“You didn’t have to do that, Zeke,” I say as we enter our hotel suite. They are the first words I can get out since leaving the lobby.

“Yes, I did,” he claims. He closes the door behind us and locks it with a flick of his wrist. “I told you before, Rocky. There’s only one thing in this world that will make me happy.” He looks deep into my eyes. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“But… you ambushed them,” I say.

“So?”

“Well, don’t you think that was a little inconsiderate?”

He takes a step back. “I thought you wanted this, too.”

“I do want this!” I feel my throat squeezing tight. “But… I don’t want you to give up everything for me.”

“I didn’t give up everything,” Zeke argues. “I gave up a job. It’s just a job, Rocky.”

“Yeah, one that most people would kill for. Did you even stop to think about that?” My cheeks burn. “If you’re out of a job, then I’m out of a job, too. How am I going to keep paying for school?”

Zeke laughs and steps toward me. “Rocky… do you have any idea how much Belmont shares are worth?”

“No,” I answer truthfully.

“Believe me, we’ll be fine for a very, very long time.” He leans over me and kisses my forehead. “And don’t worry about the family, they will come around eventually.”

“You don’t know that,” I say.

He shrugs. “And if they don’t, then they don’t. It doesn’t matter.” He breaks away from me and steps toward the sink. He opens an ice bucket and pours a few cubes into a small towel and places it across his throbbing knuckles.

“You didn’t have to do that either,” I say, looking at his battered hands.

“I’ve been wanting to beat up Logan Foster for years. It felt good finally getting the chance,” he says with a smirk.

I chuckle. “We’re one fucked up couple.”

Zeke smiles. “Couple, eh?” he says. “Does that mean you’re coming around?”

“Of course it does.” I step closer to him and stand on my toes to kiss his bruised lips. I wrap my arm around his waist and we hold each other close. “So… just how beat up are you?”

“I won’t be climbing any mountains anytime soon,” he says as he tosses the ice wrap in the sink. “But I’m not exactly dead either…”

“Good,” I whisper and kiss him again. My fingers travel along his abdomen, aiming for his belt.

“Wait…” he says. “Sit down.”

I take a spot on the edge of the bed.

“Close your eyes,” he tells me as he reaches for his suitcase.

I sigh. “I think I’ve reached my limit on excitement for the day, Zeke.”

“Please, just one more little surprise,” he says, pausing in place. He waits patiently for me to do as I’m told.

“Okay, fine,” I say. I close my eyes but keep my ears open for any identifying sounds.

I hear him rustle around in his bag for a moment then he stands and walks back over to me.

“Open your eyes, Rocky,” he says.

I open them but immediately close them again.

“What the hell is that?” I ask, but the image is burned into my brain.

Zeke laughs at me. “Come on, open them back up.”

I move my eyelids, slowly allowing the light back in until the object fills my vision again.

A diamond engagement ring sits in a black velvet box in the middle of Zeke’s palm.

“I want you to marry me, Rocky.”

“Is this real?” I ask with bewilderment.

“Yes,” Zeke says. He slowly drops to one knee, slightly flinching due to his bruised ribs. “This is real.”

“Zeke…” I have trouble forming my thoughts, let alone words. “This is really sudden…”

“But it’s not,” he claims. “It’s you, Rocky. It’s always been you. And I know you feel the same way about me.”

A fit of laughter escapes my gut. “This is crazy!”

“Just crazy enough to make sense,” Zeke says. He pulls the ring out of the velvet box and takes my hand. “This was my mother’s.”

I admire the sparkle of it as he slides it onto my finger. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Just before she died, she told me to give it to my true love,” he says, his eyes showing a hint of sadness. “That’s you, Rocky.”

My heart burns in my chest, full of love and excitement.

“And to be honest,” he continues. “It’s yours whether you say yes or not. There’s no one on this earth more worthy of it than you.”

I breathe a heavy sigh. The exquisite beauty of the ring holds my gaze longer than necessary. My soul burns for him. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

Zeke shakes his head once. “No, it’s not.”

“But it won’t be so bad if we’re together, right?” I ask.

He takes my hands and brings them to his lips. “That’s right,” he says.

My eyes once again fall onto the shining, golden ring. It sparkles in the soft lighting, filling my entire body with warmth. “I don’t know what to say, Zeke—”

“Say yes,” he urges. “You say yes.”

“Okay,” I say. “I mean — yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, Zeke.”

Zeke smiles from ear-to-ear and throws his arms around me. He pulls himself off the floor and sits next to me on the bed. “You’re my true love, Rocky,” he says as he holds me closer. “Always will be.”

I squeeze him back, being careful not to hurt his broken body anymore. “I love you, too, Zeke,” I say.

“Yeah?” he whispers. I feel his hands caress my skin, moving down my body.

“Yeah,” I say. My skin ignites with goosebumps, his dancing fingers awakening my nerves.

