Chapter 80: Chapter 80

"Will you marry me?"

Ash"s soulful brown eyes stare up at me beseechingly. The way he's gazing at me makes me feel he's waiting with bated breath, ready to hang on to my every word. It's as if my acceptance will save his life, and if I dare refuse, it would crumble right before my very eyes. This is the same Ash who has been blowing hot and cold toward me.

Actually . . . more cold than hot, to be honest.

I take a step back and let out a nervous giggle in the process. I don't know what to think. Is this a prank? I lick my lips and look around for something, anything, to make light of this tense moment. Maybe he's videoing this in order to use it to laugh at me later on, I don't know, but this is freaking me the fuck out.

My baby girl kicks me and I wince as I touch my belly. Ash notices and walks toward me, still on his knees. That's gotta hurt. He's going to have scraped and bloody knees by the time this day is over. He crouches in front of me and puts his hand on my stomach where Lily is still kicking up a storm. His eyes zone in on my distended stomach for some seconds, watching how it bulges and flattens, and bulges again, and then he looks up at me.

Anyone watching would think he's seen the Holy Ghost when it's just me he's staring at. "Lily - she's kicking." He breathes out, eyes wide, lips in an o, and his jaw slack.

I nod and manage a smile because this whole scene is giving me goosebumps all over my body. Ash reverently touches my stomach, and before I understand what he plans on doing, he stands and scoops me up in his arms - bridal style - and walks out of the bathroom.

Wait!

What about the proposal?

My ring?

Where is it?

My mind screams. Was that just a joke? Is this just an act? I don't know what to think, but when I focus on the why's, I realize the truth. Ash has never seen Lily kicking before, he's never experienced it firsthand before, except when I tell him, and on those occasions I do, he's usually mentally unreachable, so I go through Lily's kicking on my own.

He carries me to the bedroom and gently lays me on the bed like Im made of glass and then pierces me with a long look. Lily has stopped kicking. I like to think she's also curious as to what her father is up to. Ash stares at me for a number of seconds, and as if telepathy has now become a thing between us, I understand clearly what his look means.

I nod shyly, and bequeath him with a sweet smile, putting all my cards on the table and letting him know that I'm also game. After all, it's what I've wanted for a while now. Ash nods once, before getting to work. He quickly draws the pillow from behind me and lifts my hips up before placing it underneath my waist. Since he's at full mast now, I don't need a crystal ball to let me know he can't wait to get inside of me.

He pats my legs and groans when he sees the evidence of my want for him, then he lifts his gaze to me once more and this time, asks. "Are you sure?"

I smile widely. "Right now, it's what I want most in the world."

He gifts me with a smile before lining himself up in front of my open lap. His first thrust makes me whimper with pleasure. He stiffens and stops thrusting.

"Does that hurt?"

I shake my head and lace my hands behind his neck, pulling him closer before whispering. "If you don't go faster, I'll hurt you."

He smiles widely. "Your wish is my command, ma'am." And then he slams into me, so much that I see stars, and then proceeds to do it over and over again. My pleasurable cries bring out the beast in him as he doesn't give me a moment's respite. Not long after, I'm falling down a cliff and shuddering with my release.

Once that happens, he pulls out of me and places his tongue where his dick was, and proceeds to lick me, building up my climax once again. I know he's delaying the time of his own release.

On the cusp of my second release, he thrusts inside me so hard, Lily kicks, but he doesn't stop, and neither do I because I'm blissfully shattering and falling from that cliff once again and I'm not alone. His loud grunts are music to my ears as he spills his cum inside of me.

He groans and falls halfway on top of me, bearing part of his weight with his left hand. After a few seconds of his breathing becoming steadier, he lifts his head and smiles lazily at me. "That was something."

"I agree." My voice is small and shaky. He fucked the volume out of me.

He carries me back to the bathroom, gently puts me in the tub, and fills it with warm water and a bath wash, before washing every part of me. His touch is so tender it moves me to tears. I try to hide it but this man is like an eagle - nothing passes his scrutiny.

"Hey, hey! What's the problem?" He takes my face in his and that makes the waterworks flow even more.

I shake my head and wipe my face with the back of my palm and move away from him. The bath is big enough to contain four people so there's a big space between us. I hear the swish of water and I feel his hand curl around my waist, pulling me to him.

"It's you, alright, ever since your twin died, I've become a persona non grata to you, someone expendable, like. . . furniture that's used but not heard, and. . ."

I'm rambling.

I know it and I'm sure he knows it as well. He tenses up beside me and I've gotta tell you, a dead rat's got nothing on him. He's as still as a statue. As close as I am to him, I can't even feel the rise and fall of his chest. Did I push him too far? Is this the breaking point for him?

I turn to face him, but his voice stops me dead in my tracks. "Domenico. . . he had a hole in his heart."

It's my time to go deathly still. Not fucking likely. That mad hatter that pranced around with mad frenzy in his eyes looked as healthy as an ox. But I say nothing, what can I say after all? I know this is difficult for him. I understand it. Take it from someone who had a sibling, and then lost her, I understand it all too well.

"He. . . blamed me for our mother's death, and. . . "

His voice becomes strangled and I know he's tearing up inside. I turn to take him in my arms but stop to see one of his hands covering his face and his shoulders shake involuntarily. Ash is crying. The death of his twin must have been too much for him to handle. I can't help it anymore, I draw him to me and he clings to me with a fervor that takes my breath away.

We remain this way for a while in silence, me smoothing back his hair and him clinging to me like his life depends on it. Thankfully, Lily must have realized that her parents need some time-out because she doesn't kick, doesn't even move - not even a twinge. For that, I'm grateful.

Something niggles at the back of my mind and I know this is the time to clear what's on my chest. I silently ease back from him. "I'm sorry I killed him, but he would have killed both of us given the chance."

He gives me a lop sided smile and nods. "Don't sweat it, he had it coming for awhile. No one messes with you and goes Scott free." He takes my head in between his hands and spears me with an intense-filled look. "You are now my family - you and Lily."

Somehow, I interpret his words to mean - Don't fuck it up!

I laugh nervously and jut out my right hand. "Where's my ring?"

He barks out a laugh. "Thought you'd never ask." He dips his hand beneath the water and searches for a bit before bringing out the box I initially didn't take time to look at, before slipping a huge green diamond ring onto my finger.

Something swirls in my chest as he moves closer and gently kisses me on the forehead. "I love you, wife-to-be."

I shake my head as I whisper. "Not more than I love you, fiancé."