Page 207 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

She’s softened me. Her, and her love. Softened and molded me into the type of nigga that would move mountains and slay monsters and lay them at her feet. The type of nigga that only sees, only cares about how she feels. The type of nigga whose heart is outside of his body.

My other hand, still holding the gun, cups the side of her face. Her hands go to my arms, nails digging into my biceps.

“Rico.” My name sounds like a prayer.

I have to taste it.

She needs to have me taste her.

Her mouth is hot as I lick into it, making her moan against me. I hold her to me tight, taking everything she gives me, kneading her lips, my tongue caressing hers, making her feel how much I miss her. But it’s not enough. I have to tell her.

“Te echo de menos, mi nieve.”

A tear drops from her lid. “Speak English.”

“You done running?” I ask instead, grinding her on my dick. “Or maybe I’ll make you run a little more.”

“We shouldn’t,” she says, while tilting her head so I can run my tongue ring up her neck. “I’m not yours.”

My hand flexes, and slowly, I lean back to meet her wavering gaze.

“Every single cell in your body belongs to me, Snow,” I say, fighting to keep composure. “You fight a battle you have already lost. I gave you a year, and now it’s up. This is it, Snow.”

Recognition finally dawns on her. “This is what?”

Tucking my gun into the back of my pants, I grip her ass with both hands before lifting her up. Her legs wrap around me, making me grin.

“Our time, Snow. Our forever.”

She holds on as I walk her out of the kitchen, and down the hallway to her bedroom. Once I’m in front of her bed, I lay her down. Lust clouds her eyes as her hands rub all over me. It’s been too long, but she’ll have to wait just a little longer.

I kneel down, my hands rubbing her thighs over her pants. “Sit up.”

I’ve caught her off guard, but she sits up anyway, and begins to take off her top.

“You love me?”

Snow freezes, her eyebrows pulling down. “Um, yeah…” She sighs, before rolling her eyes. “What you do? I know you did something. If you’re gonna tell me some bullshit–”

I take the velvet box out from under the bed and hold it up to her. “Nah. No bullshit.”

With shaky hands, Snow open the box. Her dramatic ass jumps back and gasps, before shaking one hand like it’s wet, and covering her mouth with the other.

“Rico,” she breathes. Her eyes track the ring as I take it out the box and hold it out for her. “What the hell is that?”

“Well, Pooh told me today he gave my mama three carats, so I think I did good with five. Oval shaped, like you said you liked. The snowflakes surrounding it are Alexandrite, your–

“Birthstone,” she finishes for me, her eyes damn near crossing from staring at it. Tears line her lids, some escaping when she blinks. “Rico… I told you about my dream ring like fifteen years ago.”

“Unlike you, I got a good memory.”

She meets my gaze then, and I brace myself for a smart remark or even a shove, but only awe is in her eyes, and my smug grin melts into something a little more vulnerable.

“I tied up every loose end I could, because I don’t want no bullshit in this next chapter of our lives, Snow. We’ve had enough bullshit. More than enough. It’s time for something else. I’on know what; I just know whatever it is, I need you right here with me, and I need you stamped as mine.”

Snow squeals from beneath her fingers, before she shakes her head and grins at me. “Come on, wordsmith! Ask the question. Do the thing!”

Don’t keep her waiting.