Suddenly, he pulls away and glances around the room with narrow eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Just…” he frowns, “waiting for the clown.”

I screw up my face. “The what?”

“Never mind.” Zeke leans down and kisses me, holding my face in his hands. “By the way… that bikini looked great on you.”

My cheeks flush red with embarrassment. “I can’t believe you made me wear that.”

“You liked it,” he teases. “Admit it.”

“I will not!”

We kiss again, this time falling together to lie on the bed.

“Okay then,” he says. His hand moves down my body and tugs at my skirt. “Admit you like this…” He reaches inside my panties and cups my mound.

I sigh at his touch.

“Spread your legs, Rocky,” he groans as his fingers part my lips.

Zeke slips two fingers inside of me and my body goes tense. I squeal with pleasure as he massages my inner walls.

“You’re so wet,” he whispers. “Tell me you love me again.”

“I love you,” I breathe.

Zeke pulls my skirt to the floor and reaches for his own belt. “I want you so badly, Rocky,” he grunts and kicks them off. His stiff cock falls free and drips his love onto my thighs.

I reach for it and give him a few good strokes. My mouth waters for him. I bend forward and allow myself a quick taste of him. He grips my hair and squeezes my dark locks as blood pumps through his hardness.

“Lay back, Zeke,” I tell him.

He rests his head on the pillows and watches me undress myself with his cock in his hand. My pleasure aches for more of him as I straddle him with my naked body.

My fingers caress his bruised torso. “Let me know if it hurts…” I say.

Zeke pulls me over his lap. His hardness grazes my folds. “Don’t worry,” he says. “I kind of like it…”

His cock presses against my moist entrance and he traces the tip along the outer realms of my lips. The tease sends shivers through my body and I dig my nails into his pecs in anticipation.

I quiver with delicious pain as he enters me. It still aches every time his sizable cock stretches my body. “Oh, Zeke…” I moan as I balance firmly on him. “Give me more!”

Zeke pushes it in another inch and grabs my hips. “Take it however you want it,” he says.

I lean forward to balance on my hands as I take his cock in even deeper. My hips glide over him, moving him in and out. His wide tip rubs against my tissue and I tremble above him.

He reaches out and cups my breasts. His fingertips assault my sensitive nipples, the pain of it shooting down my spine. I moan louder as he pulls me closer to nibble on them. I ride him harder as my passions take over.

“Your body is so perfect, Rocky…” he groans. “I never want to stop looking at these tits…”

I rock him harder and bounce them on his face. He grunts with satisfaction and teases them with his teeth. My senses dissolve and my body feels like warm milk. I feel an orgasm tempting me already. I lay my head on his shoulder as I work his swollen cock. My inner muscles clench around him as sweat drips off my brow onto his. I feel his warm breath on my skin, his huffing breaths syncing with my racing heart.

“Come for me, Rocky,” he moans in my ear. “Let me see your face. I want to see what I do to you.”

I rise up and feel the cold air bless my skin. His cock massages me in the most perfect way and my sex goes tight around him. The tension breaks and I shout his name, “Zeke! Oh, god, Zeke!” As I let the climax wash over me, I feel his hips thrust me. His cock fills me up completely, owning my depths.

He takes advantage of my orgasmic haze and turns me over onto my belly. My face hits the pillows and I welcome the quick rest.

“Get up on your knees,” Zeke says from behind me.

“Yes,” I moan. My body shakes as I move and I bend to his will without hesitation.

Zeke tugs my body closer to him, his hands gripping my ass. He steadies my trembling body with his hands. I feel his hardness press against my moist pussy and my body begs for it.

“Now come again,” he orders. “Come again on my dick.”

He slides his cock inside and the pleasure is almost too much for me to take.

“Harder…” I whimper.

Zeke lowers his body over me and whispers in my ear, “Come on me and I’ll give it to you harder…”

“Zeke, please…” I beg. His rod slides in and out, grinding against my wet sex.

His lips caress my neck. “Come, Rocky!” He thrusts me harder once, shooting shock waves throughout my body. I feel his fingers grip my hair and yank my head around to face him. “Your pussy is so good, Rocky. Come for me! Now!” he moans into my mouth.

The climax shakes my entire body and I scream his name repeatedly as my muscles turn to jelly. He pounds me against the pillows and races toward his own orgasm. He doesn’t stop until I feel his warm release inside of me.

Zeke collapses onto the bed next to me and wraps his arms around me. Our pleasure radiates from every pore, bringing our throbbing bodies closer together.

“I love you, Rocky…” Zeke says.

“I love you, too, Zeke,” I repeat.

“Hey… now you’ll officially be a Belmont,” he jokes as he kisses my neck.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “I think I’ll keep my own name,” I say.

Zeke smiles and moves his fingers through my hair. “Fair enough,” he jokes.

Silence consumes us and our pulses lower until a steady sleep claims us both.