Chapter Forty-Six
Iris
“Hey, baby,” rasps Kian, sneaking up behind my back and dropping a kiss on my shoulder. “What are you baking?”
“Choco chip cookies, muffins, and banana bread,” I answer with a smile. My hands are buried in the dough as I knead it. “It’s Bianca’s and Rosalie’s favorite.”
It’s been another blissful and amazing month of Kian and me living together on the island. I’ve never felt more like myself.
Happy. Bubbly. Hopeful. Healing.
All because of the unwavering patience and support of the man standing behind me.
The shadows of guilt and stress have all but disappeared from his face.
I won’t lie that there are nights I find him sitting alone in the dark or when I wake up from nightmares, but we always talk it out instead of burying our turmoil.
If it’s possible, I think we’re closer than we were before.
Neither of us is in a hurry to move back to the city, which is why we’ve invited our friends and family to fly here tomorrow. Chatting and video calling aren’t as fun. I want to hug and kiss them. I can’t wait for tomorrow to come.
“What’s my dessert?” Kian teases in mock jealousy.
“Me.”
He chuckles, smacking a kiss on my lips. “Yeah, you are. My favorite dessert in the world.”
As he steps back to walk to the refrigerator, I salivate over his physique in a dark gray suit that clings to his ripped body. Businessman Kian is a sexy and drool-worthy sight to behold.
He isn’t back to work full-time, but he attends online conferences from his home office here on the island. That’s where he’s been busy all morning.
I’m also attending my classes for the new semester online since I don’t want to fall behind. Another reason I didn’t want to go back was because of the whole scandal, followed by the news of me getting shot.
Harshita reached out to me once more with the job offer for after I graduate. However, I respectfully declined. I’ve realized Sahara Times isn’t the best fit for me.
Kian turns around, catching me checking him out red-handed. He smirks, stalking toward me as I furiously blush.
I give him my back, pretending to ignore him as I move my hands again. Only for his heat to envelop my back. Grasping my waist, he drums his fingers teasingly. “Cute apron.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, trying not to grind against his cock until it hardens.
“Want some help?”
No way. We’ll never finish baking. “Umm… no, I’m good.”
“You sure?”
His low voice sends a thrilling shiver up my spine. “Yeah.”
Instead of stepping away, his hands skim down the outsides of my thighs to the hem of my summer dress.
“Kian,” I stammer as he starts to drag the material up.
Bringing the dress up to my waist, he rips my thong and forces my feet apart. I don’t stop him as I hear the unbuckling noise of his belt and his zipper going down. My eyes threaten to close as the broad and moist head of his dick notches against my pussy.
“I think I’ll have my dessert now.”
And he does for the rest of the day.
***
“I love this.” I sigh in awe.
“Counting the stars?” Kian teases as we sit on the beach late at night.
“No.” I chuckle, tilting my head to smile at him. “I love our nightly walks under the moonlit sky. Sitting wrapped up in your arms. I’ll never get tired of it.”
“My favorite is watching sunsets with you.”
“That too.” I stroke his jaw, rasping, “You’re a romantic, you know.”
His dimples flash. “You make me enjoy and appreciate the little things in life, Rainbow. If I’m a romantic, it’s because of you.”
“You give me too much credit.”
“Just the truth.”
Pulling him down, I kiss him sweetly. Leaning back, I murmur, “I want to adopt a kid with you, Kian. If that’s how God meant for us to have a child, then I want to find him or her.”
“Do you really mean it?” His eyes search mine.
“I do.”
A mix of happiness and protectiveness softens his features as his smile grows bigger. “We’ll do it whenever you’re ready.”
I turn my head toward the ocean, relaxing against him.
I’m staring at the sky when something bright red lights it up. I squint, thinking it’s a figment of my imagination. Or a meteoroid or something. Or a plane.
Another spark lights up the black sky.
“Did you see that?” I point out to Kian.
My heart lurches when I catch a flash of golden racing high above, a loud boom cackling just as it bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors.
A rainbow at midnight.
Gasping and shifting into a kneeling position, I see another two gold balls fly high and burst. It takes my brain a few more seconds to realize it’s fireworks.
“Oh my god!” I laugh, hypnotized by the colors.
