“Did you just propose to me, woman?” I try to scowl, but she just smiles brighter.

That damn light that erases my darkness is shining so bright that I’m convinced that, in this moment, she’s wholly chased all of my demons from the past away. The grin that takes over my face is so large that I can feel my cheeks burning.

Damn, I’m one lucky man.

“Uh, baby…I did not propose to you. I answered your stuttering attempt at one to me. Just beat you to the punch,” she giggles, and that sound shoots straight through me. My heart feels like it’s so full it could burst. “Do I at least get to see my ring?”

“Come here, you beautifully perfect, smartass woman of mine. Let me do this right.”

She swiftly closes the distance between us, almost tripping over her feet in order to do so.

I take a deep breath—not for courage, but because I can smell her delectable scent. Closing my eyes and picturing her beautiful face makes no sense since the real thing is right in front of me. Opening my eyes, I lean forward and give her a soft kiss. Her eyes start to water when I fold myself down to one knee and reach up to frame her stomach, giving our boy a nuzzle with my nose, a quick ‘I love you,’ and kiss. I grab one of her hands—the left one—pull the ring out of my pocket, and place it on her finger.

“Chelcie Nicole Avery. The day you walked into my life, I knew I would forever crave your light. You’ve taught me so much. I don’t look for the bad in everyone anymore. I see beauty in everything around me. I look forward to waking up with you pushed close to my body and my hand resting against our son. You’ve given me back a life I didn’t know I was close to losing. A second chance that I needed to be the man you believe I am. Every day, I wake up and want to do everything I can to prove to you that I am that man. You’re my everything, Sunshine. You’ve made me whole again.” I lean forward and kiss her finger that has my ring shining bright. Just like her, its light reminds me once again how much this woman means to me. “I love you, Chelcie, and it would make me the happiest man on Earth if you would marry me. Be my person for the rest of our lives.”

Her smile hasn’t slipped, and for once, I don’t even bother trying to stop the tears. I can feel some of my own starting to burn at the back of my throat.

“Yes! God, yes!” she sobs. “I love you so much, baby.”

I shiver when she calls me that. Every single time. It’s like a drug for me. She calls me baby and I want to drop to my knees and offer her the world.

“I love you too, Sunshine.”

Chapter 26 – Chelcie

Asher just left the bed to grab me some water. My throat is burning—in a good way—from screaming his name so many times. He didn’t waste a second. I said yes, and the next thing I knew, I was in his arms while he charged through the apartment. A man on a mission. He took me hard the first time, both of us needing it. The second time was slow and sweet—and if you asked me, I would swear the Earth moved.

We still need to talk, but right now, with my heart this full, I couldn’t stop smiling if I tried.

“What’s that smile all about?” he inquires from the side of the bed.

I roll my head and take in every fine-as-hell inch of his tan skin. His muscles are bulging, and a fine sheen of sweat covers his body. His cock is still semierect, and I smirk wickedly when I see him start to swell under my gaze.

“You’re so damn fine,” I sigh.

He laughs, hands me the water, and walks over to the bathroom. I admire his backside as he walks, each firm globe flexing as he strolls lazily.

“Damn,” I hiss.

He turns and gives me a sinful smirk before stepping into the bathroom and out of my line of sight. I take a deep pull of the ice-cold water he brought me before setting it down on the nightstand.

“Lean back and spread ‘em,” he rumbles when he walks back up to the side of the bed.

I gape at him for a second. Then he holds up the washcloth in his hands with a wink.

“Someone sure is thinking some naughty thoughts. You need a spanking, Sunshine? Have you been a bad girl?”

My pussy convulses at his words. He’s spanked me a few times—when things got rough—and each time, I came harder than the last.

Damn, I love this man.

I lean back, making a slow show of spreading my legs. “I might be pregnant, but last time I checked, my arms still work, baby. I think I’m capable of cleaning my own body.”

“And you would deny me this? Baby, seeing my come falling out of your tight cunt is probably one of the hottest things I’ve seen. I’m inside you, and my come is marking your body as mine. There isn’t anything more arousing. Well, maybe there is—but this… Fuck, you have no idea.”