Chapter 348

Judy’s POV

Tears shimmered in my eyes, making his face a bit blurry as I tried to focus on him. The way the moonlight captured the sincerity in his eyes, a slight nervous smile tugging on the corner of his lips, the sound of his rapid heart beating, made me want to press my palm against it and feel it against my skin, reminding me that every beat of his heart was for me.

I looked down at the ring, still shocked that he was holding it in his hands. When had he gotten this ring?

It was breathtaking.

It wasn’t just a diamond on a band, and it wasn’t over-the-top flashy either… it told a story. The center stone was a round-cut diamond, not oversized or gaudy, but clear and brilliant. The kind that caught he light and seemed to hold it. On either side, two smaller deep sapphire stones rested, their color striking midnight blue, like the night sky we were standing under.

The bad itself was platinum, smooth, and strong, but engraved on the inside was a simple phrase in Gavin’s handwriting – “My Moon.”

It was elegant, timeless, and undeniably him – powerful, yet understated, just like the man standing in front of me.

Just like my mate.

Despite the tears and the mood of the moment, a laugh bubbled out of me. He raised his brows as I laughed, tears still clinging to my lashes.

“Should I guess what is so funny?” Gavinn asked, his tone airy as he spoke.

I shook my head, unable to believe that this moment was a happening… a proposal I wasn’t expecting was right in front of me.

“You’re proposing to me now? When I’m covered in stains and my hair is a mess… my makeup is running and look at me… I’m bloated like a whale,” I said, motioning to my belly. “You couldn’t wait until I was halfway decent?”

His expression softened as his hand rubbed soothing circles on my small baby bump.

“You’ve never looked more beautiful to me,” he told me, his voice low and for my ears alone. I could see the passion in his gaze as he looked down at me, and it only made my breathing hitch.

He reached up and wiped the tears that escaped my eyes off my cheeks, tears I hadn’t even known fell. I let out a choked sob as another laugh bubbled out of me; I probably looked like a crazy person at this point.

Laughing and crying at the same time because of a proposal? Who does something like that? Only me, that’s who.

“You’re impossible,” I choked out, my voice trembling with a hint of playfulness. “Proposing during my best friend's wedding reception, while I’m a pregnant, hormonal mess. Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is?”

I let out another choked sob as I swat at his chest, and he allowed me this moment to get my feelings out. Instead of pulling my hand away from his chest, I let my fingers linger for a moment. My hands were trembling, and I found myself curling my fingers, gripping onto his shirt for a moment as my laughter turned into a straight-up manic cry.

I hated these pregnancy hormones.

He stayed quiet, watching me, allowing me a moment to get myself together, but I could feel the worry and anxiety radiating off him from the mate bond.

I released his shirt, but I didn’t pull my hand, sniffling, I reached up and allowed my figners to graze his jaw, my tear filled and swollen eyes following each movement as I traced the outline of his incredible lips and brushing across his cheeks, like I couldn’t seem to stop touching him… like I couldn’t get enough of him.

My eyes finally met his, the laughter and the sobbing died on my lips, leaving nothing but the sounds of our soft breaths as we stared at one another.

The look of concern remained in his eyes, but he didn’t speak; he just watched me with a curiosity that made my heart skip a beat.

“Do you…” I started, but then I stopped as I gathered my thoughts. The second time I spoke, my voice came out as a weaker whisper, like I was afraid he’d disappear if I spoke too loudly. “Do you have any idea how easy it is to say yes to you?”

His expression softened, and the worry that was lingering in his eyes disappeared completely when the teasing edge to my voice melted away, leaving behind something raw and vulnerable.

He closed the distance between us, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him.

My lips found his, and I kissed him as if my entire life depended on it; as if my heart couldn’t bear being away from him for a second longer. My wolf was practically hopping up and down at the fact that we were finally with our mate and she wasn’t going to let him go any time soon.

He tried to deepen the kiss, his tongue asking for permission to enter my mouth, but I needed to say this last part before things got too far.

I put my hands on his chest, giving him a gentle push to stop the kiss from escalating further. Reluctantly, he pulled his lips from mine, but kept his forehead pressed against mine. Our breaths mingling with one another as we fought to catch our breath.

“Yes, Gavin…” I whispered, my eyes meeting his. “I’ll marry you.”

Without another word, he once again closed the distance, his lips were on mine before I could take another breath. This time, when his tongue asked for permission, I granted it. I parted my lips and allowed him to take his fill of me. He pulled me so tightly against im I thought I might fuse into his body.

I let out a soft moan, the electric feeling of my mate almost too much to handle. He lifted me up and sat me on the railing over the edge. I wasn’t afraid, though; I knew Gavin would never allow anything to happen to me. He held me with a tenderness that made me melt.

The softness of his tongue in my mouth made my core gush as I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding me to my body. I felt his delicate fingers grazing up my thighs, pushing my dress up with it, and then I felt his fingers tucking into the linings of my panties.

He broke his kiss from mine to kiss down the nape of my neck, paying extra attention to the mark on my neck.

I shivered against him, loving how he made me feel.

I wanted him… I wanted him so badly.

But here was not the right time or place to have him, and I was painfully made aware of that when laughter broke through my hazy thoughts. I could hear the distant sounds of the reception happening. They were outside now, though they couldn’t see us from where we were. I knew Nan and Chester were getting ready to leave for the first time as a married couple, and that was something I did not want to miss.

“Gavin, we have to go,” I said, breathlessly as I put my hands on his chest.

“A few more minutes,” he murmured, nipping at my earlobe. “I want to make love to my future wife.”

I laughed against him, not fighting him, but also not participating anymore.

“Nan and Chester are about to leave, and I want to say goodbye,” I told him. “We can continue where we left off later.”

He groaned, but he didn’t argue. He planted one last kiss on the nape of my neck before pulling back, gazing down at me with so much love and admiration that it nearly brought me to my knees.

“You’re right,” he sighed. “I don’t want you to resent me for making you miss their departure.”

He leaned down and kissed the bridge of my nose.

“But first,” he said, opening the ring box back up and taking it out. “Let me see your finger.”

“Is this wise? Getting engaged at my best friend's wedding is one thing… but showing off a ring during her big day?” I asked, nibbling at the corner of my lip.

“I’m not hiding this, Judy<” he told me, his eyes finding mine. “I want the world to know that you are not only my mate, but my future wife as well. We don’t have to make an announcement, but I want my ring on your finger.”

I blushed at his words as I presented my hand to him. He slid the ring on my finger, and I was shocked to find that it was the perfect fit. It glistened under the moonlight and made tears well up in my eyes again.

Before they could fall, Gavin cupped my face in his hands, and he wiped the invisible tears away.

“No more crying,” he whispered. “I want nothing but smiles going forward, My Moon.”

I smiled up at him and stood on my toes to press my lips to his.

“I love you so much,” I whispered.

He smiled against my lips before taking his hand into mine.

“Now, let’s go wave farewell to your friends so I can take you home and devour every inch of your body.”