Page 103 of Destined for the Devil
I kicked the door open and stepped outside, Isla’s lips glued to my cheeks and neck, plastering sloppy kisses all over me.
But then her eyes caught the warm glow, and she looked up in awe, noticing the thousands of twinkly lights I’d set up.
I had ransacked my brain for many,manyhours, thinking of how to propose, but it always came back to this—private, innocent, genuine, one of a kind. Just like her.
With shaking hands, I set her down on the snowy rooftop, letting her take in the atmosphere. I wanted to create a moment that was stopped in time, just for us, nothing and no one else around.
"Wow, what—what is this?" She wondered out loud as she took in the surroundings and slowly walked around. "Did you—did you do thi..." But she trailed off as soon as she turned.
I was already down on one knee.
Her eyes wide, she froze mid-turn, immediately sobering up. At that moment, I realized I didn't think this through because I had no fucking clue what to say. Angel Isla stood in front of me, tears sparkling in her eyes and snow covering her brown hair, and I just stared at her, frantically thinking of how to start this.
"Isla?” Oh no, it wasn’t supposed to sound like a question. “I—wow,” I said more stupid things. “I’m nervous…what if you say no?" I was in complete disbelief at my own blabbering!
I breathed in and out, hoping that the freezing air would kick-start some logical thoughts, but my exhale sounded like a nervous laugh instead.
"I'm listening." She nodded, encouraging me with her pure smile. She took a step closer, giving me her full attention. Fuck, why was this so much harder than blowing out brains or breaking fingers?!
I pulled myself together and concentrated on the pure angel in front of me. "Isla. I recognize that this is probably very fast, but to be honest, I was ready to do this in the summer.” I spoke carefully, acutely aware of how my tongue moved.
“Angel. I love you. More than anything in life, I want to always be with you.”
The sight of her so close to me—the unforgettable smile that graced her face, and the little tremble rippling through her—finally put me at ease. “I want to make you happy, and I also want to…um…fuck you in the laundry room while our kids watch cartoons."
A small laugh burst out of her, lighting up my world once more.
"I don't care about anything else, baby. Just us. Just our future. You and me, forever. Will you marry me?"Fuck, I’d finally said it, breaking out in small shakes while waiting for her answer.
46
All mine
Isla
Ihadn’tgivenRoman'sjokes and small talk about marriage any real thought. But when I saw a thousand twinkling lights lit up the night sky, Iknewsomething was about to change irrevocably.
And there he was, standing on one knee, visibly nervous. The snow tumbled down in big clumps, silently intruding into our bright bubble of love. I wanted this moment to last forever, and I was grateful he could barely get the words out.
I soaked it in—him, the lights, the winter, the precipice that we were approaching. I was so hopelessly in love with him. This was a no-brainer; yes, I would marry him. Yes,ofcourse, I wanted to spend the rest of my life by his side. I wanted to have kids and get railed at night only by his dick.
"Isla? You're going to have to give me an answer, baby. I'm getting a little nervous here." His anxious chuckle woke me up from my daydreams.
"Yes.” I nodded, unable to look away from the worry in his eyes. “Yes, of course!"
He beamed, quickly rising to his feet and, with shaking hands, cradling my hand in his. I watched, as if this was a movie, a giant diamond ring slide onto my finger.
Our cocoon of love imploded when his lips met mine—soft, warm, passionate.Thiswas the best moment of my life. In fact, the bestmoments of my life happened daily with him; it was impossible to choose just one.
Snuggled into Roman's side, I lay awake in the middle of the night and marveled at the sheer size of my engagement ring. I could definitely hurt someone with this thing—it was a fuckingrock. The emerald cut diamond reflected every single glimmer of light in the dark night. This was beyond a statement piece. This was Roman's very loud declaration to the world that I was taken.
How did I get so lucky? To meet a man who made me so happy? Who fulfilled my every wish? Whose gaze melted me? Whose touch stirred all my wildest desires?
A man wholovedme for who I was, every part of me.
Yes, I was happy now, and my life had changed since meeting him, but I couldn’t forget how I felt when Roman washed the dried blood off my legs six months ago. Like I didn't want to be alive. Alone, abandoned, depressed, and trapped in a vicious cycle of death. And Roman…he was part of the reason I ended up there. That wasn’t something I could just forget.
I didn’t know if I had forgiven him. Maybe I never fully would. But learning the truth about my momanddad altered something in me. Roman had taken many lives, but in a twisted, undeniable way, he’d also given me mine back.
