Page 120 of Rival to the Billionaire

She leans back against the table, giving a little sigh. "I'm so nervous. I've been practicing, but, uh, what if they don't like it? My speech?”

“You mean what if they don’t like you?”

“The thought had crossed my mind. Sometimes, old habits die hard.”

My lips curl into a smile before I pull her in for another kiss. "Jenny. I've never met a woman as good at making people like her as you."

She flashes me a sexy little grin. "That's pretty good, coming from you, the 'King of Charm’."

"You're the real charm, baby. You're the one that makes anything possible. And I'm not saying all this to charm you. I'm saying this because you're the most beautiful thing that exists on this earth. That's not to say there aren't a few other beautiful things. I just happen to think you're the best."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. Really."

"Huh." Her hazel eyes blink up at me curiously. "More beautiful than…" her hand raises, "…this?"

I look down and notice the engagement ring I thought Alton hid in her hand.

She's holding it up in front of her now, the diamond and platinum perfectly centered in a delicate setting.

"I found it." Her cinnamon eyebrows rise. "It was right next to Alton's tie on the floor. I got suspicious. And then your little slip-up while you were fucking my brains out? Tossing around the word 'wife' like it's not a big deal?" With a laugh, she puts the ring in my hand. "Then I knew. I had to say something.”

"How long were you going to wait before you asked me about the ring?"

Her lips curl up in a smile. "You know… I hadn't really thought about it. But now that I see it…"

"It's kind of perfect." I slide it onto her finger. "It fits you perfectly."

"And you," she whispers, wrapping her hand around mine with a warm smile. "Are the only thing that fits me perfectly. Like this."

I lean forward and kiss her, my tongue touching hers before I pull back. "You are something else."

"So," she says, licking her lips. "When were you going to ask me?"

"Well… That's what the sleeping with you part was all about."

She laughs, her body shaking under my hands. "You know… That probably would have worked. I would have just said yes. But now I'm curious how far you'd be willing to go. How far you'd go. With me."

"How far?" I ask, slapping my hands on the table and leaning forward until our foreheads are touching. "That's a really good question. And I've got the perfect answer."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"The rest of our lives, baby. That's how far I want to go." I smile. "I know it's not exactly a conventional proposal, but I want you to be my wife. I want you. I want me and you. Forever. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen."

She blinks up at me, eyes full of hope. "Really?"

"Yes. Really." I cup her face in my hands and lean in for another kiss. "I'm going to be your husband, Jennifer Michelle Forde. Your best friend. Your lover. And you can count on me being here, holding your hand through every decision and whatever it is that you want to do. Because I'm in this with you."

She smiles, her eyes glistening before she kisses me again. "You had me at forever. Who knew you had such a romantic side?"

"I think everyone suspected it. But I had to come clean."

"Well. I'm glad you did." Her lips brush mine again before she whispers. "Because it's perfect. Forever is really perfect. It's all I've ever wanted."

"Me too." I kiss her again, her lips parting so I can slide my tongue into the hot depths of her mouth and explore every bit of it. "And I've got a lot of perks to go along with my offer. Like this one."

I slide my hand down her front, over her dress, between her breasts and over the soft, flat plane of her stomach. Her breath catches in her throat as I slide it down even further, her body shivering slightly when my fingers glide over the wetness between her thighs.

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