Chapter 42
Dante
Seven Months Later
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve had so many excuses to dress fancy,” Theo chirps, admiring his reflection in the mirror. The royal blue suit hugs his body, and the fabric catches the light just right as he adjusts his tie and double-checks his makeup.
He looks breathtaking—sharp, confident, and radiant in a way that steals my breath every time.
We’ve had plenty of occasions for formal attire lately, but not all of them have been fun.
Two weeks have passed since Jesse’s hearing.
He pleaded guilty to stalking and attempted sexual assault, and the judge sentenced him to seven years, with parole eligibility after four.
It wasn’t the maximum we’d hoped for, but it was enough.
Justice was served, the chapter closed, and we can finally move forward without his shadow hanging over us.
I wander over and wrap my arms around Theo from behind, smiling at his reflection over his shoulder as I breathe in the sweet, familiar scent of him. “Yeah, except you forgot that wearing suits means being around people, and I’m just about peopled out.”
“You can’t be peopled out when we’re leaving for an international tour in a few weeks.”
“Oh, I beg to differ,” I say with a quiet laugh. “I can always be peopled out, one hundred percent of the time. When this tour ends, I plan to lock myself in a dungeon for a while with no one but you.”
“And Wante?” he asks, twisting in my arms and rising onto his toes to kiss me. “We have to have Wante in our sex dungeon.”
I hike an eyebrow. “I’m pretty positive I never mentioned a sex dungeon.”
“Eh, to-may-toe, to-mah-toe. You see a boring basement, but I imagine all the possibilities. There can be sex swings, a display case for my toy collection… oh, and a wall of mannequins for my sexy lacy things.”
“You had me on board until mannequins.”
He laughs and gently swats my arm before he heads to the dresser, rummaging through drawers in search of his dress socks.
I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, and watch him, studying the small expressions that flicker across his face.
Concentration as he digs, satisfaction when he finds the right pair, and that little pleased hum he makes when everything’s just so.
I could spend a lifetime watching him like this, discovering something new to love every single day.
“Are you interested in taking a picture?” he asks without looking up, smirk tugging at his lips. “Rumor has it they last longer.”
“Yeah,” I agree with a quiet laugh. My eyes drop to the ground as I smooth my black blazer.
“Hey,” he says, suddenly standing right in front of me. “What’s going on in that head?”
“When we get back from this tour, I want to buy a house,” I blurt, then rush to explain the tangle of thoughts. “We’re outgrowing this place, and this was my apartment. Let’s find somewhere that’s ours. Somewhere we can make a home together.”
“With a sex dungeon?” he teases with that soft, sweet smile.
“Mannequins and all. You always light up when we see dogs in the park, so I want you to have a yard where I can give you all the dogs, and maybe even a few cats, and—”
“You’re allergic to cats,” he interrupts with a laugh.
“I’ll take shots or something if you want one. If it makes you happy, I don’t care.”
“A hairless cat might work,” he muses, eyes sparking with sudden excitement.
“Fuck, those are so weird,” I mutter, and he narrows his eyes. “I mean… whatever you want, baby.”
“And he can be trained, ladies and gentlemen.”
I ignore his sarcasm, still lost in the vision. “What do you think?”
“About a house?”
“No, not just any house… our house.” His head cocks to the side, not quite grasping the difference.
“Theo, I want to build a home with you. I want to paint the walls with obnoxious, bright colors that you adore, even though I secretly hate them, because seeing your smile makes it worth it. One with a giant yard that you refuse to help me maintain, filled to the brim with the ridiculous animals you love so much. They’ll make me sneeze, but I don’t care because you’ll be happy. ”
“Dante…”
“Let me give you everything you deserve. Please? You are my entire fucking world, and I want somewhere that’s ours. I want to get married, and drive each other crazy every single day, and grow old together—”
“You want to get married?” he whispers.
The ground becomes my sole focus as my lips seal shut and my cheeks burn. “Well, um, I mean, eventually,” I stammer.
He takes a step closer, and silence stretches between us as I wonder if I’ve upset him.
“Where is it?” He grabs my chin gently and lifts my face to his.
“What?”
He places his hands on his hips and shoots me a look that says ‘I’m not an idiot.’ “Where the hell is the ring you’re hiding from me?”
I shake my head, jerking out of his grip. “Theo.”
“Where is it?” He stomps between every word, which would be adorable if I wasn’t so stressed.
It becomes a stare-off as I try not to blink, like that will somehow let me win. His eyebrow arches further up his forehead, threatening to rocket straight off his face if I don’t answer. His stubborn ass won’t budge, and we’ll be here all night.
Undeterred, I refuse to give up, just as bullheaded as him. We stand and stare until his gaze falls to the floor. When he looks up at me again, his eyes are soft and wide, and his lower lip protrudes in a subtle pout. He doesn’t even have to say a word, and I cave.
“Fuck,” I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “On the top shelf in the closet.”
“I can’t reach that!” he shouts indignantly, pouting instantly forgotten.
“That’s the point!”
