“Oh, yeah? We have a problem?”
“One particular problem.”
I sat on the edge of the bed, half-dressed, hair damp. “And that is?”
He walked over and got down on one knee. “We aren’t married yet.”
My eyes widened. “Nervosa.”
He took my hands. “Listen to me. Before you say anything, I love you. More than I’ve loved anything in this world. You know that, yes?”
“Yes. And I love you too. But you can’t propose to me after shower sex!”
“I can and I will.”
“Nervosa.”
He sighed and pushed me back onto the bed. “How about after I fuck you senseless right here and now? Would that be better?”
“Not really, no.” I squirmed beneath him. “But I’d be willing to find out.”
He laughed as he kissed me then placed a ring box on my chest. I stared at it, blinking. “Go ahead,” he said.
I opened it, propped on an elbow.
The ring was beautiful. White gold, lots of diamonds, absurdly big and expensive. I sucked in a sharp breath as he slid it onto my finger.
“Marry me,” he said.
“You’re supposed to wait until I say yes to put it on me.”
“I’m not patient. Marry me.”
“I love you.”
“Say yes.”
“Yes.”
He buried me in a kiss. I laughed, wrapping my arms around him, and pulled him on top of me, tangling us both up in the sheets.
“What happens after this?” I asked as he pressed himself against me from behind, his cock half-hard.
“I suspect we have a wedding.”
“No, I mean, everything else. My brother. Erin. Everyone.”
He was quiet for a moment. I felt his breath on my neck. “There’ll be a war soon.”
I turned around to face him. “What are you talking about?”
“Erin’s moving into our territory. I know I gave her that factory, but she’s up to something. She doesn’t make a move without having ten more past it, and I promise she wants to extend their power out west. There’ll be another war, sooner or later. I’d guess sooner.”
I let that sink in. I knew on some level that things were trending in the direction of more violence, only I’d hoped there was a way to avoid it.
“And now that we’re engaged? That won’t change anything?”
He shook his head sadly. “No, I don’t think it will.”
“What a shame. I’m not looking forward to going up against my own brother.”
“I hope you won’t have to, love.” He kissed me and pushed me back against the pillows. “Now, I believe I have a duty as your future husband to make you come at least three times per day.”
“Three? That sounds stingy.”
“Four then.”
“Deal.”