Page 85 of The Devil's Deal (East Coast Devils 2)

Wrapping his arms around me, he swims against the current, leaving little kisses along my collarbone with every backstroke. I wrap my legs around his waist, pinning his cock against my lower stomach, until we come to a stop just in front of the waterfall.

His stare lingers, burning into each of my features, until he peels away from me and picks something up from the bank.

A bell jar. Inside, a small, delicate flower, its petals white and thin.

Cillian lifts the lid gently.

“The Dendrophylax lindenii. Also known as the ghost orchid, one of the rarest flowers in the world,” he says softly. He swallows. Meets my watery gaze. “It’s almost impossible to breed, doesn’t rely on photosynthesis, and doesn’t manufacture its own food.”

“It’s beautiful, Cill,” I breathe.

“I love it because against all odds, it survives. Flourishes.” He lowers his lashes, searching my eyes. “Just like me and you.” My heart begins hammering against my chest. “Take it.”

I do, gently, and with trembling hands. Just as I’m bringing it up to my nose to smell it, I notice there’s something still on the plate. It winks at me. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Lottie Lewis. I want to break every promise with you, make a million bad decisions with you. Kiss you an infinite amount of times. Answer every one of your questions, do every favor that you ever ask of me. Simply because I love you.” He draws in a deep breath and adds, “Marry me.”

My jaw swings open but no words emerge from the gaping hole it creates. My eyes settle on the ring. Jesus—it’s huge, sparkly, princess-cut, and flanked by an array of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. It’s bigger than the diamond I tried to steal from the Van der Boors, that’s for sure.

“Lottie?”

“Oh my goodness,” I breathe, raking my hand through my damp hair. “I can’t believe it. All of this—what a surprise. I love you so much, do you know that? And I had no idea that you were planning this—any of this—how did you even—”

“Lottie,” he says again with a trace of amusement dancing on his perfect lips. “You’re rambling.”

I laugh. “Sorry, yes,” I choke out, “Of course I’ll marry you.”

He slips the ring onto my finger, sealing my fate.

Then he kisses me, hard and passionate. I melt into his wet body, devouring his lips.

He saved me a thousand times over. But as I feel his heart hammering against mine, I know that I saved him too.