Page 163 of The One
Iwillmarry this man tomorrow, proposal or not.
I am his and he is mine. Forever.
Unlike my last wedding, no one will have to drag me down the aisle, and I’m sure I won’t faint or throw up in shock.
“Is that so?” Teo replies, arching an eyebrow.
His expression shifts into exaggerated seriousness, and his index finger taps his chin in mock contemplation.
“Hmm, you’re right. I did say to you on the staircase, after you slapped me, that I’d propose properly.”
“Argh!” I scrunch my face up and swat his arm. “Do you have to keep bringing up that I hit you?”
“Totally,” he says with a wicked grin. “I love seeing your cheeks burn every time I mention it.”
My cheeks heat instantly, and his grin widens. Without thinking, I lean forward and nip at his nipple in playful retribution.
“Hey!” he exclaims, laughing harder. “Feisty today, aren’t we?”
“You deserved that,” I huff, trying to hold my faux indignation, but his laughter is contagious.
He wipes a hand over his face, his grin softening. “Back to the proposal, I did have something planned, but that would mess with us getting married tomorrow.
“So, the choice is yours. Wait for a proper proposal or get married tomorrow. What’s it going to be?”
Argh!
He’s so turned this around on me, completely calling my bluff. I feign a pout, sticking out my lips dramatically.
“We could have both,” I counter, lifting my chin. “You could just ask me now.”
His eyes darken with that intensity that makes my stomach somersault.
When he speaks, his voice drops an octave, each word lingering.
“Like say to you, Mariella Beatrice Accardi, will you marry me?”
My heart leaps.
How many times have I dreamed of hearing him say these exact words?
“Yes,” I breathe, my voice barely audible.
The moment stretches, our heads tilting closer like magnets drawn together. It’s like those almost-kisses in the beginning, the ones that left me breathless and aching for more.
When our mouths are just inches apart, a cheeky grin spreads across his face, and he bites his lower lip before pulling away.
“Na. That would be too boring of a proposal. I guess you’ll have to wait after all.”
“What? No!” I blurt out, eyes wide in shock.
He’s absolutely delighted with himself and leans forward to plant a teasing kiss on the tip of my nose.
This is not how I saw this going.
“So we’re not getting married tomorrow?”
Chapter Sixty-Three
