Ryan didn't want to wait any longer.
The very next day, he transformed his home into a haven of romance. Warm candlelight flickered across the room. Fresh flowers filled the air with a soft fragrance, and gentle music played in the background. It was quiet, serene, and deeply intimate.
When Chloe stepped through the door, she froze in awe.
The lights. The flowers. The atmosphere.
It felt like a dream.
"Ryan… what is all this?" she asked, stepping in slowly, eyes wide.
Ryan walked up to her and gently took her hands. "Chloe, there's so much I've wanted to say. And tonight, I finally get the chance."
He led her to the center of the room, where a small table was set with a cozy dinner. But before they sat, he spoke from the heart.
"After my parents passed, everything in me shut down. I locked away every joyful memory, because remembering them just hurt too much. I forgot how to laugh… how to live."
Chloe listened quietly, her hand still in his.
"But then I took you to see my grandmother. Watching you in that home again—it triggered something. A memory I'd buried deep. You, sitting on the swing as a little girl… your laughter. I remembered."
Chloe gasped, her eyes already brimming with emotion.
"I was nine when I told my mom I wanted to marry you. She believed me. And she arranged our engagement with your parents. That was one of the happiest days of my life. She told me, 'Stay loyal. Don't ever look at another girl.' I made that promise to her."
His voice faltered slightly, but he continued.
"When she and my father passed, all of that… disappeared. Until you came back."
He slowly got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box.
"Chloe, you brought me back to life. You reminded me of who I was. And even though we were engaged as children, I want to choose you again—with my whole heart."
He opened the box.
"I want to make up for the years we lost. I promise to give you all my love, and the happiness you deserve. Will you marry me, Chloe? Not because of the past—but because of who we are now."
Tears streamed down her face.
Despite the engagement arranged by their families, this moment was entirely theirs.
"Ryan," she said through her tears, smiling brightly. "Thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world. I love you… and yes, I'll marry you."
She held out her left hand.
With trembling fingers, Ryan slipped the ring onto her finger, then stood and pulled her into a warm, tearful embrace.
They kissed, and it was long, sweet, and full of love. His lips moved over hers with a reverence that made her melt, his hands cradling her face as if she were something precious. When they finally parted, their breaths mingled, their foreheads resting together.
"Chloe… can we spend the night together?" Ryan asked softly, vulnerability lacing his voice.
She blushed, her pulse fluttering, but nodded without hesitation. There was no fear but only trust. He had waited, respected her, and loved her fully. Now, she was ready too.
Ryan took her hand, interlacing their fingers, and led her to the bedroom. The soft glow of lamplight painted the room in warm hues, casting gentle shadows as they stood beside the bed. His touch was featherlight as he traced her cheek, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation.
"Are you sure?" he whispered.
Chloe nodded, her voice barely a breath. "Yes... I want this. I want you."
His fingers trembled slightly as he undressed her, each movement slow, deliberate. His hands glided over her skin with a tenderness that made her shiver from the sheer intimacy of his touch. When her dress pooled at her feet, he exhaled shakily, his gaze drinking her in with awe.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
She reached for him then, unbuttoning his shirt with nervous fingers. His muscles tensed under her touch, his breath hitching as her palms smoothed over his chest. When they were both bare, he pulled her close, their bodies aligning naturally, skin against skin.
Ryan kissed her again, deep and unhurried, his hands roaming her curves with a mix of reverence and desire. Every brush of his fingertips, every press of his lips, was a silent vow.
When he finally laid her down, he moved over her with infinite care, his weight balanced so as not to overwhelm her. His kisses trailed down her neck, her collarbone, lower and each one eliciting soft sighs from her lips. His touch was patient, exploring, learning what made her gasp, what made her arch into him.
And when the moment came, he paused, his forehead against hers, his breath ragged. "Tell me if it's too much," he whispered.
Chloe cupped his face, her thumb brushing his cheek. "I trust you."
He entered her slowly, his movements measured, his eyes never leaving hers. A sharp inhale escaped her, and he stilled instantly, his body rigid with restraint.
"Okay?" he breathed.
She nodded, her fingers tightening on his shoulders. "Just... go slow."
And he did. Every thrust was gentle, controlled, his hands gripping her hips with just enough pressure to anchor her. The pain ebbed, replaced by a growing warmth, a deep connection that transcended the physical.
Ryan's breaths grew uneven, his muscles trembling with the effort of holding back. "Chloe, God, you feel—" His voice broke, his forehead dropping to her shoulder.
She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper, and he groaned, his control fraying. But even as pleasure built between them, his rhythm remained tender, his kisses soft against her lips, her throat.
When release finally claimed them, it was with shuddering breaths and his body collapsing over hers in a spent, trembling heap.
He rolled to the side immediately, gathering her against his chest, his fingers stroking through her hair. His heartbeat thundered against her, still rapid from the intensity of their lovemaking. After a long, quiet moment, he pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered, his voice rough with emotion,
"I love you... so damn much. That was... God, Chloe, you're everything."
Chloe turned her face into his neck, her lips brushing his skin as she breathed him in. "I never knew it could feel like this," she admitted softly, her voice trembling. "Not just... the pleasure, but the way you looked at me. Like I was the only thing that mattered."
Ryan tightened his arms around her, his thumb tracing the curve of her shoulder. "Because you are," he murmured.
In the quiet aftermath, wrapped in each other's arms and as sleep finally claimed them, Ryan pressed one last kiss to her forehead, his heart full. She's finally his. Now and always.