Proposal

Susan

The second I shut the door, I barely had time to breathe before Elliot was on me. His lips crashed against mine, urgent and demanding, as if he had been starving for this moment just as much as I had. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me so close I could feel every hard inch of him pressing against me.

A soft whimper escaped my lips when his fingers tangled in my hair, tilting my head back to deepen the kiss. His tongue swept inside my mouth, teasing and claiming, and I melted against him, my body betraying me with how desperately I needed him.

He groaned into my mouth. "You have no idea how much I’ve thought about this," he murmured, his voice thick with desire.

I gasped as he lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as if it were second nature. My fingers dug into his shoulders, my lips trailing down his jaw, nipping at his skin as he carried me toward the couch. But before we could reach it, he turned, pressing me against the wall instead, his body caging mine in a way that made my pulse skyrocket.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I could barely think, barely breathe, and stopping was the last thing on my mind. "Don’t you dare."

A wicked smirk played on his lips before he captured my mouth again, his hands slipping beneath my shirt, his fingers grazing my breast. I shivered at his touch, my body arching into him, silently begging for more.

And more is exactly what he gave me.

His mouth trailed down my neck, his teeth grazing over my sensitive skin before he sucked at the spot just below my ear, making me gasp. His hands roamed freely now, tugging at my shirt until he pulled it over my head, tossing it carelessly to the floor.

I should have felt exposed, but the way he looked at me...like he wanted to devour every inch of me...only made me burn hotter.

"You’re so damn beautiful," he murmured, his hands sliding down my body, his fingers working the button of my jeans before pushing them down.

I barely had time to register the cool air hitting my skin before his lips replaced it, kissing, tasting, leaving a trail of fire wherever he touched. My fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine, to erase the unbearable space between us.

The moment his shirt hit the floor, his bare chest pressed against mine, and I let out a shaky breath at the delicious friction. My nails raked down his back, and he groaned, his grip on my thighs tightening before he carried me to the bedroom.

The second my back hit the mattress, Elliot hovered over me, his gaze dark with need. "I’m going to make you forget every damn thing except my name."

And then, he did exactly that.

***

Elliot

Lying next to her, I traced lazy circles on her bare back, watching as her breathing slowly evened out. The room was dimly lit, the only sound between us the soft rhythm of our breaths. She looked so peaceful, so utterly wrecked in the most beautiful way, and yet, there was something else. A vulnerability in the way she curled against me, as if afraid of what came next.

I wasn’t about to let her wake up and pretend this was just another night.

Because it wasn’t.

It never was with Susan.

I exhaled, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Marry me.”

Her body stiffened instantly. Her head shot up from my chest, her drowsy gaze snapping to mine. “What?”

I smirked at her reaction, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You heard me.”

She blinked, sitting up slightly, the sheets slipping down her bare skin. “Elliot, don’t mess with me right now.”

“I’m not.” My voice was calm, steady, because I meant every damn word. “I want you, Susan. Not just for tonight. Not just for a fleeting moment.” I reached out, tucking my fingers under her chin so she couldn’t look away. “I want you in my life, every single day. As my wife.”

She swallowed, her lips parting as if she had something to say, but no words came out.

I took advantage of her silence.

“I don’t care about the past. I don’t care about what’s been broken. I only care about right now, about us.” I let my hand slide down her arm, lacing our fingers together. “And I know you feel it too.”

She let out a shaky breath, her eyes searching mine as if looking for a reason to say no. But she wouldn’t find one.

Because deep down, Susan Hart was just as lost in me as I was in her.

“You’re insane,” she whispered.

I grinned. “For you? Absolutely.”

She bit her lip, a war raging in her expression. “Elliot… I don’t...”

I silenced her with a kiss, slow and deep, pouring every ounce of my devotion into it. When I pulled away, I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling.

“I’m not asking for an answer right now,” I murmured. “Just… think about it.”

She closed her eyes for a moment before nodding ever so slightly.

It wasn’t a yes.

But it sure as hell wasn’t a no.