Her stiff posture eased, and she melted for me on a warm smile. I took full advantage of the sweet moment, enacting the scene I’d been planning for days.
In one smooth motion, I dropped to one knee and retrieved the small black jewelry box that I’d tucked into my pocket earlier in the evening. Her lips parted on a soft gasp when I revealed the diamond engagement ring that I’d selected for her.
“I’ve decided that you can choose if you want to keep your last name or take mine,” I announced, grasping her hand and guiding the ring onto her dainty finger without asking.
“That’s your proposal?” she spluttered.
I brushed a kiss over the ring that marked her as mine. “Yes,” I confirmed, unapologetic. I respected her, but I didn’t bother to pretend that she had a choice in marrying me. “The Ronaldo name commands loyalty, and it has become an important component in our recent power struggle. But we are representing a united front as we enter into a new era of our joint rule. Choosing to be Carmen Duarte would also be appropriate. I want you to pick whichever makes you happiest.”
Her brows rose. “You’re talking about our engagement like it’s nothing more than part of your political strategizing.”
I paused, taking a moment to read her mood. “Does that bother you? I didn’t think you would have any objections to marrying me.”
Her mouth quirked in a tilted smile, and she trailed her fingertips along my tense jaw. “I don’t have any objections to marrying you, Stefano. This just isn’t exactly the romantic proposal most women dream of.”
I leaned into her tender touch, taking a moment to consider my tactics. Carmen usually appreciated my straightforward approach in expressing my intentions for our relationship. I didn’t want to be inauthentic, but I could make more of an effort to make this special for her.
I brushed my thumb over the ring, drawing her attention to the glittering gemstones. The center stone was a three-carat, round cut diamond that I had selected for its stunning clarity and overt monetary worth. But three of the smaller stones that made up part of the halo truly held the most value.
“These are from my mother’s ring,” I murmured, pointing to each of the diamonds that had been recut from the ruined remnants of my family heirloom. There was no need for me to cling on to that twisted memory any longer; the bitterness of my past didn’t matter when Carmen was my future.
“You are my family now, Carmen,” I swore with the weight of an oath. “I love you. You will always be mine, and I will always be yours.”
I didn’t soften my brazen declaration with a request for her to accept my proposal. Carmen would marry me, and I had no desire to pretend that our union was optional.
But my intense confession seemed to have the desired effect. Her lovely eyes sparkled as brightly as the diamonds that adorned her finger, joyful tears spilling over her cheeks.
“I love you, Stefano. I’ll take your surname.” Her voice broke on something between a delighted giggle and a sob. “I was never happy as Carmen Ronaldo. I want to be Carmen Duarte. I want to marry you.”
I surged to my feet and captured her in my arms, pulling her tight to my chest and caging her for my brutal claim. I poured all of the visceral, dark feelings I didn’t quite have a name for into the kiss, craving to possess her in every way imaginable.
My Carmen. My kitten. My Queen.
The End