When Theo moves, he keeps himself inside me while reaching over to the side of the bed and opening the nightstand drawer. He comes back and braces himself up on his elbows, eyes coming to me.
“You know, Snowflake, I’ve been waiting since your birthday, trying to find the right time to ask you this,” he says, holding up a tiny black box and opening it, taking out the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. Theo tosses the box to the side and slips the ring on my left ring finger. “There is no other right time than right here, right now, with me deep inside you. Marry me, Blake? Be my wife?”
“Yes.” The word is a little more than a breath. Tears well in my eyes, and I nod, looking from the ring back to Theo, meeting his gaze. “I love you, Theodore De Luca.”
“Good, because even if you said ‘no’ I wasn’t letting you go. You’re my fuckin’ world, and I can’t live without you,” Theo rasps leaning in to kiss me.
“I love you,” I say, my lips brushing against his before he can press his mouth to mine.
Theo gives me a sensual heated kiss breaking the kiss only to smile down at me. “If I live to a hundred, I’ll never forget the night we met. The way you came out into the falling snow and became my Snowflake.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” I announce, my breath hitching.
“I don’t want you crying, baby.” Grinning, Theo begins to move inside me. “Rather have you coming on my dick.” With that, we both start moving.
ChapterSixteen
THEO
Watching the sun start brightening the sky, I keep my arm wrapped tightly around Blake as she rests on my chest. I didn’t expect her to want what we did any time soon. She went through hell, and I was willing to wait until she was ready. But she’s stronger than most give her credit for.
Blake told me after getting released from the hospital what she endured, and I wish I’d made Ethan suffer more. However, when I find her parents, they’ll meet their end at my hands. That is unless Christian finds them first. I’d relayed to both Leo and Christian what Blake went through, and they’re pissed.
Christian’s been spending more and more time with Mia. So much time she called Leo demanding he tell Christian to leave her alone. I remember silently chuckling while Leo explained to her that since she wouldn’t move into the mansion with us, she’d have to get over it. It was even more hilarious when she went to her father, and he told her the same thing.
Once I know Blake is in good deep sleep, I climb out of bed, putting a pillow in my place. My woman instantly curls right into it. I walk over to my dresser and snatch up a pair of running shorts. Pulling them on, I head for the door.
Tink and Blue are both lying there. I don’t let them in the room at night out of precaution of the cast on Blake’s leg and wrist. Maybe once she’s in the boot and brace, I’ll let them, but I’m not about to let them jump on her by accident.
Whistling for them to follow me, I head down to the kitchen to get me a cup of coffee. I won’t be going back to sleep. Every night she has a nightmare. I never do. I’m haunted by the torment she’s been through. But I remind myself that she’s here, safe with me, and no one can hurt her.
Having found out that not only did Ethan torture her, but her parents were also in on it. All because of money that was left to Blake. Christian had his own, and they must’ve known not to even try with him.
To say Christian was pissed when he found out about his parents being a part of it is an understatement.
Unfortunately, both Mr. and Mrs. Bandoni have vanished. I don’t know how but there’s no trace of them anywhere. But I’ll find them if it’s the last thing I do.
I swore to myself that I’d make everyone who hurt my woman pay, and that’s what I’ll do.
“What are you doing in here so early?” Leo asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“I couldn’t get back to sleep,” I mutter and lift the mug of black coffee in cheers, bringing it to my lips to take a sip. I’d been deep in thought and going through the motions when I came in the kitchen. I didn’t even realize as I look at the coffee mug that it’s the one Blake uses for hot chocolate or tea.
“Blake’s nightmares,” Leo comments rather than asks. He knows about her nightmares. He’s witnessed the after-effects of a few of them.
“Yeah,” I sigh harshly. “She’s asleep after asking me to touch her.”
Leo stops pouring his own coffee, sets the pot back in place, and leans against the counter as he meets my gaze. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
I nod, thinking about it all—the way we connected. It was powerful. More than it’s ever been before. “I also asked her to marry me.”
“No shit?” Leo grins, shaking his head in amusement. “Finally, you know Aunt Clara is going to have a field day with this.”
“I don’t even want to think about it,” I grumble, thinking of what my mother will want to plan is not something I want to do.
“Can’t blame you there,” Leo snorts and straightens. “Not to change the subject, but since we’re both up, we’ve got business to attend to.”
“Yeah.” I nod. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens next. Today we’ve got a meeting to prepare for with another family we don’t tend to agree with very often. But Leo agreed to meet for one reason. To weigh the threat they could potentially become. We don’t want to take the chance of going from one war to another. “Do you know who they’re sending?”