Page 127 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
“The best. I’m so glad we were able to do this. I’m just sorry that Tony wasn’t able to make it. I can’t believe how much that man travels.”
Kostya chuckled. “Yeah, but when he’s home, then we’re forced to go over to the Romanos for their small family get-togethers. How have you been fairing with those?”
Lark looked up at him and punched him in the arm. “You know I love those. All that family, all those kids.”
“Yeah, and all those babies,” he let his voice trail off.
“What are you saying?” she asked. She didn’t like his tone of voice. He was being too serious all of a sudden.
Kostya pulled the glass out of her hands and set it down on the ground with his. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her. It must have been their thousandth kiss, but it was still a magical kiss. Kostya stoked her passion, she felt it rising and she squeezed her legs together, trying to assuage her ache. But from the way he stroked her hair, she could tell that’s not what he was after. He was weaving a soft and sweet kind of magic this afternoon.
Kostya lifted his head.
“Your eyes are silver,” he whispered.
She rested her hands on his chest and felt his steady heartbeat. It gave her comfort.
“Your eyes look like the sky. Filled with endless possibilities.”
Kostya’s lip tipped up. “You say pretty words, Lark.”
She grinned. “I write for a living.”
He hesitated and she wondered what was going to come next. “I bought you a ring last month.”
Her breath stopped. Then her heart stopped when she realized he wasn’t saying anything more.
She eventually let out a long burst of air. “And?”
“I couldn’t give it to you.”
Lark nodded. “Okay.”
I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.
“Do you know why I wasn’t going to give it to you?”
She shook her head.
“Yes, you do. It’s because I didn’t trust myself with a family. I didn’t trust that I could keep my whole family safe. And I knew…”
Lark closed her eyes. She ached for him. “What did you know, Honey?”
“I knew you wanted babies.”
“I want you, Kostya. I wantyou.”
“But I finally realized something.”
Lark opened her eyes and saw that blue sky of possibilities. “What did you realize?”
“It wouldn’t just be me keeping our babies safe, it would be both of us. And with you by my side? We can do anything.”
He pulled the most beautiful ring she had ever seen out of his shirt pocket, picked up her hand, and slid it onto her finger. “Marry me, Lark.”
“Oh yes. Absolutely, yes.”
“And babies?” he asked.
