Chapter 172: Be Mine 

~ DAVID ~

Zara was stunned. She gaped at me, open-mouthed. "Now?" she breathed. "Right now?"

I was beaming like an idiot. I couldn't believe this hadn't occurred to me earlier. "Well, it may take some time to arrange, but… yes, Zara. I think… I think we both need this. And I can make this happen—provide for us in this way. If you would agree—"

"AGREE?!" She threw herself into me, wrapping her arms around my neck and smothering my face and neck with kisses. "David…" kiss, kiss, smooch, "I can't…" kiss, "think of anything that would make me happier."

Then she took my mouth and I gripped her, overwhelmed almost the point of tears by her exuberant display.

But then she suddenly drew back, eyes wide. "I need a bath. We both need to… clean up. And what will I wear? And—wait, how? David, how will we even do this without anyone knowing?"

I felt the tension rising in her again, felt her inch back in my arms like she was afraid to be happy.