46. Mary
Chapter 46
Mary
Connor’s been outside for some time now. I can only hear muffled words through the balcony door.
I’m so confused about everything. One moment, I want nothing but him, and the next, I’m scared. Scared he’ll leave the next morning. It’s better not to hope, right?
Why am I even thinking like this? He won’t leave. He’s my stalker. He never left me since then. He never really—
“Blue?”
I startle and sit up in the bed, the sheets rustling.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His eyes are soft. Smiling?
“It’s fine.”
He hesitates and then sits on the edge of the bed. “Do you want me to stop coming to the office? Stop working for your father?”
“No. ”
“Do you want me to leave you alone?”
“No.”
“You didn’t tell your father we broke up?”
“I forgot.” I didn’t.
He sighs and stands up, but I catch his wrist.
“And I didn’t want to,” I say.
“Why?”
“Did we break up?” I mean, yes, it kind of felt like it in the beginning, but I never wanted to. I just needed time.
“Does that mean… we’re still…”
“Still what?” Say it. Please.
“Together? Engaged?”
“You never got me a ring.” I peer down at my hand, empty where his ring should be.
Yes.
It should be there. Because everything I want is with him. I miss him. His nagging. His stupid jokes and possessiveness. I love him with a ferocity that scares me sometimes, with a depth that I never knew was possible.
“I did.” He walks over to his bag and plucks a little blue velvet box from it.
Is that? Did he?
“You have it with you?” I ask.
“Always. Everywhere.” The bed dips under his weight as he settles down beside me again .
“Can I see it?”
“It belongs to you.” He opens up the box and reveals the ring inside.
It glimmers in the soft light of the room, stealing my breath. It’s a delicate sapphire, the deep blue hue reminding me of the night sky just before it turns pitch black. The band is a braided white gold, intricately woven like the threads of our tangled history.
Shit. It’s perfect.
Tears sting my eyes. He knows me too damn well. The ring is perfect because Connor is perfect.
This is real. This is happening. Connor Milton, my stalker, my lover, wants to marry me. Wants to bind himself to me forever.
A part of me screams to run, that this is insane. That I can’t trust him after everything he’s done. The lies, the deception, the constant watching. It’s twisted and wrong.
But the bigger part of me, the part that craves his touch, his intensity, his unwavering devotion, wants to say yes. It wants to slip this ring on my finger and never take it off.
Because despite everything, I love him. I love the way he looks at me like I’m the only woman in the world. The way he touches me, like he’s worshipping every inch of my skin. The way he knows me, really knows me.
It’s fucked up and complicated and messy. But it’s us. It’s always been us .
My hand shakes as I take it out of the box, my fingers brushing against the cool metal. Connor’s watching me, his eyes dark and intense. Waiting. Hoping.
I don’t want to give it back. Deep down, I already wore it even if it wasn’t on my finger.
I want this. I want him. Forever.
“When are you going to ask?”
And for the first time, I think I made Connor Milton speechless.
“You really are an idiot, you know that?” I say.
“The biggest idiot you’ll ever meet.” With a big grin, he scoops me into his lap, plucking the ring out of my hand.
I start to reach for it as he tuts me, taking my left hand in his.
“Blue.”
“Yes?”
“From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the one I wanted to be with forever. I want to continue waking up to your smile, holding you close each night. Just like now. Will you marry me?”
Tears spill down my cheeks as I stare at the man I love with all my heart.
“Yes,” I whisper.
The smile that spreads across his face steals my breath away. He crushes me against his chest, one hand tangling in my hair.
“Say it again,” he demands, voice rough.
“Yes, Connor, I will marry you. I love you.” The words come easier this time.
He slips the ring onto my finger. It feels so right like it was always meant to be there.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away. I was scared,” I say.
Connor shakes his head, leaning down to nuzzle his nose against mine. “You have nothing to apologize for, Blue.”
“Will you kiss me now?”
A low growl rumbles in Connor’s chest as he crashes his lips on mine before trailing down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. “I love you. I love you so much, Blue.”
“I love you too.” My heart swells with the depth of my feelings for him. “I always have.”
Right here. With my stalker. Is perfect.
I wake up in Connor’s arms, his warmth enveloping me. The sapphire ring glints on my finger as I trace the lines of his tattoos, marveling at the man who’s captured my heart so completely.
Connor stirs, his eyes fluttering open. “Morning, Blue.”
This is real. He stayed.
“Morning.” I lean in to kiss him softly.
He deepens the kiss, rolling me onto my back. His hands roam my body, igniting a fire within me, and I arch into his touch, craving more.
Connor’s phone rings and his body goes rigid against mine. I frown, pulling back to look at him.
“What’s wrong?” I ask .
“That ringtone. It’s Elijah,” he says. “I’m sorry, Blue, but I have to take this. He wouldn’t call this weekend if it wasn’t important.”
I nod, trying to hide my disappointment as he rolls off me and grabs his phone. He steps out onto the balcony, closing the door behind him.
I sit up, pulling the sheets around me. The warmth of our embrace is gone, replaced by a chill that has nothing to do with the temperature. I strain to hear Connor’s voice, but it’s muffled by the glass.
Minutes pass, each one feeling like an eternity. My mind races with possibilities. What could be so urgent that Elijah would interrupt our weekend together? Shouldn’t he be with Gemma?
The door slides open, and Connor steps back inside, his face grim.
“What is it?” I ask.
Connor sits on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped. “Gemma’s gone. With Oliver.”
I stare at him, my brain struggling to process his words. “What? That’s impossible. Gemma hates Oliver. She’d never go anywhere with him.”