Page 66 of Love to Defy You
Alek presses a kiss into my hair. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I push the present into his lap. “Here, open your gift. It’s kind of lame compared to this, so don’t be too disappointed.”
He sets his glass of champagne on the floor before tearing open the wrapping paper. Inside is a leatherbound photo album documenting our travels from the past year.
“I wasn’t sure what to get for the guy who has everything,” I say.
He flips through the pages. “This is perfect,malishka.Thank you.“ He closes the album and sets it off to the side. “But you’re wrong. I don’t have everything I want.”
“Oh, no?” I raise my eyebrows. “What could you possibly want that you don’t have?”
He nods toward the sky, and I turn my gaze toward the drones, which form a heart that oscillates between red and pink hues.
“You want a drone?” I ask. “I’m sure we can get you one when we get back to Zurich.”
He chuckles. “No, not a drone.”
The drones break formation like dancing fireflies. After a few moments, they come together and start forming words in block font. I tilt my head, trying to figure out what they’re spelling out.
And when the last drone locks into formation, I read the message aloud:Marry me.
“Aw, that’s cute. Someone’s proposing to their girlfriend tonight.” My face relaxes into a serene smile at the sweet gesture, and a couple of beats pass before my eyes grow wide. Shocksettles over my body, which goes numb as I slowly turn to look at Alek.
A velvet ring box sits in his hand, and the lid is open to reveal a thick, white-gold band. The center stone is a massive marquise garnet in a blood-red hue, surrounded by a halo of tiny black diamonds.
Is there drool hanging out of my mouth? Because my jaw is wide open right now, and no words are coming out.
“Marry me, Willow Baker.”
I blink, and the only words I manage to spit out are “You’re so bossy.”
He smirks. “It isn’t a request. You’re mine in every way except one. I made you a promise once that I would make you my wife, and I intend to follow through on that promise.”
I set my glass on the floor. “Well, yeah, but... so soon? We’re barely adults.”
“Malishka,most people go their entire lives without a love like ours. An all-consuming, obsessive love where we take every step and every breath in tandem. We move through life as one, and when you die, I’ll die, too. That is how tightly our souls are entwined. Our age doesn’t change that.“ He slides the ring out of the box and holds it between his finger and thumb. “So, say that you’ll marry me.”
I brush my fingertips against the tear that slips down my cheek.
“I must warn you, though.” His face grows serious. “Once you put this ring on, you won’t be able to take it off. It will slide on easily, but there are tiny spikes on the interior of the ring that will make it incredibly painful to remove. Sort of like tire spikes for your flesh—safe to drive over in one direction, but not if you try to back out.”
“What?” I lean away from the ring as if it’s about to bite me.
“My wedding band will have the same design,” he says. “Because once I put it on, it’s never coming off. If you ever leave me, my shredded finger will be the physical representation of my broken heart.” He places his hand over his chest. “It’s a symbol of my commitment to you.”
“I’d never leave you, Alek,” I whisper.
He reaches out and cups my cheek. “I know. But think carefully before you accept this ring, because it means forever.”
Except I already know my answer. I wasn’t expecting him to propose so soon, but that day he promised to make me his wife, I told him I would be waiting to say yes.My answer won’t change whether he proposes today or ten years from now.
Our souls are entwined as one, moving in lockstep through life.
“Yes, Alek.” My voice breaks. “I’ll marry you.”
The pure joy that lights up his face is so devastatingly genuine, I can’t go another moment without feeling his mouth on mine. I grab the back of his neck and pull him toward me, and when our lips collide, the world spins on its axis.
I’m Alek’s fiancée. His future wife.
