Page 97 of Payback
Tears fill my eyes from his words. Words that I want to believe, but I still have fears. “What about your career? Your endorsement deal?”
He shakes his head, his eyes softening around the edges as he replies, “I used to only care about soccer. Making it big and getting an endorsement deal were my only dreams. But somewhere along the way, my dreams changed. Something changed them…Someone changed them…You.”
Hot tears pour down my face as I stare up at Roan’s pale brown eyes twinkling in the ballroom lighting. He’s looking down at me with so much warmth, and love, and forgiveness, I feel completely unworthy.
“I’m so sorry, Roan. Truly. You changed me, too, and I love you so much. I regret every second of what I did that night.”
Roan’s brows lift in mocking challenge. “I hope not every second of it.”
I cringe and shake away the nervous laughter bubbling up in my throat. “I mean it. When I first met you, I thought there was enough distance between us that, that horrible video would never touch you. That you were just a stranger who would never be affected. But after we slept together, I knew I’d never show a soul that video because you were something I wanted to keep to myself.”
Roan rubs his lips together. “I know the video is out there, Lis. I know it sucks, and I know it’s something we’ll probably never be able to fully shake. But we can survive it together because you belong with me. You are mine and I am yours. I want to be your home and your family. Hell, I want to marry you.”
My eyes fly wide and my entire body begins shaking. My voice is trembling when I croak, “Don’t say that if you don’t mean it.”
He shakes his head, his face as serious as a heart attack. “When Vaughn told me you were moving back here, I swear to God, my heart stopped. I didn’t even pack a bag before driving to the airport and taking the first flight out. I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours, your dad had to loan me a toothbrush, and I spent way more fucking money on this suit than I should have because I’m here to tell you that I want you, mooi. Forever. And if you’re here to get some payback on your stepsister, I’ll drop down on one knee right now and ask you to marry me. Stealing her spotlight would be the ultimate payback.”
He moves to drop down on one knee and my jaw drops as I yank him back up onto his feet. My mind is spinning with emotions as I shake my head and bat away my tears. “Not here.”
He looks at me in confusion, glancing over at Rosalie and Parker, who are watching us like we’re on fire. I grab his face and press my lips to his, tasting this moment he’s just given me. This moment…This magical, unbelievable, unforgettable moment. He responds, sliding his tongue into my mouth and holding my face in place just as he did for our first kiss.
Finally, I pull away, my voice breathless when I say, “Real or fake? You just tried to propose to me at my stepsister and ex-boyfriend’s wedding.”
His breath is warm on my lips with his quiet laughter. “Fucking real.”
My smile is wide as I shake my head. “I don’t want the question you’re apparently ready to ask me to be tainted with revenge. These people have invaded enough of my life. They don’t get this moment, too.” I rub my hands over his face, imprinting his loving expression into my memory. “I want this to be pure and perfect and just what we always should have been.”
“Pure and perfect,” he replies with a sexy laugh. “So, asking you to make a sex tape sequel when I propose is out of the question?”
“Yes!” I exclaim with a laugh and pull him to my lips again. I kiss him chastely and add, “I don’t care when or how, but please just hold onto your question until we get home.”
“Home?” He says it like a question. “And where is that exactly?”
I exhale heavily. “Wherever you are.”
