Page 195 of Lawless Sinners

The corner of my mouth rises. "What if this all falls apart?"

"Then we'll rebuild it."

I look down at the ring. The diamond blurs, and I blink until its edges focus again. If I meet his eyes, I’ll say yes and let everything else burn.

"I want you, Fionn. I've wanted ya since you took that mask off in the barn and ruined every sensible thought I've had since." The setting bites into my palm as my fingers close around it. "But I'm not saying yes to you in secret. Not after everything we've already hidden."

The muscles in his jaw tick, and I think he’s going to argue or tell me the outcome’s already decided, and I just haven’t caught up yet.

My stomach drops. I’ve spent so many nights wishing Fionn would choose me, and now that he has, I’m the one making him wait.

"Then what do you want?"

"Ask me again when I can answer ya properly." My voice breaks, forcing me to swallow before I continue. "When Saint knows. When Ma knows. When it's not just us hiding."

“So, you’re saying no…”

That two-letter word knocks the breath from my lungs. I take his hand in mine and press the ring between our palms. My pulse slams, but my voice comes out steady.

"It’s a yes that’s waiting to happen, Fionn."

His hand tightens at the base of my spine, and the next hungry kiss is a claim.

When he finally releases me, my lips burn, and his shirttails hang open where I’ve pulled them from his trousers.

“Give me the ring,” he orders.

I set it into his hand and watch as he takes my left hand and slides the ring onto my wedding finger. “I just want to see what it looks like on your finger.”

“I can’t wear it yet,” I say.

Fionn nods. “Wear it when it’s official. In the meantime, I want you to live here.”

I glance around the modern apartment. "My life's at Black Heath."

"I'm not asking you to give it up."

"Then what are ya asking?"