Page 126 of Healing the Heart

His fingers disentangled from her hair, but only so he could wrap his arms around her and bury his face in her belly. And shedistinctly heard him say, “Thank god I didn’t fuck this up,” as he hugged her tight.

Fiona’s arms encircled his neck, and she rested her cheek on the top of his head, but only for a minute.

“Since that’s settled, would you get up now, please? I don’t like you on your knees, unless...”

Gazing up at her, he finished for her. “I’m doing wonderfully wicked things to your body?”

“Yes. I’m a one-and-done mistress. I swear there is no inner domme living inside me.”

He chuckled and got to his feet, a little stiffly because he’d been there awhile. “Damn. I’m getting too old and arthritic to be groveling, so I’d better not piss off my kitty again.”

“I wasn’t pissed off, Noah. Just heartbroken.”

He took her gently in his arms, his playfulness gone, as he turned serious once again. “Not anymore, though, right?”

“Right,” she agreed. “Hearing you express your love for me healed my heart. Although doing so on your knees, in front of everyone, was unnecessary, I must admit, it was quite romantic.”

His lips brushed hers in the tenderest of kisses. “I was prepared to grovel every day until you forgave me.”

“Lexie will complain that I gave in too easily. She’s not your biggest fan.”

“She’s going to be harder to convince than you, isn’t she?”

“Yes. She’s always been fiercely loyal to her friends, so winning her over won’t be easy.”

“I’m thinking Jonas wouldn’t approve of me getting on my knees for his wife. What color roses does she like?”

Fiona laughed. “Texas bluebells. Good luck finding those at a florist.” She snuggled against his chest, finding comfort in his embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear.How she’d missed him. “Don’t worry about Lex,” she assured him. “She’ll come around.”

“She is going to have to. You’ll want to visit each other, and, if she’s going to stand up with you at the wedding, she’ll have to tolerate me for a few hours at least.”

“Wait.” She pushed back in his arms and blinked up at him. Surely, she would remember if he... “Did I miss the proposal?”

“No. I thought after promising to show my love every minute I’m on this earth that it went without saying.”

She grunted, sounding much like him. “You thought wrong, sir. I only plan on marrying once in my life and have a few expectations. A proposal is one I refuse to budge on.”

Flashing a playful smile, he produced a black velvet ring box from his pocket.

“You were teasing,” she accused.

“A little.”

Getting down on one knee this time, he opened the box and held it up to her. While she noticed the glittering diamond, she was more intent on his face, no longer tense, withdrawn, and distant, only smiling with love for her.

“Marry me, Fiona. Be my wife, my love, and my submissive.”

Nodding, with tears overflowing, she threw her arms around his neck. His encircled her as he rose, lifted her off her feet, and they sealed their promise to one another with a kiss.

“What do you say we get out of here and continue this in private?”

“Okay. Your place or mine, which is actually Jonas’ and Lexie’s?”

“I’m at Cap’s, and I have the entire ground floor to myself. And this time I’m remembering the dead bolts.”

His arm around her, he steered them toward the exit.

In a meteoric mood shift from despondent to euphoric, laughter bubbled up from inside her.

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