Page 125 of Tears of Ink

“Open it.” He scoots closer across the blanket and crosses his legs as he watches me intently.

I flick the small brass latch and lift the lid. Holy shit.

The holiest of shits.

Nestled inside of the small box is a giant black tear-shaped solitaire, delicately balanced on a slender band of pave diamonds.

“That’s beautiful.” Tears sting my eyes. “I’ve never seen an onyx shaped like that before.

His lips quirk and he pulls the ring from the box, holding it in his fingers.

“It reminded me of your ink, and I hoped that one day maybe I’d be the one who stops your tears for good.”

I’m breathless. There is no air left in the world for me to grab onto.

As I meet his eyes, my heart pounding, a droplet of rain splatters onto the blanket. Then another, and then another.

He smiles broad and wide and I know why we haven’t gone to the greenhouse. “You remembered.”

He nods, picks up my hand, and slips the exquisite ring onto my right-hand ring finger as rain begins to pour down.

“A kiss in the rain. It’s the first that I get to keep.” Then his mouth is on mine and the rain soaks our faces. Our lips slide as our tongue’s tangle.

On my hand is a giant teardrop of ink. Tears he’ll help me fight.

“I think I love you.” I blurt the words. Crazy. Insane. Spontaneous.

He kisses me harder. His hands hold my jaw, his thumbs sweep my skin. “Nothing to think about.”

We are lying in bed, my hands trailing across his chest. His fingers smooth my damp hair. “When did you know?”

“Know what?” A light pressure presses against my hair and I bloom from under his tender touch.

“That you loved me?”

His chest moves as he chuckles. “I can’t tell you, it’s too cheesy.”

“Ah, but I love cheese.”

Another kiss. “You love cheese, you hate oranges. I’m a quick learner.”

“Stop stalling.” I nudge him with my elbow.

“When you refused to sit down at The Ritz.”

My face folds into a half-hearted scowl. “You were an arse that day.”

“I told you, it’s this family. It’s what it does to me.”

“I’m glad I saved you then.” This time his lips find my mouth and I breathe in the hot scent of his breath. “And I’m glad I broke my rules for you.”

My one rule seems so very far away now. I didn’t know being with someone could be like this. I didn’t know I could care so much my heart would ache and pull, and want to explode all at once.

He rolls me, his intent clear as he hardens against my body. “I’ve never been gladder of anything in my life.”

C H A P T E R T H I R T Y - S E V E N

I stretch and point my toes when I wake. We didn’t have much sleep. The first thing I see is the impressive onyx on my finger. I wiggle it a little in the morning sunlight and it sparkles and winks.