Page 228 of The Blame Game

The hotel was even more opulent than Shea had imagined.

A porter whisked their suitcases up to a suite on an upper level of the ancient building, and once he was gone, Shea stood by the window, dazzled by the view of the city spread out before him.

“This is beautiful, Dom,” Shea said with a shake of his head. “But we didn’t have to go for a five-star hotel, you know?”

He could see the fucking Eiffel Tower from where they were staying.

“I know.” Dom shifted closer, pressing his lips to the top of Shea’s shoulder. “But it’s your first time in Paris, right?”

“Yeah.” Shea leaned against him with a contented sigh.

“Then I want you to enjoy it. Besides, I’ve never had anyone to spoil like this before.” He kissed Shea’s neck.

Shea smiled. “For what it’s worth, I’m not complaining. I just want you to know.”

“I know. And please tell me if I ever go overboard at some point.”

Shea’s heart thumped a little harder at the easy way Dom spoke about their future. “I will.”

They stood there a little while, Dom’s arms around his waist, watching the city wake up, the twinkling lights disappearing as the sun rose higher in the sky.

After a little while, Dom cleared his throat and stepped away. “Hey, uh, speaking of spoiling you … I planned to wait until later in the trip but I have something for you.”

“Yeah?” Shea turned to see Dom reach for something on the table. He held out a small gift box.

Shea’s heart rate suddenly kicked into high gear. “Uh, Dom?”

He smiled as if he knew exactly what Shea had been thinking. “I’m not asking you to marry me. We haven’t talked about it and I’ve got—I’ve got more stuff to figure out yet.”

Shea nodded, glad Dom had committed to seeing a therapist Felix recommended once they returned from their trip.

“But I do love you. And I do want to spend my life with you. And I wanted to show you that.”

Shea swallowed, suddenly emotional. He pulled at one end of the ribbon and the bow fell away, drifting to the carpeted floor. He lifted off the lid of the box, blinking at the delicate oyster shell inside.

“It’s beautiful,” he said, running his fingertip along one furled edge.

“Open it.”

There was gold along the rim and a tiny gold hinge so Shea carefully lifted the shell out of the box and set that aside before he cracked it open.

Inside lay a single pearl drop earring.

After the momentary wonder about an engagement ring, Shea had decided the gift was probably going to be a simple chain or something.

He’d never expected this.

“You … you heard me talking to Charlie at the baby shower?” he whispered.

He’d had no idea Dom had paid any attention to their conversation.

Dom nodded. “You don’t have to wear it if you feel like it doesn’t suit you. Only, I … I kept thinking about the oyster thing and about how closed off I’ve been in the past. About the way you’ve made me open up. And when I heard you talk about the pearl earring, it seemed so fitting, I—”

“I love it,” Shea whispered, his eyes swimming a little. “Dom. It’s … I love you.”

Dom stepped closer and cupped his cheek. “I love you too. And I never want you to feel like I’m ashamed of you. Or that I’m hiding you.”

Shea rubbed his thumb across the cool, glossy surface of the small pearl, his throat thick.

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