“Sophie loved the drama.” Maggie smiles.

“Anyways, are you excited to go to the Bahamas?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Yes! Two weeks of beautiful beaches and sun. I love Seattle, but I hate that it rains all the time. It will be nice to get out of town,” Maggie says, leaning deeper into Devon’s side, smiling up at him. It used to make me jealous watching them, but now I have that kind of love for myself.

‘That’s one thing I don’t miss. I love Tennessee,” I tell them, feeling Nico’s fingers flex on my hip.

“We’ll come visit after you have the baby,” Maggie states, and Devon looks at me, his eyes getting big. Crap.

“You pregnant, Sophie?”

“Yes,” I say quietly.

“How did this happen?”

“Well, you see, when a man and—” I start flippantly.

“Cut the crap. You gonna marry our girl?” Devon asks, glaring at Nico. Nico—being Nico—glares back at him, putting his arm around my shoulders.

“You really want to ask about that at your wedding?” Nico asks.

“Hell yes. Everyone in this room loves Sophie, and no one here will be happy to know she’s pregnant with no ring on her finger.”

“That so?” Nico asks, looking around at the people in the room, who have all started to watch us.

I can feel my cheeks heating up. I know Devon thinks of me as family, but this is crazy.

“Devon, please sto—” I start, but suddenly Nico gets down on one knee in front of me. “What are you doing?” I whisper, watching as he pulls a small, turquoise box from inside his suit jacket.

“I knew from the moment I saw you that I would do everything within in my power to make myself worthy of you. I was going through life one day at a time, and then you came along and gave me a reason to plan for tomorrow. Every second, every minute, and every day, I will prove to be a better man, a man worthy of you, a man who will love you the same way you love me—for who I am, not what others see me as. I promise to love and protect you until my last breath, Sophie Jean Grates. Will you marry me, baby?” he asks, pulling a diamond solitaire ring from the hinged case in his hand, dropping the box on the floor, and pulling my hand towards him.

Before I can even think or he can get the ring on my finger, I tackle him. “Yes.” I push him backwards, climbing on top of him and kissing him all over his face. “Yes,” I repeat, holding his face between my hands and looking into his eyes. “I love you, Nico Mayson.”

“I love you too, baby.” He slides his hands through my hair, pulling my face down to his. Loud applause fills the room, and I feel myself turning red as he kisses me again, only to pull away and whisper against my lips, “Let’s get off the floor, crazy girl.”

I nod and climb off of him, fixing my dress. As soon as were both up, he slides the ring on my finger, pulling it to his mouth and kissing it then kissing me.

“I love you, girl,” Maggie says, pulling me into a tight hug.

“I love you too. I can’t believe he asked me in front of everyone,” I say, still in shock.

“We knew yesterday,” she tells me then moves to Nico before I can ask her what she meant.

Devon holds his arms open to me; I automatically go to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“You did good,” he whispers before kissing the top of my head. I nod, feeling tears filling my eyes. “I know you understand what you got in our girl, man; just take care of her,” Devon says over the top of my head before turning me around and handing me off to Nico.

“You happy, baby?” Nico asks, bending down to kiss my forehead.

“Yes,” I tell him, tilting my head back to get a kiss.

When his mouth leaves mine, I hold my hand up to his chest, looking at my ring. This is what my mom had with my dad; even if she only had it for a short time, I know this is what she felt.

“I love this dress,” Nico says from behind me later that night as his fingers run across my bare shoulders, making me shiver, “but I really love what’s under this dress.” He kisses my neck.

I feel his fingers on my zipper as he begins to pull it down. My breathing picks up as my dress starts to fall from around me. His hands go to the back clasps of my bra and it falls to the floor.

“Put your hands around my neck,” he says against my neck as my hands go over my head and behind his neck. His hands run over my hips and up my stomach before cupping my br**sts in his big hands. “I want to try something with you. Will you let me?” I nod. There is nothing I wouldn’t try with him. “Tell me.”

“Yes!” I cry out as he tugs on both of my ni**les at the same time. Since becoming pregnant, my br**sts have become extra sensitive, and I swear they are directly connected to my clit now.

“Lie on the bed on your back and close your eyes.”

I step out of his embrace and walk to the bed, where I climb on, wearing nothing but a pair of pale-yellow lacy boy shorts that match my bra and dress perfectly. I lie on my back, feeling the wetness between my legs with every movement. I get comfortable and close my eyes, but I can’t help but to peek at what he’s doing—not that I can see anything. His back is to me, and his shirt is now off.

“Close your eyes. You peek again and I won’t do what I’ve got planned.”

I slam my eyes closed and feel my pulse start to race in excitement. I hear some clinking, the shuffle of feet on the carpet, and then the bed depresses next to me.

“Tell me you want this.” I nod, clenching my fists. “I need you to say the words out loud, Sophie,” he says, running a finger from the bottom of my foot to my inner thigh.

“I want this,” I tell him.

“Good. Lift your hands over your head.”

I take a second but do as he says, and then I feel something smooth wrap around my right wrist then my left. They’re drawn together and lifted higher, and I automatically tug my hands and feel that they’re tied to the headboard.

“Oh shit,” I moan. I know he’s joked about this, but I never thought it would really happen.

“Relax.” I feel his fingers run from where my arms are joined, down one, and then along my side and under each breast. “I have imagined this over and over again.”

I feel the bed depress. Then his hands travel from my ankles, spreading my legs wider as they travel up my knees, pulling my legs apart. His body comes over mine, his tongue licks over one nipple then the other, and then his hand at my side leaves and I hear clinking again.