Chapter 34 #2
“If you want to. If you just want to look at it, I have people who can take care of it.”
She tugs her lower lip between her teeth, and her eyes go glassy with tears.
“I can help,” she whispers. “Thank you.”
“Oh, this isn’t even the best part.” I grin and lead her to the sofa, and we sit together, cuddled up. She doesn’t hesitate to practically climb in my lap and nuzzle her face in my neck.
“We’ve come a long way since that night that I allegedly put something in your drink,” she says softly, making me snort.
“Admit it. You like me.”
She takes a breath and then says, “I love you.”
And just like that, my heart stops.
“I love you more than anything,” she continues. “And I don’t honestly know what I ever did right to get to be friends with all of the people in your family, but I’d do it over and over again if I could. Because now that I have you all in my life, I can’t imagine going back to anything else.”
I tip her chin up so I can see her face and lower my lips to hers.
“You fit so damn well,” I inform her. “You’re everything I didn’t know was missing from my life.”
“What, sarcasm and roofies?”
“That, and sweetness and fire. Your backbone, the way you care about people. You make me want to be a better person, and that’s never happened before.”
Her lips tip up into a smile.
“There is nothing more important than you, Savage. I’d give everything up for you.
I’d—well, I’d do anything for you. Because I’m so in love with you that I don’t even recognize myself anymore, in the best possible way.
Before you, I would have sworn that I don’t have a heart, and now it’s like it’s come back to life and aches at the thought of ever losing you. ”
“You’re a goddamn poet,” she whispers, making me bark out a laugh.
“And yeah, I do love this sassy fucking mouth.” I bite her lower lip and then slip out from under her and onto one knee in front of her, and her eyebrows lower.
“What are you doing?”
I pull the ring that I had Julian get for me out of my pocket. I knew what I wanted, and Julian’s stones are the best, so I worked with him to have a one-of-a-kind engagement ring made for my girl.
It shimmers in the low light as I hold it up to her.
“I’m not asking you,” I inform her. “Because no isn’t an option.”
“That’s so you,” she says, shaking her head.
“Marry me, Violet.”
“I love it when you say my name like that.”
I smile as she reaches out and cups my cheek. Turning my face, I kiss her palm and then keep talking.
“I need you to marry me and live this crazy life with me. It won’t be easy. In fact, it probably won’t be easy most of the time.”
“You’re really selling yourself here.”
I shake my head at her. “But I can guarantee that I’ll love you every fucking minute of my life. There’s nothing you’ll lack. I’ll keep you walking funny. I’ll keep you safe. Anything you want, it’s yours.”
She leans forward to press her forehead to mine. “I just want you, Mateo. I don’t need your money or your power. Just you.”
“Well, the money and power are a part of me. So you get those too.”
“I know you didn’t ask, but I’m saying yes anyway.” She loops her arms around my neck and hugs me close, and then her lips are on mine, and she’s clinging to me. “Let’s go consummate this engagement.”
“I love the way you think, but hold on just a second. First, you get this.” I hold the ring up and she bites her lip. “You don’t like it?”
Her eyes fly up to mine, and she stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“That has to be five carats.”
“It’s seven.”
“And it’s gorgeous. Of course I like it, but what if I lose it? What if something happens to it? Jesus, it must have cost a fortune.”
I laugh and slip the ring on her finger, happy to see that it fits perfectly, and then kiss her softly.
“You won’t lose it because it doesn’t leave your finger. And it doesn’t matter what it costs. You deserve it and much more.”
“You’re so romantic tonight.” She sighs. “It’s very swoony.”
“Let’s go now.”
She looks around. “I mean, we could have sex here, since no one else is up here, but we can go downstairs if you’re feeling shy.”
I laugh, so in love with her I can’t see straight. “No, baby, let’s go get married.”
“Right now?”
“It’s Vegas. We can go anytime.”
“I’m pretty sure you still have to get a marriage license and stuff.”
I smirk and push her soft-as-fuck hair behind her ear. “I’ll make a phone call.”
“That’s right, this is you I’m talking to. You really want to do it now?”
“I can’t stand going another minute without calling you wife. So yeah, I want to do it now.”
She nibbles her lip, and apprehension moves into her eyes, so I brush my fingers through her hair. “What are you thinking, Savage?”
“We need a compromise.”
I narrow my eyes. “Go on.”
“We can do this fun, spontaneous, romantic elopement tonight, but, we have to do it again when everyone else can be there, including my sister. I need her to watch me say my vows to you, and you can’t tell me that your brothers won’t want to be there.”
“I mean, I don’t think they’d shed any tears.”
She smirks. “Well, I know the girls would want to see it. So that’s my one condition.”
I sigh and lean in again to brush my nose against hers. “I already told you, I’ll give you anything you want. We can get married as often as you want. Every Sunday? You got it.”
“Just one more time would likely suffice.”
“Done.”
She hops up off the sofa and starts for the elevator.
“Let’s do it. I’m even wearing a pretty dress.”
That blue dress is what wet dreams are made of.
When we get back down to the car, Diego, Lucky, and Bobby are waiting, all grinning at us.
“You guys knew?” Violet demands.
“We just heard,” Bobby says with a wink. “Congratulations.”
Suddenly, my girl frowns up at me. “I don’t even know which place we should go to.”
“Does it really matter?”
She tips her head to the side. “Not really. Just, no Elvis impersonators, okay? It may be a quickie Vegas wedding, but it can still be classy.”
“No Elvis. Just a regular guy.”
“You know, I’m ordained,” Diego says, surprising the fuck out of me.
“You are?” Violet asks.
“Yeah, you are?”
“I had a girlfriend once who had a cousin getting married, and they asked me to perform the ceremony.”
“Oh my God, will you marry us?” Violet demands.
“It would be my pleasure.”
“Hot damn,” Bobby says as he opens Violet’s door. “The boss is getting married.”