Page 160 of For a Price

I grin crookedly and then motion at my staff. “Maybe now is the right time.”

“For more dessert?”

Katerina’s confused as two of my waitstaff return and set down flutes of champagne for us to enjoy. They place a plate in front of Kat that’s not quite what she is expecting. It’s not more honey cake, or more dessert for that matter.

It’s a ring box.

She gasps and then claps her hands to her cheeks. Her gaze flicks from the box to me and I laugh all over again.

“Go ahead. Open it.”

She hesitates another second as if terrified the box might bite her. Finally propping it open, her jaw drops at the diamond ring gleaming up at her from inside.

“Zver…” she chokes out. “What…”

“I want you to be my wife. I want to marry you so you will be mine forever.”

“Mrs. Zver?” she releases a sound somewhere between another gasp and a laugh. “It’s beautiful.”

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s an I can’t believe I’m about to be Mrs. Zver!”

We laugh together as I grab her hand to hold in mine and take the ring from the box to slide it onto her finger.

“Yes, Mrs. Zver. Otherwise known as Mrs. Katerina Volkova.”

“That… that actually sounds damn good together.”

We come together in a kiss that’s light and celebratory, and in between, more laughter rings out of us.

We rise from the dining room table hand in hand, taking our flutes with us as we head upstairs to finish our celebrations.

The price we’ve paid has been worth it for the life we’re about to have together.

THE END