CHAPTER TEN
I STEP OUT of the office. The cold breeze holds the promise of snow on its wings. It’s one of her favorite times of year, and if it snows tonight… I smile at the thought. Mark ushers me quickly to the car so we can make our reservation tonight.
As we head home Mark hands me a small velvet box. The moment my fingers grasp the smooth fabric, my heart skips. I have been looking forward to this for over a year. I stare out the window at the passing cars, hiding my elated smile behind my hand.
When we pull into the garage twenty minutes later, I nearly run for the elevator. I can hear Mark stifling a chuckle behind me as he races to the elevator.
A quick ride up to the apartment and I’m walking into the foyer. Her heavenly scent of vanilla and caramel, mixed with the strong sense of coffee, invades my nose. I take a long deep breath, letting every second fuel my excitement.
Stepping further into the apartment, I can faintly hear her angelic voice singing loud and proud to one of her favorite songs. It takes me a moment to place ‘Astronomical’ by Svrcina. Kicking off my shoes, I follow the voices of Svrcina and Autumn. It’s like a siren’s song luring my soul to hers, as Krigare begins singing something about destiny.
I find her standing in front of the vanity, curling her long dark locks into loose curls that cascade down her back. Her foot taps as she’s looking down at the counter counting the seconds before dropping the lock and picking up another one. Since she hasn’t noticed me, I take the chance to sneak up on her. But when I get close her back straightens and she lets the lock fall early. As my arms wrap around her waist pulling her against my chest, a soft moan escapes her lips, just as she puts the iron down.
I love the way her satin teddy hugs her curves and accentuates her breasts. The rose infinity set’s perfectly in the dip between her collar bones. My lips caress the skin along her neck, holding her tight as her body sags against mine. I whisper, “We have to leave soon,” against her ear. She groans and reluctantly stands and finishes her hair.
We arrive at The River Cafe, fifteen minutes before our reserved time. The Maitre D’ greets us with a wide smile and takes us to our table on the water. Just before leaving his hand rests on my shoulder. He leans down and tell’s me everything is ready.
We have a quiet evening, enjoying each others company. Although I am listening, I can’t help that my mind drifts to more, indecent thoughts. How plush her lips are. The plunging sweet heart neckline shows off the simple dangling diamond necklace I gave her for Christmas last year. The infinite hangs where it always does. I never thought this black lace dress would look so incredible and alluring on her petite frame.
Unable to wait any longer, I take her hand in mine and take a moment to get lost in her forest green eyes. They always look as if they are reading my soul. I’m open. Bare. Vulnerable. And with her, I’m okay with that.
I drop to one knee, vaguely aware that everyone around is watching, and pull out the little black box tucked by my breast. Her eyes light up, then dance behind a small wall of mist.
“I promise to protect you. To take care of you. To spend my life giving you the world, and support your dreams. That day in the market, you changed my world. You managed to take an otherwise bleak life I was living and turn it upside down, twisting it around. You made the color return. I knew that day I could never live without you. And I don’t want to spend a day in my life without you being my wife.”
Tears cascade down her beautiful face. I love that it’s not heavily painted with make up. It allows me to always appreciate her true natural beauty.
“Will you marry me? And spend the rest of your days making my world the brightest and most vivid it’s ever been?”
Her hand flies up, her elegant fingers covering her lips as she chokes back a sob, and nods slowly.
“Yes,” she says. “Yes, I thought you would never ask!”
We stand, her hands cupping my face as she gives me a tear filled kiss. Wrapping my arms around her waist I hold her close and vow never to let her go. The way her body feels against mine, makes my blood sing. The smell of her hair tingles my senses. Her sweet voice, in all manners, drives me wild. She is mine. I am hers. And in this moment I believe that I was always her. The moment I was born my soul waited, then latched on to her.
We pull up to the apartment just as large sparkling white flakes begin to fall. And as if this night couldn’t make her any happier, she bounces next to me. Mark stops in front, allowing us to get out. We wait as he parks the car. Autumn stares up at the sky, holding her palm up to catch snowflakes. Her cheeks and nose are rosie from the cold, but her eyes are bright and warm. She’s adorable in her knee length pea coat and charcoal gray scarf. Snowflakes lace her hair as if they were meant for decoration.
When Mark finally joins us, she grabs my hand and pulls me down the sidewalk until I’m laughing and holding her close again. The city looks miraculous with the snow falling, quickly layering it with a sparkling blanket of white powder. When she starts shivering, and her words are made up of little more than her teeth chattering, I persuade her to go home.