Dana wrinkled her nose and pursed her lips. It was something she did whenever he complimented her like she couldn't contain her gratitude.
She touched his hand, her head still adorably tilted in his direction.
“I feel the same way, my darling.”
Rux’s heart was pounding in his chest, and he knew that there was no time like the present. She continued to stare at him with endearment. She was content at the moment, requiring nothing of him but his presence.
“Here goes nothing,” he whispered.
Dana frowned as Rux went to one knee and removed the box from his pocket. The smile melted away as she realized what he was doing, her hands covering her face in sublime surprise.
“Dana,” he said with a shaky voice. “I told you that I would wait for you forever. I still would. But now, I want to be with you forever. It still isn’t long enough, and even the words within the ventricles of this plushy heart of mine cannot describe how potently I yearn for you every second of every day.”
Dana brought her hands to her chest, her gorgeous face silhouetted by the setting sun. Rux’s mouth had gone dry, but he pushed himself forward for her.
“I hope that I can give you even a sliver of the gift that you have given me. You have given me back my life.”
Dana began crying, her lip and chin trembling with joy.
“Dana Wilson,” Rux said, holding his breath. “Will you be my wife?”
Dana did not waste any time. She burst into violent tears and threw her arms around his neck, knocking him to the ground. Rux chuckled as he cried, too, letting Dana trail butterfly kisses all over his face.
“Of course I will, you silly man!”
Rux sat up with her as they both let out cathartic tears, giggling like two teenagers. Dana sniffled and wiped her eyes as Rux slid the ring onto her finger, and she held it up to the light.
She stared at it with wide round wet eyes, astonished.
“Rux, this is so, so wonderful,” Dana said, still sniffing her tears away.
“My dad gave this to my mother,” Rux said quietly.
Dana turned to him, and a whole new rush of tears moved through her lovely face.
“You are exquisite, Rux Cohen,” she breathed. “Do you know that?”
Rux shrugged, and she brought his face close to hers. She kissed each tear off of his face and then held him while she continued to cry.
“Your father would be so proud,” she whispered.
Rux was convinced that he had somehow walked into another world, a different universe, even.
How could my life have ever been so bleak, so hopeless, so fueled by dark and lonely nights, and then I found Dana?
She was an illuminating lantern that had led him down his path to happiness, and he was going to live the rest of his life thanking her for it.
He pulled her into his arms and let her lie on top of him, kissing her deeply, craving her every inch. They made love on that blanket as the sun descended below the horizon. He buried himself inside of her not to hide but to thrive.
They went back to the hotel afterward and held each other close. Her peppermint scent still managed to overwhelm him, but he bathed in it. It rocked him to sleep along with the superbly sweet song of her heartbeat thrumming beside him.
Rux and Dana fell asleep to the song of the ocean. Neither of them ever really dreamed much again because their real lives were full of adventure, love, and the glorious promise of tomorrow.
Rux could feel his heart increasing in size with every breath he took next to the love of his life.