Page 188 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“I also think…” He stopped and took a breath. “I think I wish you were wearing this dress for a real wedding to me, rather than a false one.”

For one heartbeat Terra simply stared at him…then her entire body seemed to fill with warmth.

“Really?” she whispered, almost afraid to believe.

Taurex’s expression immediately became guarded, as though he regretted saying too much. But he didn’t back away from what he’d said.

“Yes.”

“Do you really mean that?” Terra asked him.

“I would not say it if I did not,” he rumbled, frowning. “But perhaps I should not have said it.”

He started to step away, but Terra reached out and put a hand on his broad chest.

“No, don’t say that,” she said quickly. “Because I wish the same thing.”

His golden eyes widened.

“What?” he asked.

“I said, I wish it was real too,” Terra told him.

“Please.” His voice had gone rough. “Do not say that because you still believe you owe me something. I would rather walk away from you forever than have you accept me because I saved your younglings or because you believe you must repay me.”

Terra’s heart ached at the sincerity in his face.

“I don’t have to owe you anything,” she whispered. “Because you already have my heart.”

Taurex stared at her. Around them, the store seemed impossibly quiet.

“You mean it, lovely one?” he rumbled at last.

The familiar endearment nearly undid her.

Terra nodded.

“I mean it.”

“You truly want me?”

“With all my heart,” she whispered.

He raised his eyebrows.

“You want to make this Joining ceremony we have been planning real?”

She nodded again.

“Absolutely, positively real.”

Taurex closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, something blazed in his golden gaze that made Terra’s breath catch in her throat.

“In that case,” he said, “I have something for you.”

Then, to her complete astonishment, he sank down onto one knee and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.

As Taurex pulled out a small velvet box, Terra put both hands over her mouth.