“While you were talking to Adeela, I took care of the practical side of our marriage.”
“Besides the license, what else would that involve?”
I bite her chin. “Curious.”
“I am.”
“Go to the bathroom if you need to, Jazmina. Then we’ll stop by your place so you can get ready for dinner.”
Ten minutes later, I’m holding what I had sent for, waiting for her to return from my suite and nervous as hell.
I’m not formal. I don’t follow conventions.
As if perfectly timed, she walks into the room.
I notice the sway of her hips, the roll that has always hypnotized me. Jazmina is incredibly sensual and has no idea of her own power.
She doesn’t smile, but she seems certain of what she wants as she comes toward me without hesitation. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Because I don’t know which script to follow.
“You asked if we were engaged. We made a commitment, but you don’t have a ring yet.”
She smiles, as if she wasn’t expecting that. “I have hundreds.”
“Not one that ties you to me.”
“Yes, I don’t haveyourring, my fiancé.”
Is it normal that hearing her call me that makes me feel ten feet tall? Invincible?
I could blame my barbarian ancestors, but the truth is that the mix of impertinence—thanks to her strong, fiery personality—and submission, shaped by her upbringing, drives me insane.
“Yes, you don’t havemyring, princess.” I pull the small box from my pocket and open it in front of her.
She looks at the piece and then at me.
I loosen the solitaire from the silk ribbon holding it in place. “It belonged to my mother. I’d like you to wear it.” Itnever crossed my mind to take it out of the safe for anyone else, but it feels right for Jazmina to have it.
“Should I?” she asks, hesitant, and I understand why.
“Yes. You’ll be the only woman I ever marry. I want it to be yours.” I turn my palm upward so she can place hers in it.
Her bones are delicate, but her nails are painted a bold red. Like her—boldness and purity mixed inside the woman who drives me mad.
“I don’t know if it’ll fit, but I can have it resized if needed,” I say.
But when I slide the ring onto her finger, it fits perfectly, as if it were made for her. In a way, it feels like the mother who was only with me for such a short time is giving us her blessing.
“It’s beautiful, Rodrick.” Without warning, she throws herself into my arms.
“I didn’t kneel to propose. I assumed you were mine and that I already had youryes.”
“Myyesis completely yours. You’re unbelievably contradictory, Rodrick, and I think I like that. Rough and harsh with words, yet capable of sending for your mother’s ring even after a day as crazy as today. As for kneeling, I think we already had a failed attempt at a proposal like that. I didn’t do very well.”
I pull back slightly to look at her. “I disagree. We’re getting married. From where I stand, your unusual proposal worked out perfectly.”
Her face turns serious. “Maybe we’re not doing this for the right reasons, but as long as we’re together, I’ll give it my best, duke.”