Page 81 of Shark’s Rise

“Hmmm. I can tell. You know, Mr. Shark…you’re kind of sexy when in your scared-out-of-your-mind mode.”

“Yeah?” I teethed her top lip and snarled just loud enough to make her shiver and sigh. “Well, don’t get used to it.”

She pushed up again, grabbing me by the collar. She still smelled like kitchen spices and expensive perfume. She was glowing and gorgeous, her aroused nipples outlined beneath the thin hospital gown. “Then give me something else to think about,” she rasped. “Like your body stretched out next to mine.”

“Well…” I smiled and stroked her cheek. “Whatever my sweet fertility goddess wants…”

Surprisingly, we managed to arrange ourselves in her small bed, my large frame molded behind her small one, with all of her cords and tubes on top of the covers so the night nurse could access whatever she needed when she came in during rounds. Hopefully the staff would just go away when they saw us sleeping, but a man could dream.

For the longest time, I just ran my fingers through her hair. Every minute or so, I rubbed my face in the silky strands. Being pressed up against her sweet body was torture for my swollen dick, but this was a moment for other things. More important things. But first, the most important thing of all.

“You still all right, babe? Is it too much with me here? Do you want me to get up?”

“No.” She laughed it out while securing my arm tighter around her, splaying my fingers across the miraculous swell of her middle. She pressed her soft fingers over mine. As she lightly scraped the hairs on my knuckles with her cute pink fingernails, only one thought filled my mind.

This is the best damn moment of my life.

I had no idea how any other conflux of time was going to best this. Ever. I wanted to handcuff her to me and never let her out of my sight again. Not for a single second.

I kissed the back of her head. “Try to sleep. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”

“Promise?” she asked sleepily.

“Yes. I promise with my entire heart and soul. For whatever those black things are worth.”

“Don’t say that.” She squeezed my hand. “I love every part of you, Sebastian Albert Shark.”

“Abbigail Eileen Gibson, I love every part of you, too.”

One beat passed by. Another.

No. Better. Moment.

But as soon as the thought dominated my mind, another took its place. A concept that was altogether exhilarating, numbing, heart-stopping, and mind-boggling. In the middle of this damn hospital room, I felt like I stood at the lip of an airplane, ready to jump—with nothing but cardboard wings on my back.

Perhaps this really would be the best moment ever…

Unless I gave Abbi and me a new one.

Unless I rose beyond myself—and all my fears, limitations, issues, and challenges.

Unless I took a chance on something I couldn’t control. Something I never thought I’d do, as long as I walked this earth.

Which was maybe why it felt so damn right.

“Hey. Woman of mine?”

“Hmmm?” Abbigail murmured.

“Will you marry me?”

Another beat of silence. Then two. As the third loomed in on us, I tried not to envision her tears from earlier, when she’d told Dr. Sanford we weren’t married. Had I misinterpreted the frustration beneath them?

Give her what she needs…

But what if my name and my ring weren’t what she needed? What if I was back to pulling all my old shit, attempting to control her in yet another roundabout way? But that wasn’t it at all. I didn’t want to control her. I wanted to set her free. To shower her in my devotion, worship her with my body, honor her for the rest of my life. I wanted to grow old with her. To fly on cardboard wings with her. But only if she wanted it too.

Only if she said—