Page 98 of Paths
“Maya?”
She looks back to me.
I lower my voice. “I’m not him.”
She frowns.
I keep on. “My assignments were to take out targets who would’ve caused mass destruction through terrorism. Or who’ve killed, or made the order to kill, just so they could take over drug territory. I’ve taken out rebels who’ve raped women and children just to—”
“Okay!” She holds her hand up. “You’ll never have to convince me of that. I know you aren’t him. But why are you telling me all this now?”
I tell her the truth. “I love you.”
Her eyes widen and she breathes, “What?”
“You saved me.”
“Grady, I—”
“You did. Didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. Thought I needed to work as long as my body would let me. I never thought to want more, let alone search for it. Then I was captured, tortured, and almost killed. When I came home from that, I was lost. My only refuge was watching a woman over the surveillance system when she ran. I’d wait for you, baby. Everyday. I’d wait, and when you showed, I’d get lost in you.”
She pulls that damn lip into her mouth again as her eyes well.
“Who knew when I barely survived the depths of hell, my path would lead to you.”
Her hand comes up and she swipes a tear from her scraped cheek. “Why now? Why are you telling me all this now?”
“Because you’re wearing my ring.” I take a step, only a couple feet separating us. “Even though things might’ve happened in the wrong order, you deserve to know everything. I want you to know who you’re spending the rest of your life with.”
She swallows hard as another tear escapes.
“Because of you, I’m ready. I’m done with you seeing how that ring feels on your finger. It means something. I should tell you it means you’re mine, but fuck, Maya, you don’t even know it, but you’ve got me. You standing right here in this empty house—you’re holding my heart, baby. It’s yours. I want our life to start and I want it to start here.” I point to the floor. “And I want it to start today.”
She doesn’t look away as she tries to blink back her tears. I can’t take it another second—I need to touch her.
Closing the small distance between us, I don’t stop when I reach her. Putting my hands low on her hips, I move her backwards into the kitchen, and she doesn’t try and stop me. When I get to the marble island, I put my hands to her waist and sit her on the counter so I can look her straight in the eyes.
Her hands instantly come to my chest and I slide my palms up the inside of her loose dress to feel her skin on mine.
“You know everything there is to know about me. Everything. If I need to, I’ll take that ring off your finger and ask you properly, but baby, I need to know that you’re in. If you aren’t, then I need to know what to do to make you in, because I’m not letting you go.”
She wraps her boots around my waist and pulls me to her while shaking her head. “You’re not taking my ring off.”
I slide my hands up to grip her ass and press my cock in between her legs. “It’s my turn to ask what you mean.”
Her face softens into the expression I fell in love with when she asks, “Do I know everything about you now?”
“I have never told anyone about my work. Not even my sisters. No one knows what I’ve done but you, and I know I couldn’t ask you to be with me forever without you knowing.”
She gives me a small smile as if she’s relieved. “You might’ve been a tough Delta whatever and traveled the world taking out bad guys, but you’ll have to wrestle me to the ground to get this ring off my finger.”
“Baby.” I exhale and lean my forehead against hers. “I look forward to wrestling you to the ground, but I’ll never take that ring off your finger.” Looking into her eyes, I ask, “Does this mean you’re in?”
*****
Maya –
I press my breasts into his chest, getting as close as I can. “If that’s your official proposal, then yes, I’m in.”
