He flashed a sexy grin. “I asked Joni and Mia’s help with your proposal. They told me candles, flowers, and sex.”
“What about food?” I inquired. “I heard food is part of a proposal.”
“We’re ordering pizza after I ravish you.”
With a laugh, I ran to him and jumped into his arms. He caught me and then we fell to the bed.
“Damn, woman, I really love you,” he said softly.
“Shut up and fuck me, Boxer.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
His hands slowly peeled away my clothes, and then his lips covered every inch of my skin, lingering on the wounds that were healing. I’d gotten a Blue Angels logo tattoo on my upper left arm. I’d become addicted to ink. As soon as my brand was completely healed, I had plans to tattoo over it and make something beautiful from my pain.
I slid my fingers across the ink Roman had tattooed on his pectoral, right above his heart.
Lindenin a big, bold font.
I couldn’t wait to take him into my body. I rolled over onto my back, opened my legs, and welcomed him home.
Our mingled cries of pleasure echoed off our bedroom walls, our bodies slickened with sweat and pleasure, and when I tightened around him, I clasped him to me, not wanting to let him go.
After he came, he slid off me, and collapsed onto the mattress.
“So, you’re gonna marry me, right? And make an honest man out of me?” Boxer asked. “I’m tired of giving away the milk for free.”
I sat up and grinned. “I don’t know. I kind of like living in sin.”
“What will we tell our dog?”
“What dog?”
“The dog we’re gonna adopt together. I want him to know his parents are in a loving, committed relationship.”
I snorted. “Yeah, okay, I’ll marry you. For the dog’s sake.”
“We’re not very good at this romance thing, are we?”
I tucked a strand of hair that was growing out behind an ear. “Romance is overrated.”
“You really are my perfect woman. You were born without a stitch of sentiment.”
“Toss me your phone, I’ll even order the pizza.”
“A woman who can dial takeout. Sexy.”
The last few months hadn’t been easy. I was in counseling twice a week, still plagued by nightmares. And on the days I didn’t have counseling, I was in physical therapy for my hand. It was slow going and extremely painful.
It was getting better, little by little. I didn’t dare hope that I would get my full dexterity back, but Boxer reminded me to take it day by day, win by win.
The Old Ladies came by a few times a week to stock our fridge and catch up, but they never stayed long enough to exhaust me. I was lucky to have them in my life.
I’d spoken to Freddy a couple of times; she was still hanging out with her parents. I’d been the one to tell of her Bishop’s passing, and though she put on a brave face, I knew his death rattled her despite the casualness of their relationship.
Rachel had gone to stay with her mother in Wyoming, and she checked in with Mia every now and again. My voicemails to her were never returned. I hoped that changed soon. I’d be here when she was ready.
After I called the pizza in, I tossed his phone aside. “So, with a proposal, aside from sex and food, I was kind of hoping for a ring?”