The early morning light filtered through the curtains, soft and warm as it bathed the room in a golden glow. I blinked, stretching, my body deliciously sore from the night before. Memories of our passion flooded back, bringing a satisfied smile to my lips. Beside me, the bed was empty, but I could still feel the lingering warmth where Harrison had been.
A quiet rustling near the doorway caught my attention. I opened my eyes fully, squinting against the morning light, and saw Harrison standing there, watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. His hair was tousled, his eyes soft but intense, and something in his gaze made my heart race.
Before I could say anything, he stepped toward me, his movements deliberate, his face lit by that quiet determination that made him so irresistible. He knelt down beside the bed, taking my hand in his. My breath hitched. The way he looked at me, the way his thumb gently stroked my knuckles-it was as if he could see right into my soul.
“Emma,” he began, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t want to spend another day without knowing you’re mine. That you’re with me, forever.”
My heart pounded, each beat echoing in my ears. Was this really happening? Harrison’s fingers tightened around mine as he took a deep breath.
“I want to marry you, Emma,” he said, his voice filled with a raw honesty that sent shivers down my spine. “I want to build a life with you, to face everything together-every joy, every struggle. No more secrets, no more shadows between us.”
I was speechless, my heart overflowing with a thousand emotions. My love for him, the relief, the happiness, all mingled with the memory of every struggle we’d endured, every moment that had tested us. And here he was, baring himself to me, offering everything he had.
The words left my lips before I could even think. “Yes, Harrison,” I whispered, my voice trembling with joy. “Yes, a thousand times, yes.”
His face broke into a radiant smile, his eyes shining with relief and happiness. He pulled me into his arms, his embrace tight, as if he never wanted to let me go. I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his scent, my own tears of joy mingling with the warmth of his skin.
He pulled back slightly, brushing a stray tear from my cheek with his thumb. “You’ve given me everything, Emma,” he murmured, his voice rough. “Now, let me give you the world.”
With a soft laugh, I reached up to touch his face, marveling at how lucky I was. “As long as you’re in it, that’s all I’ll ever need.”