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CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Molly
I must fall asleep. I wake to Duke gently shaking me by the shoulders. Opening my eyes, I see he’s got a big smile on his face. It’s the most genuine, carefree expression I’ve ever seen him wear. My body is still sore, but in the best possible way.
When he glided up inside of me, it was like heaven. No, itwasheaven. It was everything I dreamed being with my man would be. The nerves drifted away the moment we started. There was simply no room for them in the intimacy.
“What time is it?” I ask.
“Seven p.m.”
I rub my face, feeling groggy. “Whoa! I’ve been asleep for hours.”
“You needed it.” He kneels by the edge of the bed, holding my hands, leaning over, and laying a soft kiss against my cheek. “I’ve got good news.”
“Yeah?”
“Ryan finally came out of his room. He asked to talk to me. He wanted to know how serious we were about each other.”
I sit up, keeping my hands in his. “Me and you? I’d say we’re about as serious as two people can get.”
“That’s what I told him. I told him I’d die for you. I told him I want and need to be with you for the rest of my life. I told him I’d always feel incomplete without you.”
“What did he say?” I ask, nerves trying to cramp in my gut. I can’t believe we’ve come this far and endured so much, just for everything to come crashing down now.
“He doesn’t want to stand in our way.” Duke’s smile gets even wider. “He wants us to be happy. The only thing holding him back is that he’s reminded of how vicious he was when he looks at you. How cruel.”
“That’s the past,” I say firmly. “We’re going to be family one day. I’m not holding a grudge.”
Duke nods. “I told him we’ve all behaved in ways we’re not proud of, but he saved your life. He knows how wrong he was. He’s got time to keep improving and become a better person. He said we should go for it. Be together. Forever.”
I swallow, emotion making my throat tight when I hear the shift in his voice, the huskiness. “I want that so badly,” I whisper.
“Let’s say a man wanted to ask his woman a very serious question in their bedroom after she’s just awakened from a nap. Would that be the most romantic time?”
I shake my head fiercely, wondering if I’m reading this right. Or if I’ll wake up next to Duke, still sweaty from our sex, or even earlier, before we met. Would I trade all the blood, violence, and fear for this moment? No. Without a doubt,hellno.
“It feels pretty freaking romantic to me,” I tell him.
“That’s good because I may or may not have gone for a drive while you were asleep.” He stands up, lifting me to my feet. I feel like I’m floating on air as I stand, bracing my hands against his chest, feeling his heart pounding as heavily as mine is. “I love you so, so,somuch.”
“I love you too,” I murmur. There are tears in my eyes. I can’t believe this is happening, yet it feels so right. It feels like exactly whatshouldbe happening.
“I’m never letting you go,” he goes on. “I’m never going to let anybody hurt you. You’re mine, Molly, and I’m yours. Always.”
“Always,” I repeat, getting choked up.
“Molly…” He stops and laughs, shaking his head. “People would say we’re moving fast. Help me out here, Molly.”
I get the point. Jeez. Maybe this is a sign we’re moving too quickly. Perhaps the rest of the world would think we’re insane for being so ready to begin our lives together when he doesn’t know my last name.
“Lewis,” I tell him.
“Don’t worry,” he smirks. “You won’t be needing that name for much longer.”
I can feel the tears sliding hotly down my cheeks, cutting passionate lines as I struggle to keep myself together.
Duke lowers himself to one knee, reaching into his pocket. He takes out a ring box. “Molly Lewis,” he says, then opens the box. The diamond is big, glistening, and beautiful. “I know it’s been… hell, less than a week?” We both laugh together. His eyes are glistening, too. “But I could’ve asked you this after an hour, a minute, a second. I knew you were, are, and always will be,minethe second I saw you. Will you marry me?”