His head swivels until he spots a desk chair in the room across the hallway, and he sprints over and drags it along, hauling it to the closet.
“Theo, you’re going to hurt yourself!”
He climbs on, wobbling precariously as the seat swings underneath him. He slaps around at the shelf, flinging blankets and random junk until he finds what he’s after.
“Ha!” he shouts with a fist pump.
I charge forward as he loses his balance, and catch him right before the chair smashes to the ground.
He rattles the box with a triumphant smile. “Found it.”
“This is not at all what I had envisioned,” I mutter, snatching the box from his hands before he can pop it open. “You can’t just look at it!”
“It’s mine!” he argues, jutting his hip out and extending his hand palm-down like royalty. “On your knees.”
I replay the last minute, wondering how this crazy train derailed so spectacularly, then try to reason with him. “Theo—”
“If you aren’t proposing to me, you’re giving me a blowie as a consolation prize. Either way, you need to be on your knees.”
I heave a loud exhale and drop onto the edge of the bed, patting the spot beside me. When he just eyes me with attitude, I sigh even louder. “Sit.”
He huffs dramatically, flopping down beside me so hard the mattress bounces. “Fine.”
“I was waiting for the right time,” I say quietly.
“And what’s wrong with right now?”
My brows knit as I scratch my chin, genuinely unsure if he’s serious.
“The evening of Eric and Dmitri’s bachelor party?
What’s wrong with asking you to marry me on the night our best friends are celebrating their upcoming wedding?
Their wedding that’s in…” I glance at my phone to double check the date. “Five days?”
He stares at me like I’m the dumbass who doesn’t understand the question. “What’s wrong with you asking me to… what was that next part?”
I roll my eyes. “Marry me.”
“Okay,” he says happily, snatching the box back out of my hand and popping it open. “Ooh, this ring is fucking beautiful.”
“Theo!” I shout, lunging to grab it from him.
He hands it back with a flutter of his lashes. “Oh, right. I guess you should be the one to put it on me.”
I just stare at him. “I haven’t even asked you yet.”
“You did,” he insists, nodding firmly. “And I said yes.”
“Theo…”
“How long ago did you buy that ring?” he asks, eyes sparkling with sudden mischief. “Because that box is dusty as hell.”
I bite my lip, glancing away.
“Oh boy,” he says, sounding far too excited. “This is going to be better than I thought. When?”
“Right after you started staying with me,” I admit, refusing to meet his eyes.
“We weren’t even dating.”
“I know,” I whisper, neck and face flushing hot again. “The day I took a copy of the restraining order to Brenda, I made a stop by the mall to pick up something from the music store. I walked past the jewelry counter, and it was just… there, screaming your name to me.”
I glance at the ring in its box. It’s white gold, etched with an intricate lace-like pattern across the surface, with a thin band of tiny diamonds circling the center.
A small smile tugs at my lips. “I couldn’t walk away.
When I bought it, I told myself I was being an idiot, that I’d return it after I had time to think.
But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to hold on to it.
The more I wanted to hold on to you.” My eyes finally find his. “Forever.”
“Don’t you dare make me cry my makeup into streaks, Dante.” He sniffles, dabbing at the corner of his eye. “You’re mine, and I’m yours. We both know that.”
“Yeah, we do,” I agree as I pull him closer.
He rest his head on my shoulder and extends his hand again. “Gimme.”
“Theo…”
“I already said yes, Dante. Yes, I will marry you. I’ll marry you tomorrow if that’s what you want. Yes, okay? A thousand times, yes. Now give me the fucking ring before I have to throat check you.”
I choke on a surprised laugh as my shaky fingers lift the ring from the box, spinning it once so the diamonds catch the light. It slides onto his finger perfectly, and he holds his hand up between us, both of us staring at it like it’s suddenly real.
“I’m going to brag so hard tonight,” he whispers.
“You can’t brag at their bachelor party,” I insist. “Wait until after their wedding is over and done, and then we can tell everyone.”
“Alright,” he says, far too easily.
I narrow my eyes. “Theo…”
“Oh my god, Dante. How many times have you said my name in that tone tonight? I’ll be chill. We won’t take away from Eric and Dmitri’s spotlight.”
“Okay…” I drawl skeptically.
We finish getting ready, and Theo’s smile is blinding as we head to the car and drive to the party.
Music thumps and lights flicker as we weave through the club toward the private suite in the back.
The guys rented the space for family and friends tonight, and the bouncer checks our IDs against the list before we step into the smaller, more intimate space.
Tai spots us first, lighting up with a smile, but I’ve noticed a heaviness in his demeanor these past few weeks.
He keeps insisting he’s fine, but something’s off.
He gestures for us to follow, threading through the crowd to where the men of the hour are hanging out.
We join the small group as Eric and Dmitri flash us matching giant grins.
Theo slips his hand out of his pocket, and I realize too late he’s still wearing the ring. He throws his fist up, then roars, “Guess who’s getting married, bitches?!”
Every eye in the room snaps to him, then to me. All I can do is shake my head as the swarm descends.
Well.
So much for being discreet.