394 Weekend in Sin City 10 (1/2)

He made plans for tomorrow that include flowers and champagne, and all the spotlight his fiery Goddess deserves. Of course, he made that a fancy evening, and if the mood is good, he will be ready to make his move… but it seems that there is no better time than right now.

Brianna felt that Quentin's hold on her loosened and she straightened her back, thinking that he wants to say something. She was not wrong because Quentin was about to talk, but she didn't expect him to slide down from the sofa and get on his knee. What is he doing?

Brianna's eyes widened when she saw Quentin pull a small box from his pocket.

Quentin licked his lips nervously and spoke while maintaining eye contact: ”Brianna Harper… From the moment my eyes landed on you, my heart was yours and so was my happiness… you became the center of my world, and I knew that there is no going back. I am not perfect, but when you walked into my life, I changed, and you are still changing me for the better. You are beautiful, and smart, and amazing in every way possible. Because of you, I want to be an upright man who can take care of you and make you happy. My future is bleak without you in it and I hope you will agree to spend your life with me and continue filling my every day with colors.”

Brianna was staring at the round diamond which sparkled in the box that Quentin held in his hand while his words echoed in her mind. Is he proposing? She didn't think about getting married because even dating is a concept she is still adjusting to. An engagement was the last thing on her mind after tonight's almost-fiasco. But lately, whenever she thought about the future, Quentin was in it. Does it matter if they are married or engaged or just dating? Aren't those just labels?

”What are you saying?”, Brianna asked under her breath.

”I am asking you to marry me, my fiery Goddess. I don't want you to be my girlfriend. I want you to be my fiancée, my wife, my partner… in everything. I want everyone to know your status in my life, you included. Will you allow me to worship you until the end of my days?”

Brianna looked into Quentin's eyes that were filled with anticipation and long-term promises and something cracked inside her as she realized that Quentin said the right words. He always does that… melts her defenses without her noticing.

She didn't want a relationship, and she was running away from Quentin, but he didn't give up until she accepted her feelings, and here he is, on his knees, asking her to allow him to worship her until the end of his days… and Brianna will be lying if she says that he is not the most important man in her life.

Brianna smiled. ”Who can say 'no' to that?”

”Is that a 'yes'?” Quentin needed confirmation.

Quentin's eyes flashed and he swiftly put the ring on her left ring finger. ”You can't back out of this. A verbal agreement is legally binding.”

Brianna never heard him talk so quickly and his words made her burst into a laugh.

Quentin sat on the sofa next to Brianna and cupped her cheeks in his palms. ”I love you, Brianna Harper. And I promise that you will not regret this.”

”I know I won't because I am doing what I want.”, Brianna responded in a whisper.

Quentin inched closer and kissed her on the lips.

Brianna saw him grimacing due to the pain in his lower lip and she wanted to move away, but he held her head firmly and deepened the kiss.

She stopped resisting because she wanted to kiss him as well, even though the distinct metallic taste told her that his lip is bleeding again.

Brianna clung onto Quentin and their flavors mixed as they inhaled each other's breaths. They both needed confirmation that everything is fine because the whole evening was a roller-coaster. From a nice start, they ended up arguing and nearly splitting up, and Quentin was in a fist-fight, and then they talked… and now they are kissing on the sofa. Engaged. And the night is still young.

Brianna broke the kiss when she heard knocks on the door. She remembered that others are still here, and probably worried about them and she rushed to answer it.

Mia's eyes widened in horror at the sight of Brianna's bloodied face. ”Ah! What happened? Did he beat you!?”

Mia pushed Bri out of the way and stomped inside the suite angrily, ready to give Quentin some beating.

Mia paused at the sight of Quentin whose bottom half of the face is also bloodied. ”Did you two fight?”

Mia turned to Bri and saw that Liz is inspecting Bri's face.

”I think… they kissed.”, Liz said.

Mia was stupefied. ”Who kisses until they bleed? And that is a lot of blood.”

Brianna was not sure if she should laugh or cry. That was Quentin's blood and his wound on the lip opened, but they didn't care, and… they both look messed up.

Brianna went to Quentin and hugged him. He tried to wipe her face with his palms, but he only made it worse. They looked at each other and laughed.

Liz went to the bathroom to get a wet towel so that she can clean them up and see from where that blood is coming from. Can it really be from one busted lip? Liz was not sure.

”We didn't fight.”, Bri said. ”We had a talk and things happened.”

Mia's eyes were darting between Quentin and Bri. ”I see the mood is better. What things happened?”

Liz got out of the bathroom in time to hear Brianna say: ”We are engaged.”

Brianna lifted her left hand, to show the ring as proof of her words.

Mia's eyes widened. ”Oh… We were worried if you are fine, but it seems that things are better than fine.”

”Congratulations!”, Liz exclaimed, and she was about to give Brianna a big hug, but then she stopped. ”Let me clean you up first. I don't want blood on myself.”