Page 23 of Spiral Lies

"For the record, that wasn't me asking," he says with his lips against my crown. "I haven't earned the right to put a ring on your finger yet. I've got six months of Thanos-level villainy to make up for first. But when I have, I fully intend to slide my ring right here." He lifts my hand, circling his finger around mine. "And I intend for it to stay there for the rest of your life."

"Brain is broken," I mumble. "You broke it."

He chuckles, his body vibrating against mine. "It's all good, baby. You don't have to say anything. Just know…it's coming." He hooks a finger under my chin, craning my head back. "I don't quit when it matters. You matter."

"Stone," I whimper.

He brushes his lips against mine before groaning softly and taking a step back. "You make it so goddamn hard to behave when you say my name like that, Seraphina. Every time you whimper, I just want to slide inside you, just to hear it again. I want to fuck you raw, just to keep hearing it."

"You aren't behaving right now," I groan, swaying on my feet.

He chuckles, taking an exaggerated step back with his hands in the air. "I'm not even touching you."

"Your words are." I squirm, pressing my legs together. "In places they shouldn't."

His gaze immediately drags down my body, landing on my sex. The way the cerulean color darkens has me ready to climb him like a damn tree, rules be damned.

Instead, I do the smart thing. I scurry to my desk…before I say to hell with it and get us both fired when we're so damn close to getting everything we want.

The rest of the day is a blur. I spend most of it staring blankly at an expense report I need to finish. Does it get done? No idea. I'm in another dimension.

Stone wants to marry me.

I don't even know how this happened. A few days ago, I was more or less resigned to the fact that he'd be my hot, grumpy boss and nothing more forever. Instead, I'm realizing he was never really that, not in his heart and not in mine, either.

I hate that he thinks he has to earn the right to put a ring on my finger…and part of me loves it, too. I hate that he thinks he isn't good enough right now. But I love that he wants to be someone he thinks is worthy of me.

What straight woman on this planet doesn't want a gorgeous man willing to put in work for her? None. The answer is none.

The day is almost over before Stone emerges from his office, a frown tugging at his lips. The sight immediately puts me on red alert.

"What's wrong?" I ask, suddenly too damn nervous to breathe.

"Nothing," he says, strolling toward me. "Just trying to resign myself to the fact that, come next week, you won't be at that desk anymore."

I blink at him, my heart stuttering. "Do you mean…?"

"Yeah, angel." His expression morphs, the frown curving into a big grin. "Hector just called. Miriam and Jake agreed to the switch."

I launch myself out of my chair into his arms. He catches me with a groan, kissing me hard on the mouth.

"Marry me," I whisper against his lips.

He freezes, his body going rigid.

"Marry me, Stone."

His wild eyes meet mine, burning with so much heat I feel it everywhere. "Don't play with me, Seraphina," he rasps.

"I'm not." I wrap my arms around his neck, anchoring myself to his body. "You don't need to earn me, Stone. I'm not a prize. I'm just the woman realizing that she's always been madly in love with you. I don't need you to sweep me off my feet or prove that you're a man worthy of me. You've already done that. You were willing to walk away from a career you love just to ensure I didn't have to give up a job that pays me peanuts. That's both insane and the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. You've earned me, Coach."

"Jesus," he groans, his hands sinking into my hips. "I need to be inside you right now."

"Well, I have good news," I whisper, my lips inches from his. "The workday just ended, and you aren't my boss anymore."

He moves so fast, the whole world blurs as he drags me into his office, slamming the door behind us. Within seconds, I'm bent over his desk, his body caging mine.

"Stone," I moan as his hand slides between my body and the desk, yanking my skirt up.