Ty kissed Kell’s hand. “I’m giving my proposal gift to my one and only soulmate.”
Kell’s smile returned tenfold. That was the most incredible thing he’d ever heard. He stared down at the stunning, masculine herringbone still not believing it was for him. He’d seen some of his mom’s stuff when he was younger, so he knew fine jewelry when he saw it.
“This is a twenty-four-karat gold, handmade herringbone chain. It was made by my great grandfather’s uncle in Ghana.” Ty took it out of the box and unclasped the chain. He held it up and Kell leaned his head forward, sweeping his hair to the side. When the cool metal touched his skin he almost wept. Soulmates.
“It was my first piece of jewelry from my father.”
“You said when you became a man.” Kell noted. He sat up with the precious metal resting on his collarbone. “How old were you?”
Ty stared proudly at the chain against Kell’s flushed skin. “I was twelve.”
My God. “Thank you. It means the world to me.”
“Do you know what this means?” Ty questioned. His powerful gaze still on the chain.
Kell believed he did. Dare he say it? Was this really it? A tear formed in Kell’s eye. His throat was clogged with emotion. Ty slowly reached up and wiped it away, explaining further.
“It means that you are mine. You are mine to love and treasure and protect. You’ll never have a want, you’ll never have another need not met. I’ll never leave you, Kellam. I will never stray. I’ll be as close to you as your own shadow and I will love you deeper than you knew existed.” Ty leaned in and kissed Kell’s forehead. “My queen was a knight all along. A protector of a king.”
Another tear slipped away.
“I’ll place the diamonds, and jewels and gold my father left for me, on you. Only you. I will put you in a house on the land he left me. I’ll be your faithful lover, Kellam Knight, for the rest of our days. I propose with my gift. And at the end of this week, I will put a ring of eternity on your finger and declare before your God that I will cherish you all the days of your life.”
“Yes. Please.” Kell broke down.
Ty caught him.
Ty
He’d done it. Ty slumped back on the couch while Kell went to wash his face and get his things so they could get to work on time. He closed his eyes and thought of the way Kell had shaken quietly against his chest. Tears of pure elation. He understood, because he was just as overwhelmed himself. The relief that he’d done it had caused a weight to lift from him. That radiant smile that made Ty’s world brighter and the silent tears was a clear indication that Kell’s heart cried yes. He wanted to be Ty’s husband. Wanted him to be his king. And the fact that Kell had bowed in front of him and sat up with his shoulders back, rocking the chain with pride was another affirmative.
He hadn’t been worried about Kell refusing the gift, but he had been worried he wouldn’t get his proposal out correctly. When he’d mentioned the words ‘first wife’ and Kell’s smile fell, he’d wanted to kick his own ass. But thank shit, he’d been able to recover quickly. Ty’s eyes jumped behind his lids. He’d stayed on course after that slip-up. Would Kell always be able to flip his mind or would he grow immune? He figured Kell’s shy, slightly innocent smile would always make him stammer and lose his train of thought?
Kell came into the room and set his small messenger bag at his feet. His face was no longer flushed pink, but his eyes were still a little red. He had his hair pulled back and wrapped in a messy bun at the base of his neck. “We better get going.”
Ty stood and put his coat on. Kell watched him hungrily. Damn, he knew the feeling. Now that he knew what was sure to happen in less than four days, his dick was settling into a permanent state of semi-hardness. “Okay,” he rasped.
Kell paused at the door with his hand on the knob. “Tyrell. There is something I want.”
“Name it.”
“I want to kiss you.”
Ty’s chest expanded. Kell was giving him his gift in return. His thank you for the rare gold lying against his skin.
Ty didn’t stop walking until his entire body was pressed against Kell’s from thigh to forehead. He bent down and placed his lips where he always did. Needing to make eye contact, he brought one hand up and caressed Kell’s cheek tenderly before reaching around and releasing his hair from the messy bun. Kell swallowed loudly. Ty grazed his lips across Kell’s temple and lingered there as he slid his hand into that thick mane, burying it deep until his palm cradled the back of Kell’s skull. His partner whined and rubbed his body against him. So pliant and at his will. Kell smelled like fresh soap mixed with the ginger and apple from whatever shampoo he used. Ty pressed in harder and plunged his other hand in, watching the long strands thread through his fingers. Kell’s hair felt like plush down feathers.