I swear the whole sky lights up like the Fourth of July.
Did Kian make this happen?
Shaking my head at his wonderful surprise, I peer over my shoulder, murmuring, “Love, did─”
My words get cut as the wind is knocked out of my lungs.
He’s down on one knee, holding up a glittering diamond ring.
My hands fly to my mouth while my vision blurs. The sounds of the fireworks deafening against the pulse pounding in my ears.
“Just like the fireworks shining the sky, you light up my world, my goddamn soul, Iris. You’re all colors in my world of gray.” His drops an octave as he says, “Marry me, my obsessed little stalker. Bind me to you for eternity. Be my wife.”
“Yes!” I rasp, throwing myself into his arms. “Yes.”
Lifting my left hand, he slides the gorgeous ring on my finger. Cupping my face, his lips descend on mine, kissing me hard. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Kian. I can’t wait to marry you.”
Crushing me against his chest, he devours my mouth in an all-consuming kiss. I can’t get enough of him.
“SHE SAID YES!”
Startled, I break apart from Kian and stare at him in confusion.
“AHH! Woo-hoo!”
My head snaps toward the voices. My eyes go wide as I see Bianca and Rosalie clapping and jumping up and down in the distance.
Am I hallucinating?
Slowly, as my vision adjusts, I notice not just them, but Dash, Nova, my parents, and Kian’s mother, Sonya.
“They’re here?” I choke out, looking at Kian.
“I wanted them here when I proposed to you. So, I had them fly out here early.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Kissing me again, he rises to his full height and pulls me up with him. As we turn toward our people and start walking, Bianca and Rosalie come barreling toward me.
Beyond exhilarated to see them after months, I meet them in the middle. Our arms go around each other as we share a long-awaited group hug.
“You’re engaged!” they both yell.
I giggle, showing them my ring. “I’m engaged!”
“Look at that rock!”
Bianca nods. “Stunning!”
My attention shifts to my parents. I sprint toward them, bursting into tears as I embrace my mom. “Ma!”
“Oh, my bacha , I missed you!” She sobs, kissing my face all over. “I’ve been dying to be with you.”
“I missed you too.”
“Sweetie,” my dad murmurs. “Come here.”
I launch myself into his open arms. “Papa! I’m so happy to see you.”
“Gosh, let me see you.”
I smile as he kisses my forehead after looking me all over. His gaze flicks over my head just as Kian joins my side.
“Son,” my father greets him. “Give me a hug.”
Kian obliges, making my heart full.
“Congratulations to both of you,” my dad says proudly. “Both of you deserve each other.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I meet the rest of our guests, hugging and thanking them as they congratulate Kian and me. All of us walk to our home to open a bottle of champagne.
There’s a permanent grin on my face as our living room fills with laughter and jokes. I give the girls a tour of the place and another moment to admire my ring. The diamond matches the one on my necklace, which Kian gifted me on our trip to Seattle.
They also show the recording they made of Kian and me when he proposed, which makes all of us shed a few years at how romantic and perfect it was.
When we return to the drawing room, I make my way to my man.
“Hey, fiancé,” I tease him.
His lips tip up on the sides as he curls an arm around my waist. “Hey, soon-to-be Mrs. Singhania.”
I blush, loving the sound of it.
Judging by the lust darkening his stormy eyes, he loves it too.
“I don’t want to wait too long for the wedding,” he utters possessively.
“Me neither.”
“So, next month?”
“Are you crazy?” I sputter. “I need more time to plan it, Kian.”
“We’ll hire a wedding planner. They can make it happen.”
“My lehnga won’t be.” I pout. “Give me at least three months.”
“Two.”
“Kian.” He doesn’t budge. “Fine. Two.”
Pleasure swarms his rugged face. “Good girl.”
I shake my head, stifling my smile and gazing around the room. As I sneak a glance at Kian, he’s watching them too. A little bit of disbelief in his expression.
“You’re part of the family now, Kian,” I murmur. He stills, peering at me. “They are your people too.”
He squeezes my waist before reaching for my left hand and caressing his ring on my finger. “This is for forever, Rainbow.”
“Even death couldn’t steal me away from you, Kian. I’m yours for eternity.”