Page 72 of Bound By Blood

Landon chuckled, his fingers digging into her hips. He knew at once what game she was playing, and he couldn’t exactly fault her for it. He knew how curious she could get, and he had been reckless when it came to the box in the first place. “This isn’t playing fair, you little minx.”

“How about now?” She ground herself against his growing erection and nibbled on his jaw in response. She was very adept at driving him wild, and he was seconds away from taking her right there on the desk.

There had been a time when Landon believed that he had plenty of self-control. But around Carly, he had none. Her movements elicited a groan from the back of his throat as he threw his head back. “Why do you want to know so badly?” he ground out through clenched teeth.

“Don’t get me wrong,” she began, biting on the vein pulsing in his neck. “I like the fun of secrets, but this one is too tempting not to explore.”

“It’s, uh…” Landon closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. He knew he would never tire of the way her body felt, and she would never stop turning him on to the point where he felt like he could explode at any moment. “It used to belong to my mother.”

He was purposely being vague. He was rather enjoying the little game they seemed to be playing. However, he also knew that he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.

Seemingly aware of exactly what she was doing to him, Carly pressed herself against his cock and groaned in his ear. “Is it a key to a house?” she asked breathlessly.

“No.”

She nipped at his lip. “Is it a family heirloom?”

“In a way.”

When she ran her tongue along his jaw, Landon sighed heavily and shifted Carly in his lap. As much as he enjoyed what she was doing, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He leaned forward and opened the drawer again before grabbing the box and holding it out for her.

“Here, if you really want to know. I just wanted to wait until things slowed down a little bit,” he muttered. As much as he tried to hide the disappointment in his voice, he knew she still heard it.

For several moments, Carly just stared at the box in his hand as if she knew that she was ruining something. Eventually, her curiosity won out though, and she took it from him. She gasped when she opened it, her beautiful eyes wide. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Why do you have it here? It should be under lock and key.”

“I had Loxton retrieve it from my storage unit. He just brought it to me today.”

Her brows creased adorably in the middle, confusion flashing across her face. “What for?”

“Are you really that dense?” he teased her, lifting an eyebrow. “It’s an engagement ring, Carly.”

She blinked, looked down at the ring, and then back at him. He could pinpoint the exact moment she figured it out. “Oh my god.”

“Now she gets it.”

“Wait, are you actually proposing?”

Landon shrugged and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wasn’t sure if she was playing dumb or if she was just in shock. He could never tell with her, but he would learn. They had all the time in the world to do so.

“Well, I wasn’t planning on doing so today. Like I said, I was waiting until things calmed down for us so I could do this right. But your stubborn ass just couldn’t let it go.” He poked her chest playfully. “So, yes, Carly. I am proposing. Right here, in my office, and with you straddling my erection.”

Carly’s lips twitched in response. “I think the proper question is: Will you marry me, oh gorgeous immortal Goddess.’”

At that, Landon did roll his eyes. He also snatched the box out of her hands and snapped it shut with a loud click. “That’s it. I’m taking back my proposal. You’ll get it back when you can be nice.”

She laughed and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “I’m teasing, Landon. Yes. I will marry you.”

“What’s the catch?” he asked, eyeing her skeptically. As much as he wanted to believe she was actually accepting his proposal. It was far too easy. He was used to constantly fighting with her on just about everything. For her to give in so easily like this just wasn’t like her.

Much to his surprise but also relief, Carly shook her head. “No catch. I want to be with you for the rest of our lives.”

Relief flooded his body, and he grinned at her. He took the ring out of the box, tossing said box over his shoulder, and then slid the ring onto her finger. Once it was firmly in place, he took her face in his hands and crushed his lips against hers in a searing kiss that said everything he wanted to say to her in that moment.

A slow grin spread across her lips. It was one full mischief.

“What?” he asked.

Taking her hand back, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. He watched as she reached behind her and unclasped her bra. The straps slowly slid down her shoulders and she dropped it to the floor.