“Open it,” Taylor said from behind me. His voice was shaking. So were my hands as I reached for it. This couldn’t be happening. Because in all my wildest dreams I’d never imagined that I’d get to have this.
I scooped up the box and opened it. Nestled inside a cream silk interior was a silver-coloured band, inlaid with sapphires. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I didn’t think I was breathing, and my eyes prickled with tears.
I turned slowly on the spot, looking for Taylor. This couldn’t be real. How could this be real? It had taken me a year to accept that Taylor really wanted me, but to know he wanted me forever? That was incomprehensible.
Taylor was down on one knee, a nervous smile on his face, eyes full of fear and hope.
“Simon,” he said, clearing his throat. “I always thought I didn’t want a relationship because I’d never found anyone who wanted me the way I was, a mouthy, stubborn, bossy, twinky asshole.” I snorted. Tears started slowly trickling down my face. “Shit, don’t cry. I’ll fucking start too.” Taylor wiped his face, but it didn’t do much good. We were both crying now. “Anyway. Shit. I thought you were super fucking cute from the moment we first met, but I never imagined you’d turn out to be the man of my dreams. You’re so kind and funny, and you put up with my shit better than anyone I’ve ever known. And you’re the sexiest man in the universe. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I love you so fucking much. And I refuse to imagine my life without you in it.”
I bit my lip, nodding, even though there wasn’t anything for me to agree with. I was still clutching the ring box in my hand, but my eyes were fixed on the face of the man in front of me. The man I loved more than anything or anyone else. The man I’d harboured a crush on for so long, and the one I’d secretly wished could be mine. The man who I’d started building a life with, and the one I wanted to spend every day with from now until the end of time.
“I love you too.” My voice cracked, and I sniffed. Taylor sniffed too, then took a deep breath.
“Simon… will you marry me?”
“Yes. Yes. Fucking yes.”
“Thank fuck for that,” Taylor said, letting out a huge, shaky exhale and climbing to his feet. Gently, he took the ring box from me and pulled out the ring, then he reached for my hand.
The ring slid onto my finger as if it had been made for me, and I had a sneaking suspicion it might have been. It felt strange, but not in a bad way. It was as if something inside me had clicked, a piece of the puzzle I didn’t realise I’d been missing until now.
Taylor tilted his head up, love burning like wildfire in his bright blue eyes. He drew me in for a kiss that sent a shiver of pleasure and happiness running across my skin.
“You’re mine now, always and forever,” he whispered against my lips.
“I’ve always been yours. Right from the beginning. I was just waiting for you to catch up.” Taylor chuckled, kissing me again, and I sighed happily against his lips. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close and feeling the heat of his body against mine. My mind turned to the box on the bed and its beautiful contents… I always did look pretty in pink.
“I think we should celebrate,” I said, when I was able to find my voice again.
“Oh?” He tilted his head back, raising an eyebrow. He glanced over at the box and then back at me. A familiar, wicked smile played on his lips. It was a smile that promised a night I’d never forget. “I think you read my mind.”
THE END
Bonus Art of Simon
I couldn't resist having some fabulous art of Simon in his lingerie commissioned.
Simply click here to vist my website and see Simon for yourself!
Art by Soushiyo
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Also By Charlie Novak
OFF THE PITCH
Breakaway
Extra Time
Final Score
SHORT STORIES
One More Night
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Charlie Novak
Charlie lives in England with her husband and a severe lack of dogs. She spends most of her days wrangling other people’s words in her day job and then trying to force her own onto the page in the evening.
She loves cute stories with a healthy dollop of fluff, plenty of delicious sex, and happily ever afters – because the world needs more of them. Charlie also believes that love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Charlie has very little spare time, but what she does have she fills with cooking, pole-dancing, reading and ice-hockey. She also thinks that everyone should have at least one favourite dinosaur…
