Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he looked deep into her eyes. “I need you too,” he said raggedly. “I was trapped in a prison of grief and guilt, sentenced to reliving the torture over and over again. But you walked into my godforsaken life, lighting it up like fireworks. Challenging everything I thought I knew. Reminding me of how it feels to be happy.”

She licked her plump, kiss-swollen lips. “You’ve changed me too. I’ve been living so much of my life in secret—the Debutante Underground, all the nights I spent with you—and I don’t want to hide those parts of myself anymore. I don’t want to apologize for what I believe in or who I love.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He tipped his forehead to hers and ran his hands over the curves of her hips, pulling her closer. “Because I love you, Sophie Kendall. I love your tender heart and your bold spirit. I love the way you nurture and heal everything you touch. And I love that one smile from you can make the darkest night feel like Christmas morning.”

“Oh, Reese,” she breathed. “I love you too.”

“Good,” he said, brushing his lips over hers. “Because I have something to ask you, and I’m desperately hoping that the third time will be the charm.”

“What do you mean?” She leisurely raked a hand through his hair, making him want to purr like a cat.

“I asked you once when we were sitting on the swing in my garden and another time when we were hiding beneath a table.” He traced the low neckline of her gown with a fingertip. “Both times I was refused.”

“Let me guess,” she teased. “You’d like me to make a list of improvements to your garden?”

He tugged one sleeve off her shoulder. “No.”

“Hmm,” she mused. “You’d like me to brew you a pot of tea.”

He slid off the other sleeve. “No.”

She lightly caressed the back of his neck, driving him wild. “Then what do you wish to ask me?”

“I want to know if you’ll marry me,” he said earnestly. “If you’ll let me spend the rest of my days loving you and caring for you. Doing my damnedest to make you smile.”

“Yes.” Her eyes welled as she nodded. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Nothing in the world would make me happier, Reese.”

“Nothing?” He grinned and tugged on the laces at the back of her ball gown.

Her gaze turned soft and sultry. “Well, maybe something.”

He loosened her gown and corset and freed her breasts, staring shamelessly as they bounced each time the coach hit a bump in the road. He teased the rosy tips with his tongue, alternately nibbling and suckling her till she arched her back and moaned with pleasure.