to give up on me one day and leave, it would be on me.
His arms pulled me in. He said I had his heart, then he could have mine too. It was his to break.
“If you ever want to leave, please tell me. Don’t just disappear.” I whispered.
His lips found mine, and he kissed me. “Where can I possibly go?” He asked and kissed me again. “I’m completely nothing without you, baby.” He took my hand and raised it to the left side of his chest.
This time, I was the one who reached out and kissed him. He received me again, his lips taking the last breath in me, moving slowly, making me feel it.
“Yes,” I murmured between kisses.
“Yes?” he asked.
“I will marry you.”
Chapter Fifty-one
Inna Grace
We all sat at thedining table having breakfast with no one talking to anyone. Grandma was simply observing, her eyes moving around the table with far too much awareness. Caitlin was busy eating while sending me secret looks every few minutes, her gaze bouncing between my face and the ring on my finger. Cole always ate while trapped inside his own thoughts, probably planning the rest of his day or inventing some scheme only he understood.
