Jake’s heart was ready to burst in his chest. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the black box. “Casey,” he said, lowering one knee, so it pressed into the snow. “I would like to ask you to become my wife. If it suits you, of course.”
Casey nearly knocked the wine glass over onto the stone of the fireplace as she clapped her hands over her mouth. She began weeping, but she nodded frantically. “Yes, Jake!” she exclaimed. “Yes, Jake, of course!”
She fell into his arms, and they kissed each other deeply. Under the blazing skies of Yukon, the fire of their love had been set in stone.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
CASEY
Casey was exhilarated. She was very afraid that Jake was going to take her text seriously and disappear into the ether like every other lover in her life had. She had changed her mind about her feelings, and she decided that being cautious wasn’t going to get her anywhere near something she wanted in her life, especially when it came to love.
She knew that he had something in mind when he took her into the sky. The romance was immediate: cuddling in the helicopter and bringing her wine at the cozy space near the fire. She didn't think, however, that he would have a ring ready in his pocket to pop the question.
The answer to the most essential question of her life ran through her like hot lava. She didn’t need to know the words; the feeling was enough, and it surged inside of her like a volcano.
She had wrapped her arms around him and pulled him like she wanted his body to sink into hers. They embraced for a while, kissing and letting the tears flow freely. Eventually, when they pulled away, their hands sank into each other’s skin, with Casey’s at the back of Jake’s neck and Jake’s one hand caressing her leg.
Jake took the ring out of the box with one finger as she lifted her left hand. The shine of the diamond dazzled under the natural beauty of the Northern lights above, creating a surreal shimmering effect as she held it up to her face.
Her hands shook with wonder and disbelief. The man loved her, and she loved him. She believed him when he said he would love her and be with her forever. It was the way of the shifter, and it was the way of the man who sat before her.
He took her trembling hands and kissed each of her fingers, then her palms. He then placed them on his chest, and she looked into the electric blue eyes of the man she would call her husband soon.
“I love you more than any words I can say,” Jake said, his eyes misty and powerful. “I never thought I’d find my mate … but … here you are, dropped from the heavens.”
Casey’s instinctual reaction was to giggle, and what that usually meant was that she didn’t completely absorb the compliment. Nor did she believe it. But with Jake, she knew he meant it, so the giggle occurred out of complete rapture.
“I love you more than anything, too, Jake,” she said, sniffing and wiping her nose.
Jake raised a finger and removed a handkerchief from his pocket. Casey began chuckling again when he sweetly wiped her nose, planting a kiss on the tip of it.
The gesture made her burst into tears even more. Jake took her in his arms, rubbing her back as she wept. It was truly a special moment for Casey. All she had ever wanted was someone to love her and to make a life and a family with them.
That person had finally come into her life.
She lifted her head from his chest and went immediately for his lips. They explored each other’s mouths like it was the first time, heat brewing between them as strong as the beckoning fire and the heating pads beneath their bodies. Their embrace quickly grew passionate as Jake ran his hands under her turtleneck, touching her soft skin with his bare hands.
“Mmm,” she groaned under his touch.
The sound only encouraged Jake even more. He moved his hands slowly up to her chest, cupping her breasts over her bra. He squeezed them lightly, which caused Casey to emit a sensual moan.
He smiled under her lips as she writhed against his touch. He moved his fingers underneath the lining of the bra, teasing the fabric, then shoved his hands beneath them with great vigor.
His hands were slightly chilled as he pressed his skin against her delicious breasts, cupping them perfectly in his palms as he began to knead. The sensation made Casey gasp, and Jake pulled away slightly from their fervent make-out session.
“Too cold?” he asked, concerned.
Casey shook her head and bit her lip. “I like it,” she whispered. “Plus, I’m sure they’ll warm up in no time.”
Jake let out a low, rumbling growl that made Casey’s underwear wet. She could feel his stone-hard cock underneath his slacks as he massaged her bosom, exposing her belly and midriff to the icy elements. In any other context, Casey would want to barrel inside to make love. But she was feeling sexy and daring.
Casey removed her coat and laid it on the seat behind her. She then started to remove her turtleneck, and Jake went for the hooks of her bra.
She had the shirt barely past her face when he buried his face into her cleavage. He growled and groaned as he trailed kisses over her mounds, playing with the strap behind her back and nestling his nose in the valley between her breasts.
When he spoke, it was into her flesh, and she had her hands tangled up in his hair.
“Do you want to go inside?” he said, nuzzling his nose in and out of her cleavage gap.