Chapter 11
The ride back to the estate was a blur of pure joy,
as Mave sat in the back of the armored town car,
her head resting gently against Landon's broad shoulder.
He held her left hand securely in his own,
his thumb running repeatedly over the smooth metal of the engagement ring,
as if he still could not believe she had actually said yes.
The diamond sparkled even in the dim light of the moving vehicle,
a heavy and beautiful reminder of the promise they had just made,
and Mave could not stop staring at it.
She felt a deep and overwhelming sense of peace,
a feeling that had eluded her for the first twenty-seven years of her life,
but now flowed endlessly through her veins.
Landon looked down at her with a soft expression,
his dark eyes filled with an adoration that still took her breath away,
and he kissed the top of her head softly.
The city streets blurred past the tinted windows,
flashing with neon lights and late-night traffic,
but inside the car there was only a profound and perfect silence.
They pulled through the heavy iron gates of the estate,
the tires crunching satisfyingly over the gravel driveway,
and the grand house loomed ahead of them.
It no longer looked like a cold fortress of isolation,
but rather a warm and welcoming home,
with lights glowing cheerfully in the downstairs windows.
When the car finally rolled to a smooth stop,
Landon did not wait for his security detail to open the doors,
stepping out and offering his hand to help Mave out of the vehicle.
She gathered the heavy fabric of her midnight-blue gown,
stepping into the cool and crisp night air,
and walked beside him up the stone steps.
Mrs. Pruitt was waiting in the grand foyer,
having stayed awake far past her usual bedtime,
and she immediately spotted the sparkling ring on Mave's finger.
The older woman gasped in genuine delight,
rushing forward to pull Mave into a warm and motherly hug,
tears of absolute happiness shining in her eyes.
Landon watched the exchange with a quiet and contented smile,
knowing that this house was finally filled with the family he had always wanted,
and the love that he had spent years believing he did not deserve.
He thanked the housekeeper for staying up to greet them,
and then he scooped Mave up into his arms,
ignoring her surprised laughter as he carried her up the sweeping mahogany staircase.
He kicked the heavy bedroom door shut behind them,
and gently set her down on the edge of the large bed,
kneeling in front of her to carefully remove her expensive heels.
Mave looked at the man who had once terrified the entire city,
now performing such a tender and humble act of devotion,
and her heart swelled with a fierce and protective love.
She reached out to trace the strong line of his jaw,
feeling the slight stubble that had grown over the course of the long evening,
and she pulled him up to kiss him deeply.
The night was entirely their own,
free from the shadows of their violent pasts,
and filled only with the bright and beautiful promise of their shared future.
They fell asleep tangled in the soft cotton sheets,
May you like
the engagement ring resting safely against Landon's chest,
as they finally rested in the heaven they had fought so hard to build.
