Page 111 of Sweet Carnage
“You romantic, Artyom Petrov. Did you want to actually ask me the question this time?”
“Will you?”
“Marry you?” Her eyes spark with amusement. “I already did.”
“Will you promise me forever?”
I need to hear her say it. With how close I got to losing her, I need her to promise me this.
Nina rakes a hand through my hair. “Forever,” she repeats, and I slide the second ring onto her finger.
It slides into place next to the vine-leaf patterned ring. It’s shinier, and newer. A fresh start, just for us, without the baggage that went with the legacy of my family. I wanted Nina to have something that’s entirely her own.
When the applause dies down, I pull Nina close. She’s still looking at the ring — the gold band is patterned with veins. Her lip wobbles as she examines the inscription.
This was always forever.
“I am not a patient man, but I would have waited an eternity for you,” I whisper into her ear.
“I do think you proved your lack of patience when you gotyourself shot because I wouldn’t talk to you,” Nina laughs softly through her tears, raising a hand to my face. “We both waited too long for this.”
“I was an idiot to believe you left.”
“And I should never have believed Polina.”
Nina meets my gaze, her amber eyes level and even. It’s the first time she’s said Polina’s name since that day in the basement. But she doesn’t look afraid, or regretful, anymore.
“We never have to go through that again.”
“I know,” Nina bites her lip, looking up at me. “If we have to, at least we know that we can.”
“Damn right.”
I bend down for a kiss, but she places a hand on my chest to stop me.
“You really want me to wear another ring every day?”
Yes. If Nina ended up with a piece of jewelry from me on every finger, every limb, it still wouldn’t be enough.
“I do.”
I take my hand and kiss the new ring on her finger, then brush my lips over Nina’s mouth. Her lips part and her breath hitches in her throat as I deepen the kiss.
This isn’t for show anymore. People can look all they want, but this kiss is just for me and my wife. She’s promised me forever and I will gladly accept it.
She’s all fucking mine — so I take it slow. We’ve got all the time in the world.
