Page 161 of Jake Forever
Chapter 57
His words felt like part of a dream. I was so lost, I could hardly think. "What'd you say?"
"You heard me." As if to drive the point home, his hips surged forward, claiming me as much with his body as with his next words, said with so much love, they burrowed deep into my soul. "Now, say yes."
My voice, when I found it, came out as a happy whisper. "Yes."
His body stilled for the briefest instant. And then, with words of love and promises of forever, he surged forward yet again.
I was soaring, as we rode together toward sweet oblivion, until, with another long series of shudders, we collapsed together into a warm, blissful heap.
His fingers, still intertwined with mine, gave a gentle squeeze. "Yes, huh? I'm gonna hold you to that."
I was so lost in contentment that it took me a moment to realize that I was still blindfolded. And for some reason, that struck me as incredibly funny. I started to giggle, and once I started, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.
With insane happiness, I squeezed his hands right back, only to pause and grow suddenly still.
Something was different.
There was something new on the ring finger of my left hand.
I rubbed at it with my thumb. Sure enough, there it was – a ring where there hadn't been one before.
And not just any ring. From the feel of it, it was a ring with an insanely huge stone.
Unable to resist, I moved my hands and yanked at the blindfold. A moment later, I was staring over Jake's bare shoulder at a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, glittering on my ring finger.
I felt my eyes widen and then grow suddenly misty. "Oh, my God."
I heard Jake's voice, warm in my ear. "See? You're not getting out of it now."
I gave another happy laugh. "As if I'd want to."
Shifting his body, he moved to the side, and then wrapped his strong arms around me, cradling me against his chest.
I placed my palm on his naked torso, admiring the ring, almost as much as I admired him. I heard myself say, "It's too much."
"What's too much?"
"This. I don't know. Everything." I pulled back to look into his eyes. "Is there such a thing as being too happy?"
"Nope." And then, his tone grew more serious. "Later on, we'll do this right, okay?"
I wasn't following. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said, brushing his lips against mine, "that we'll go out, have dinner, flowers, whatever. And then, I'll get down on one knee and ask you the right way, in a room-full of strangers, the way I planned."
It was almost funny. For all his crazy ways, Jake had a traditional streak that was surprisingly appealing. But on this particular thing, he had no idea what he was talking about.
"No," I whispered. "That was absolutely perfect, just the way it was."
"Yeah? Well, just say the word, and I'll make itmoreperfect next time." He cracked a smile. "Even if thiswasmy third try."
That made me pause. "I don't get it. Yourthirdtry?"
"You don't wanna know."
Didn't he know who he was dealing with? "I do, too," I insisted.
