Chapter 9
NINE
Larsen
Everything still feels a little unreal. A little too good to be true.
The past few days—days? Has it really only been a few days? I’ve lost track—have blurred together into a whirlwind of stolen moments, laughing and learning more and more about each other, secret driving lessons, kisses that leave me dizzy, and so many steamy embraces that I’m a little sore.
Sore, but happy, and it’s all thanks to my grumpy, overprotective mechanic.
Kian.
My man.
The thought still makes my chest flutter.
We pull into my driveway, the truck crunching softly over the thin layer of snow. The engine idles, and the headlights bathe the front of my house in warm light. Neither of us moves.
This has become our thing. The drive ends… but we don’t.
Kian turns toward me, one big hand sliding to my thigh, his thumb brushing slow, absent-minded circles over my jeans. His dark blue eyes drag over my face like he’s memorizing me all over again.
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
“Just how happy I am,” I tell him softly.
His mouth twitches with that almost-smile that only seems to exist for me. “Good. I like seeing you happy.”
He says it so simply. I believe him. My happiness and safety seem to be Kian’s top priorities.
He turns more toward me, his hands gripping my hips tighter as he urges me across the seat and settles me onto his lap like it’s my spot, like that’s where I belong.
I curl my arms around his neck and press my forehead to his. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this.”
“Good. Me neither.”
We sit there for a moment, breathing each other in. I settle further into him and frown when something digs into my leg.
“Ow!” I gasp, jerking back. “What is that?”
He tenses as I frown at his lap. It’s not his cock, though it’s hardening underneath me. No, it’s something else.
I shift, my hand drifting between us. My fingers brush against a small, hard square in the pocket of his jeans.
“Kian?” I ask, looking up at him for an answer.
His jaw tightens as he gently rubs my leg. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What’s in your pocket? A tool?” I ask, shifting off his lap.
He reaches for me, frowning at my retreat.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I assure him. “But I need you to move whatever that is, so I don’t have bruises all over my leg.”
He closes his eyes for half a second, then opens them. “I wasn’t going to do this here, but you know what? It’s kind of the perfect place.”
“What?”
He reaches into his jeans and pulls out a small black box.
My heart stutters. I pull back slowly, staring down at the box in his hands.
Time freezes as I stare at it.
At him.
Then back at the box.
My hands shake.
“Kian…” I breathe, but I have no idea what I’m trying to say.
He shifts slightly, one hand staying firm on my hip, the other holding the box.
“Larsen,” he says, voice rough. “I’m yours.”
That simple statement alone almost makes me cry.
“I’m not good with speeches,” he continues. “You know that.”
My eyes burn, and I nod shakily.
“So, I’m just going to say it straight.”
He flips the box open. Inside is a simple, beautiful ring. Nothing flashy, nothing over-the-top. It’s… perfect.
My vision blurs instantly.
“I love you,” he says. “You’re my girl. You’ve been my girl since the second I saw you.”
A tear spills down my cheek, and I take a shaky breath.
“When I think about the future, you’re all I see. I don’t have anything figured out. Nothing except you. I know you’re it for me. I know I need you.”
He swallows. “So, I bought you a safe car. And I bought you this ring.”
My breath catches.
“I know this is fast,” he says. “I don’t care. When you know, you know. And I know.”
He brings the box closer, his eyes locked on mine. “Marry me, Larsen.”
A sob breaks out of my chest. I clamp a hand over my mouth, shaking my head in disbelief.
Unfortunately, Kian seems to take that as me saying no.
“Okay, I think I went about this the wrong way,” he growls, pulling the ring from the box and sliding it onto my finger. “Larsen, we’re getting married. You can plan any wedding you want, pick any date, but it’s happening.”
I laugh at his words and the fact that as soon as he thought I was saying no, he stopped asking and just declared it.
“Yes,” I cry. “Yes. Oh, my god, yes! I was going to say yes.”
Kian lets out a rough sound that’s half laugh, half growl. He looks so relieved, and I grin at him like a lunatic.
“Yeah?” he asks, like he needs to hear it again. “Because you shook your head.”
“Yes,” I repeat. “I want to marry you. I love you.”
The words tumble out easily, naturally, like they’ve been waiting for years to be said.
His eyes soften as he pulls me into him and kisses me. I pull back, tears streaming as I smile at my ring. It fits perfectly. Of course it does.
“I’m engaged,” I whisper.
“You’re mine,” he corrects. “Forever.”
I fling my arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as I can. He holds me just as tightly.
“I love you,” he says into my hair.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
We pull apart just enough to look at each other.
Then he kisses me, slow, deep, certain. A kiss that feels like a promise and forever and home.
When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against his.
“This is really happening,” I murmur.
“Damn right it is.”
I glance down at my ring again, smiling through my tears. “It’s fast.”
Kian brushes his thumb under my eye, wiping away a tear. “Yeah. But it’s right.”
I nod. It is. Everything in my heart agrees.
“I wouldn’t change a single thing,” I say.
“Good,” he replies. “Because you’re stuck with me, darling.”
I grin. Best possible fate.
I snuggle closer on his lap, curling into his chest.
“Wait…did you say you bought me a car?” I ask, pulling back to look at him.
“Yeah. I’ll show it to you later.”
“Why? I don’t even have my license yet!”
“You will soon. You need something safe.”
“Well, I could have bought myself something once I had my license,” I argue.
“Now you don’t need to.”
“You shouldn’t have—”
“But I wanted to, and I did.”
“Kian.” I sigh.
He kisses me. “I take care of you, Larsen. You need to get used to that.”
I smile softly and lean back against.
“Want to go inside now?” he asks as the wind picks up, tossing snow around outside.
“Can we just… sit for a minute?”
“As long as you want.”
The snow falls quietly outside as Kian wraps his arms around my waist.
I’m warm. I’m loved. I’m engaged. I’m happy.
And for the first time in my life… I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.