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The priest picked up his sermon again, and she found herself contemplating the man who sat beside her, muscular thigh pressed tightly to hers. She was so small compared to him, and even sitting did nothing to disguise it.
The congregation knelt for silent contemplation, and Severin’s gaze caught her
s as she sank to her knees on the comfy kneeling bench. He remained sitting on the pew as she knelt at his feet. The weight of his gaze warmed the metal of her collar, which she’d disguised under yet another infinity scarf. She settled her palm over his brand and squeezed it reverently, as though a deity had marked her as his own. Every time she looked at his brand it made her feel special. Valued.
“Maybe I should get you one of those for home,” he whispered in her ear. The murmur felt loud in the silence of the room. Had anyone heard that? She glanced around, but no one was staring. The sexual tension between them raised the small hairs on her arms, and her pierced nipples tightened against the soft cashmere of her sweater. Who went to Church wearing a collar and no bra? Thank goodness her coat was only slightly too warm.
“You want me to be more pious?” she whispered back, keeping her gaze focused on the hymnal in the rack in front of her.
“You’re already perfect.”
Her face heated at the undeserved praise, and she worked hard to pull her mind away from dirty thoughts of him.
Slowly, the hush of the church swept over her. The dignified spirituality of the old structure sank deep into her bones, reminding her of the forest behind the house. How many times had he taken her there now, to walk in silence, feeling the wind caress her face and tug at her hair, his hand warm around her own?
Through her own peace she felt his, attuned to him the way she’d never felt with anyone else – as though she could hear his energy and interpret it. He was calm. Happy. Possibly the calmest he’d ever been since they’d met. Having Church and his family home agreed with him.
Over the past few months she’d felt herself getting assimilated into this circle, accepted as she was...good enough in her own right. Maybe for some people their first family wasn’t the right fit. Maybe the family that came to them later meant more.
She was far too aware of Severin’s attention, focused entirely on her. He’d never said he loved her, but even so, she felt it to be true. It had only been a matter of months, but being alone together in the house day after day, night after night, had accelerated their relationship. She’d spent more time with Severin than she had with anyone else she’d ever dated – more than with any other friend or even family member as an adult. The more she got to know him, the more her protectiveness and adoration grew. In her heart she whispered to God, thanking him for unleashing this man in her life.
Severin touched her shoulder and the pulse of electricity between them followed his hand as it trailed down her arm to wrap possessively around her wrist. He pulled it back toward him and slid something heavy and hot onto her finger.
She twisted to look up at him. Around them people were sliding back onto their seats, but she knelt frozen at Severin’s feet, staring up into his challenging gaze. She glanced down as he laced their fingers together. The smooth stainless ring on her finger that looked more like a wedding band than an engagement ring. A collar for her finger? It matched perfectly with the one around her neck.
Severin’s cold, unyielding gaze said he wasn’t fucking asking, either.
Heat bloomed in her cheeks and crept down her neck.
Church cleared his throat. Minnow looked around and realized she was the only person still on her knees.
Mouth twisted in a mocking smile, Severin pulled her up into his lap. He let her shift back onto the seat beside him, but pulled her possessively into the crook of his arm and leaned down to inhale her scent.
She stared down at the ring, her heart tripping over itself, not sure what she was supposed to do or say. Or how she was supposed to feel. Could a girl safeword a marriage...proposal? A marriage command? Did she even want to?
Did she want to marry Severin?
Hell yes.
He was rough and rude and unpredictable, but she couldn’t seem to find that important anymore. He was the opposite of beautiful, all brutishness and sexual masculinity, but underneath that was a complicated man who’d been hurt. He was good in all of the ways that were important, despite all of the suffering he’d endured. His secrets and standoffishness when it came to personal things only made her want to be the one who was there for him and the one he trusted with .
The service ended not long afterward, and Church and Ilse converged on them.
“Did he just propose to you in church?” Ilse asked, grabbing Minnow’s hand and scrutinizing the ring. “Where’s the rock?” Minnow’s sister-in-law-to-be glared over at Severin, who seemed unperturbed by her teasing.
“What woman wouldn’t prefer a homemade ring?” Minnow asked.
Ilse laughed and rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, Sev, you found your perfect match. She’s just as much of a weirdo as you are. Did he even ask you or did he just shove it on there?”
“If he asked she could have said no,” Church pointed out, side-hugging Severin, then grabbing Minnow in a fierce bear hug that made her feet come off the floor. “He couldn’t have risked that.”
The priest had rounded back to them after chatting with a few of the lingering parishioners. “Glad to see you boys.” He nodded at Severin then shook hands with Church, Ilse and Minnow, and then with the children. “I was so sorry to hear about your mother. I was shocked when I saw her obituary.”
“It was sudden, Father James,” Church replied solemnly.
Minnow moved in front of Severin to shield him just in case, but he dropped a reassuring hand onto her shoulder. He was okay with this man. He hadn’t tried to shake Severin’s hand, and she relaxed because the priest actually knew him. Apparently they weren’t interlopers at all.
“We were so grateful for the donation you made here on her behalf. It will pay for the new roof and furnace, with some left over for the parish food bank. I know none of you are Catholic, but we count you as part of our congregation anyway.”
