He sat down next to me, and I fell into his arms. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Remember what you told me? That you kind of wished I was proposing that night?” His eyes were full of a happiness I’d only seen once before—the night in the cave.

“I actually said I thought about how I’d like it at some point.” I slipped his sports coat off of him, it was in my way. He’d insisted on us dressing up a little even if it was for takeout. I now knew why.

“Same thing.”

I laughed. “All right.”

“This time I really did.”

“Yes, you did.”

He stroked my arm. “So what’s next?”

“We make you king.” I took his hand and led him upstairs into our bedroom. “Do you remember what you did last time?”

He put his hands on my hips. “I just made love to you with the intent to make you mine forever.”

“Do it again.” I started unbuttoning his shirt. “I’m doing it too.”

“In a hurry?” He laughed, already unzipping my dress.

“As a matter of fact, yes, I am.”

“Me too.” He reached around to unclasp my bra as soon as my dress hit the floor.

I discarded his shirt before pulling his white tank over his head. “Are you as excited this time as you were the first time?”

“I’m just as excited every time.” He leaned over to kiss me before picking me up and carrying me to the bed.

I unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants. “Can you lie on your wings?”

“Dare I ask why you want to know?”

“I’m in control tonight. I need to be on top and you always transform.”

“Sure, I can lie on them.” He sat down on the bed next to me. “Especially for this reason.”

I yanked off his pants and boxers just as he pulled off my panties.

I leaned over him, making him lie down on the bed. Climbing on top of him, I took a moment to think about the step I was taking. I was about to willingly tie myself to Levi. I could leave without the ring if I wanted—but leaving was the last thing on my mind.

I leaned down to kiss him. “It’s really going to be forever.”

He looked me right in the eye. “I can’t wait.”

The first time was incredible, and it had only gotten better, but that night brought things to a new level. He put his hands on my hips, and we moved together in perfect synchrony. I could think of nothing but how amazing it felt to connect with Levi, to feel so completely open and vulnerable, but also incredibly safe.

We reached our climaxes together, and I fell down on top of him, exhausted, but feeling completely alive.

“I love you,” he whispered as he cradled me in his arms.

“I love you too.” I didn’t need to check the ring to know it wasn’t going anywhere, but I did anyway.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Happy Birthday.” Levi kissed my lips gently.

“Thanks, but we both know that’s not the big celebration of the day.” I pulled the sheets up around me, Levi had shifted away from me, leaving me cold.

He got the hint that I was cold and pulled me back into his arms. “What could possibly be more important than the birth of Allison Davis?”

I sighed contently, glad to be back in his arms. “Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe your coronation?”

He laughed. It was that deep laugh he only used when he was really happy. “Your birthday is still more important. I’d have no interest in becoming king if it weren’t with you by my side.”

“Where did this sappy Levi come from?” I snuggled even further into his chest.

“Sappy? It’s romantic, babe.”

“I know.”

He kissed my shoulder. “Do you think you’ll ever get tired of giving me a hard time?”

“No. If I did, I’d be worried.”

He laughed again. “Good to know. If I see it happening, I’ll just come up with new ways to drive you crazy.”

I glanced at the alarm clock. It was one of those that wakes you up with light and not noise. At first I was skeptical, but it really worked. We hadn’t set the alarm the night before and were cutting it a little close. “We have to get up, don’t we?” I picked up my phone from the night stand. I had a missed text from Jess. We were talking a lot again. Her life had finally returned to normal, and, thankfully, she didn’t seem to hold a grudge against me. Maybe it had something to do with Emmett asking her to move in. I don’t think she could be mad at anyone after that.

“Yeah, we do. But on a positive note, we still get to take a shower.”

“Oh, you think you’re joining me?”

“No. I know it.”

“Ohhh, Mr. Confident now.”

“First I’m sappy Levi, and now I’m Mr. Confident.” He rolled me over on top of him.

I giggled. He made me do that so often. “I’m your mate. I’m allowed to make up as many names for you as I want.”

“Mmm, there’s something sexy about the way you say that. I like hearing you call yourself my mate.”

“Well, it’s true.” I trailed a line of kisses down his chest.

“It is. You were before, but now no one can deny it.”

“You say it.”

He ran his hands up and down my arms. “You want me to call you my mate?”

“No, I want you to call yourself my mate, or is it not called that?”

“I’ve actually never heard a Pteron refer to themselves as a mate before.”

“It can’t go one way.”

“It doesn’t with us. I’m your mate, Al.”

I grinned. “Now you’re being Mr. I’ll do or say anything to get you naked in the shower, Levi.”

“You’re already naked, Al.”

“I am, aren’t I?” I pushed off the sheets and hopped out of bed. “Glad you pointed that out.”

His eyes devoured me. “Glad I’m the only one who gets to see your birthday suit.”

“Yeah, that makes two of us.”

I headed to the bathroom. “Are you joining me?”

“Is that really a question?” He was out of bed with his hand on my hip within seconds. “That’s an offer I’ll never turn down.”

***

My first time in Robert’s office was one I wouldn’t forget. Dressed in a floor-length ball gown—ruby red of course—I listened as Robert went through my instructions.