Page 61 of Set My Soul Ablaze

Her laughter subsided as she raised a curious brow in my direction. “What’s up?”

“Will you marry me?”

“I already told you I wanted to be your wife.”

“I know. This is me proposing.” I pulled the velvet red box out of my pocket and placed it in front of her on the floor.

She gasped. “Shut up, Artez, and stop playing.”

“I’m not playing. Pick up the box and open it.”

She did. At the sight of the four-karat princess cut diamond with the diamond encrusted infinity band, she cried. Withshaking hands, she pulled the ring out of its container and slid it onto her ring finger—a perfect fit. As I knew it would be.

“It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful. Now, can I be your husband?”

Mali nodded. “Yes!”

She squealed and did a little dance on the floor. Amusement fluttered through my eyes at the sight of my fiancée. The shit was so perfect. Life with her had been perfect, even on the bad days.

“We’re getting married. Oh, my goodness.”

“Yes, we are. Now, how we do it is all up to you. I promise I will love you through this lifetime and everyone after this, and I trust your creative eye.”

“Boy, we could go to the courthouse tomorrow and make this shit official. I’ve never been a fan of expensive ceremonies. I’m absolutely cool with saving money for a huge honeymoon and a nice-sized reception for our family and friends.”

“You’re playing, but I’ll fill out that marriage certificate form tonight and meet you at the courthouse in the morning.”

“Who playing?”

I laughed. “I am eager to make you my wife, but I won’t move too fast. We still have one more activity in my schedule.”

“What’s that?”

“Dessert. I wanted us to make a dessert from scratch. I have ingredients for both a cake and cinnamon rolls. I was going to let you decide.”

“If dessert is my choice, then we don’t have to leave this floor.” Mali crawled over to me and climbed into my lap. Her hands always found the back of my neck. The feel of her fingernails on my skin always turned me on.

“Show out then, fiancée.”

Tonight we didn’t make love. Tonight we fucked. We fucked like primal animals, hungry for pleasure. We fucked like greedy,selfish beings who only cared about the orgasm. We sucked, and we fucked, and we made a mess all over the blanket.

When we were done, we lay in our mess, chests rising and falling irregularly.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

I reached for her hand and lifted it to my lips. I kissed her ring and placed her hand on my chest. My heartbeat steadied instantly.

Mali was my world, and soon, she’d be my wife.

Over the last year,my life had changed so much. I started the year in a loveless relationship, holding on to a man who honestly never truly loved me. I was afraid to be alone. I was afraid to love myself and accepted the toxic environment Juda had me in for almost a decade.

Over the last year, I learned to love myself. I learned to put myself and my needs first. I learned to be selfish with my time, my body, and my soul.

Over the last year, I stumbled upon a love unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I met a man who spoke life into me. I met a man who uplifted me and made even the bad days worthwhile.