Chapter sixty two

" I saw this place while driving by, there was a sale sign outside so I decided to check it out. " They were walking towards a pair of glass doors, but Crystal could see nothing on the other side due to a curtain.
" It's quite nice, needs a few tweaks here and there but I'm sure it'll do. "
Crystal smiled up at him.
" Wow, you're really serious about this private security thing huh? "
They stopped in front of the door and Nick turned to face her, and that nervousness started to come back, only ten times worse.
" I am. But that's not what this is. "
Crystal frowned.
" It's not? "
" No. "
" Then what--" she stopped the question midway, already getting an idea of what the place was.
" Nick? "
" Yes baby ? "
She eyes him suspiciously, though he gave nothing away.
" Please tell me this isn't what I think it is. "
He acted confused.
" If what you're thinking is that I regarded myself so great a baker that I opened up my own bakery then no...this is not at all what you're thinking. "
She shook her head. Curse his newly found sense of humor!
She crossed her arms and quirked her eyebrows. Silently warning him not to play games with her.
" You have no choice but to accept it. It's already been paid for and the contract drawn and signed, "
" Nick! "
" Please Crystal. Let's not argue about this. "
" You can't go around doing things like this. "
" Like what? "
" Like this! " she waved her hand around the place, " Like buying me buildings and expecting me to accept them. "
" All you have to do is accept the damn place, why do you have to make such a huge deal about it? "
" Because I want to be---"
" Independent. Yeah, I know. "
He moved closer, then he took her hand and placed it on his chest. She felt his heart pounding, but it felt different. Not like it usually did when he told her he loved her. It was almost as if he was terrified, and that in turn terrified her.
" I can't tell you how much you mean to me because I don't know which words to use, and I can't go out there and hunt down anyone likely to caused you harm in the future, so all I can do now is try my best to always make you happy. And I know that painting makes you happy Crystal so please...just accept the place, " she sighed.
Then she gave in and nodded, he traced his thumb across her bottom lip and for a second she expected him to lean down and kiss her, but he didn't. Instead he reached into his pockets and took out some keys, the he took her hand and placed them in it before bringing her now fisted hand to his lips.
" Besides, I really want my storage space back, " he added and she rolled her eyes. He used his to gesture to the door and she turned around. Anticipation starting to build up inside her. Now that she had placed her pride aside the excitement was settling in. She had her own art studio.Her dream was finally a reality.
And it was all thanks to Nick.
She took in a deep breath and began fumbling with the keys, wondering why the chain had to have so many god-damned keys!
" Urgh! Which one is it, and if you say you don't know then---" she stopped. Her eyes landing on something shiny. A circular and exquisite piece of metal around the key ring. She blinked, her mouth falling open and her hands beginning to tremble.
She touched the ring, looked at the large shiny stone and wondered whether she was imagining things. Then she swallowed nervously and slowly turned around.
" Nick? "
He was down on one knee. Her Nick Hilton who hated public attention, who was frightened of imagining an actual family for himself was down on one knee in front of her, in broad daylight. And in a busy street filled with passersby, most of whom had realised what was going on and stopped to watch for themselves as the scene unfolded.
" Nick.. I'm... you're...what..."
" I need you, " he cut in. Looking up at her and wearing that same desperate look he had whenever he thought he was going to lose her.
" If you would have told me six months ago that I would one day be in love, and that I would one day propose to someone then I would probably have declared you mentally insufficient and threatened to break your neck for making such absurd accusations, "
Crystal clasped her hand over her mouth. A whirlwind of emotions blowing up inside her, leaving her feeling confused and on the verge of losing consciousness.
" But now I find myself in that very predicament, " Nick reached for the keys in Crystal's hand and began struggling to get the ring free.
" I think by now it's quite obvious that we have no choice but to be together for the sake of both our sanities. And that no matter how much I try I will never be able to last ten seconds without thoughts of you flooding my mind..." he got the ring out and held it up to her, and by then the tears in Crystal's eyes were threatening to fall again.
" and that the day I lose you will also be the day I lose myself. I suck at words, but I'm going to try and put this as plainly as I can...I live for you Crystal. If there was another deeper way to connect you to me then I would have done it, but until then I'll be satisfied with seeing you every morning and night. And hearing your laugh and watching you be you. So Crystal Lockwood, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife so that I can have a lawful excuse to fuck you whenever I please?.." A short yet emotional laugh broke through her. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and almost couldn't bear it.
She held her breath. The answer at the very tip of her tongue. So insistent to be said that it almost burnt her, but first she had to know.
" And kids? "
Nick smirked at her.
" We can have as many as you want. "
She felt like jumping up and down in joy. And she probably would have if she hadn't taken the chance to pounce on Nick while he was still on one knee, leading to both of them tumbling to the ground. Nick on his back and her on top.
" I love you, I love you, I love you..." she repeated as she showered him with kisses. He could only laugh and let her take her time.
" I take it that's a yes? "
He lifted the ring and she let him slip it into her finger.
" That's the biggest and surest yes in the history of yeses!!"
Mindless of the crowd, Nick kissed her. Long and hard, he wrapped one arm around her and placed the other on the back of her head. Then he pressed his lips to hers with unhidden passion and unrelenting hunger. She returned it with equal vigour. Sucking and lapping on his lips like he was a favourite treat she had just received. Which was true in a way.
And when the kiss ended neither made an attempt to move. The crowd parted and Crystal stared at the ring on her hand then at Nick. He was watching her intently and trying to record and preserve this moment in his memory.
" Crystal Hilton...I think it has a nice ring to it don't you agree? "
Nick tilted his head from side to side as if deep in thought. Then he stood up with her legs wrapped around his waist.
" It's a twenty four princess cut diamond baby... of course the name has a nice ring to it. "
She scoffed.
" I have to admit, I almost miss the version of you that didn't find any interest in jokes. "
" No you don't. Besides, that person is long dead and buried. "
Nick made his way to the door and opened it up, then he leaned in to her ear and whispered, " I did the honor of purchasing you your first piece of furniture. Shall we christen it? "
She burst out laughing on noticing the large leather couch set in the middle of the room.
" At least now the curtain makes sense. What made you so sure I would say yes?"
He shrugged.
" I didn't realize there was another kind of response actually. "
God!! She loved him too much. Just how had she ever loved without him?