AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I look up right as Matvey walks in with Finn. He’s holding a large tray filled with food, and when he sets it down, my stomach gives a loud grumble. Matvey smiles and leans down to kiss me. He tastes like syrup, and when I suck on his tongue, he fists my hair and groans.
“You’ve been eating withoutme,” I tell him.
He gives me a guilty smile. “Just a bite. I had to make sure it was good.”
I pull him closer and kiss him again. “It’s very good,” I whisper against his sweet lips.
“I’d love to lay you down and slide right back into you, but first I have a present I want you to open.”
I watch him walk to the stash of presents in the closet, wondering what he’s up to.
Chapter 18
Matvey
Her eyes stay on me, but she still slips Finn a piece of bacon. He’s already eaten a bowl of dogfood, a few treats because Simona and Jolene felt he deserved them for looking so damn cute while I cooked breakfast, and the half-slice of bacon that he already got from me because, yeah, he did look damn cute sitting there with his head cocked to the side while I made waffles. Still, he takes the food and trots off to his bed, more than happy to eat some more.
I turn my attention back to Alina. She looks beautiful with her sleep-ruffled hair, in nothing but my shirt, and a sexy glint in her eyes. They’re more blue than green today, and when they search my face, I smile. She always was impatient.
“Tell me what you were smiling about when I came in.”
She gets on her knees and then sits back on her heels, grabbing a strawberry from the tray. Before she takes a bite, she says, “Roman FaceTimed me. Luka looks just as cute as he did yesterday. They’re coming home tomorrow, and he’s going to put a bunch of photos in the group chat later.”
She chews the strawberry, and I smile down at her. Just the simple act of seeing her eat makes me so damn happy. She’s come so far sincewe got her back, and every day she amazes me with how strong she is. I hold the small box out to her.
“What’s this?”
I nod my head back towards the closet. “You still have a lot to open in there,malishka, but this one can’t wait.”
She takes the box right before I lift her up and sit her on the edge of the bed so I can kneel between her legs. Raising a brow at me, she gives me a small smile and pulls the thin ribbon free. I don’t rush her, letting her take her time with the wrapping paper until she’s holding a black, velvet box.
“Matvey,” she whispers, wrapping her hands around it like the damn box is the gift and not what’s inside.
I laugh and cover her hands with mine. “I bought this shortly after you were taken. I was walking around Moscow, trying like hell to find you. I hadn’t slept in days or eaten anything, and I could barely function, and then I’d stopped in front of a store, leaning against the wall for support. When I’d turned my head, I’d seen a display case filled with jewelry. It killed me to see it, because I wanted to buy and give you all of it, but I couldn’t.”
Her eyes are already glassy, and when I gently open the box, revealing the ring inside, the tears start to fall.
“That’s when I saw this. I knew in my heart that it was meant for you. It gave me hope, Alina, at a moment when I didn’t have any. I forced myself to believe that one day I’d find you, that I’d be able to get on my knees and beg you to marry me, because I never want to experience life without you again.”
I kiss her shaking hands. “I couldn’t bear it. I love you, Alina. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, the only woman I will ever love, and all I want is to spend my life with you. I want to love you and protect you and care for you. I want a family with you when you’re ready, and I want to grow old by your side.”
She cups my face, not even bothering to wipe away the tears that are now streaming down her cheeks. I lean into her touch and kiss the palm of her hand.
“You are everything to me, and you’re all I want. In this life and in however many come after, I will always find you, because you and I are meant to be together. I can’t breathe unless you’re taking in the same air, and my heart doesn’t beat unless yours beats with it.”
She bites her bottom lip to keep them from trembling and squeezes my hand.
“Will you marry me, Alina?”
“Yes.” That one word whispered in a breathy rush makes me happier than I ever thought possible. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” She lets out a soft laugh and adds, “There’s never a time in my life when I wouldn’t have said yes to that question, by the way.”
I smile and kiss her hand before taking the ring out of the box and slipping it on her finger. The large diamond on the delicate platinum band looks just as good on her finger as I always imagined it would. So many nights I laid awake, imagining this very moment, terrified that it would never happen, and now that it has, I want to wrap my arms around her and never let her go. When I lift my eyes to hers, mine are glassy and my throat feels tight.
“Matvey,” she whispers, cupping my face and pulling me closer. “I love you.”
“I love you too,malishka.”
I watch her sweet look turn ravenous right before she kisses me hard, sucking my tongue into her mouth and wrapping her legs around my waist as she tries to pull me up onto the bed with her. I laugh and manage to say, “You still need to eat breakfast,” around the hungry kiss she’s giving me.
