Eddie’s lips parted and he leaned closer, his breath washing over Thomas’s face. “I meant every word I said over the intercom. Every single word.”

Thomas smiled, his heart warming at Eddie’s reassuring words. He looked down at the box in his hand and opened it, revealing the platinum band sitting on a red velvet cushion.

An intake of breath made him look at Eddie, who stared at the ring.

“I bought this for you the night you sucked me in the garage. I knew then that our relationship was changing. And I wanted you to know then that you weren’t just any lover for me. I wanted you to know that if you committed to me, I’d lay the world at your feet.”

Eddie’s hand on his chin pulled his face closer. “I don’t want the world. I only need you. I know that now.” Then he smiled. “So, are you going to get on with this proposal or do I need to fall to my knees now and ask you instead?”

“You’re impatient, you know that?”

“Yes, because I wasted over a year not making love to you. I’ve got some catching up to do.”

Eddie brushed his lips over Thomas’s, then pulled back again. Their gazes locked. “Ask me so I can finally do what I need to do.”

A spear of excitement shot through Thomas, and he pushed back the tears of joy that threatened to unman him. “Will you marry me?”

Eddie put his hand on Thomas’s nape, bringing his mouth to hover over his lips. “I thought you’d never ask.” He sighed. “Yes! Of course I will.” He pressed a kiss onto Thomas’s lips, then released him just as quickly, before Thomas could even enjoy the sensation.

When Eddie lowered his gaze, Thomas realized that he was still holding the jewelry box in his hand.

“Oh!” he said, suddenly realizing what Eddie was waiting for. Thomas took his hand. “Sorry.

This is the first time I’ve done this.” He slipped the ring onto Eddie’s finger.

“And it will be the only time,” Eddie promised. “I’ll never let you go.”

Thomas pulled Eddie into an embrace, lowering him onto the bed behind him, while he freed himself of the towel. He covered Eddie with his body, the skin-on-skin contact fueling his desire.

“I have no intention of ever leaving you.”

“Good.” Then Eddie all of a sudden pushed against him, rolling Thomas onto his back.

Straddling him, he now sat above him. “I was going to do this on my knees, but I guess this position works too.”

Thomas raised an inquiring eyebrow, then looked pointedly at Eddie’s cock. “With you, any position works for me.”

Eddie shook his head, chuckling. “Do you ever think of anything but sex?”

Thomas pressed his hard-on against Eddie. “Don’t play coy with me now. I know you want this.”

Eddie lowered his body over him, his lips within inches of Thomas’s. “Yes, I want this. I want you taking me, making me yours. I want to feel you ride me long and hard, and then I want to feel you come inside me.”

Eddie’s seductive words made him moan out loud. “Fuck, Eddie, if you don’t let me get on with it right now, I’m not going to last more than ten seconds.”

“Patience, my sweet lover. There’s something else I want from you first.”

“What?” Thomas growled impatiently, his hands gripping Eddie’s hips to grind against him with more pressure. His cock slid against Eddie’s, making the fire in his belly flare up.

“I want more than just marriage. I want a blood-bond.”

Eddie’s words made him rear up in shock, bringing them both to sit up, Eddie still straddling him.

“Eddie, it’s impossible! We can’t!”

“Are you trying to tell me that two male vampires can’t bond?”

Thomas shook his head. “No! Theoretically, it’s possible. But you and I, we can’t.”

Eddie pulled back, a hurt look spreading over his face. “Are you saying you don’t want to?”

Reaching for him before he had a chance to lift himself off his lap, Thomas stopped him. “I want to, I do, but I can’t.” When Eddie simply stared at him, he continued, “I thought you understood that I can never blood-bond with anybody. Kasper’s blood, it’s evil. How can I share that with you? How can I subject you to that? I love you, Eddie, I love you more than my life.

That’s why I can’t do this to you. Marriage will have to be enough.”

Slowly, Eddie eased back onto him, his hands gripping Thomas’s shoulders. Understanding dawned on his face. Then he slowly moved his head from side to side. “So that’s why you didn’t want me to lick your wounds.” He sighed. “Oh, Thomas, have you already forgotten what happened tonight?”