I blink a couple of times then look around me, seeing that we are on the island. Giving Demitri an annoyed look, I mutter, “Seriously? Why the blindfold and restrains?”
“I could’ve gagged you but thought that would really piss you off.” Taking hold of my shoulders, he says, “I wanted to reenact our first time.” Then he turns me to face the coffee table, and I see a Starbucks beverage and cookie.
My heart melts.
We take a seat on the couch, and when I pick up the beverage, it feels empty. Frowning, I take off the lid and then stare at the tiny box inside.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My breathing begins to speed up, and as I take the box out of the cup, Demitri moves off the couch and onto one knee.
Oh, God.
Emotion wells in my chest as I meet his eyes.
“We both know I suck at the romance shit.”
I let out a burst of nervous laughter and shake my head. He can never suck at anything.
Demitri’s expression softens, and then he takes the box from my hand and opens it. I lower my eyes to the ring, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth as I stare at the huge princess-cut diamond.
“Ariana, I can’t promise we won’t fight, but I promise to always fight for you. I can’t promise that life won’t try to hurt you again, but I promise to protect you from every blow. I’ll kidnap you a thousand times if it means I get to keep you.”
I struggle to blink the tears back, and then Demitri says, “Malyshka, will you marry me?”
Nodding like crazy, I dart forward and throw my arms around his neck. He rises to his feet, his arms wrapping tightly around me.
“I’ll say yes a thousand times if it means I get to keep you,” I manage to reply before being overwhelmed by tears of happiness.
Demitri pulls back and then slides the diamond onto my ring finger. Then he frames my face and kisses the living hell out of me in true Demitri style.
When he breaks the kiss, I place my hand against his jaw, and looking up into his eyes, I say, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Things were rough for a while, but I would go through it all again for you. Only for you. No one else would’ve been able to keep me standing the way you did.”
Framing my face with his hands, Demitri’s eyes drift lovingly over my features. “There’s no one I love more than you.”
Epilogue
DEMITRI
Four years later…
“Just look at that cock,” I say proudly, pointing at my newborn son’s penis. “He takes after me.”
Alexei frowns as he stares down at Viktor, who we named after my father. “Brother, you are aware it’s not even an inch long?”
“Of course, it’s going to fucking grow,” I mutter. “But it’s a good start.”
“I swear to God. I asked you to change his diaper, not leave him lying naked,” Ariana snaps at us.
“It’s good for him to get fresh air on his ass,” I argue. The next minute Viktor goes off like a fucking sprinkler system, spraying both Alexei and me.
We both stand frozen, and then Ariana cracks up laughing.
Slowly Alexei turns to face me, a disgruntled look on his face. “So much for protecting me.”
I let out a burst of incredulous laughter. “Against a newborn? You’re shitting me, right?”
Ariana laughs harder, sitting down in the rocking chair. “God, best… ever.”
Alexei glances down at the wet stripe on his chest, then shakes his head. “He’s got good aim.”
“Yes, he got all your vital organs,” I agree.
Ariana gets up from the chair and, pushing us both out of the way, she begins to put a fresh diaper on Viktor, then picking him up, she cradles him. Once again, the sight of her holding our son robs me of my breath.
Alexei walks out of the room to change his shirt.
Ariana smiles down at Viktor, and there’s so much love on her face it looks like she’s going to burst from being unable to contain it all.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, in total awe of my wife.
Her eyes dart up to mine. “I haven’t washed my hair in two weeks. I’ve worn the same sweatpants for three days now, and I’m sleep-deprived.”
“Still, you’ve never been more beautiful to me.” I move in next to her and press a kiss to her temple, and then I stare at the life we created together.
“Half of me and half of you,” she murmurs. “How did we make something so amazing?”
“Once he’s asleep, I can show you,” I tease her.
She lets out a chuckle and then rolls her eyes at me. “You’re not getting any until I’ve at least had a chance to shower.”
I take Viktor from Ariana, then grin at her. “Go shower.”
With a smile, she leaves the room, and then I look down at our son. I stare into his eyes, and again there’s a shift in my chest.