Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 963 : Feet on the ground

*Bianca*

We watched the fireworks in the sky erupt over the city for a long time. What felt like ten minutes was more than an hour or so. It wasn’t even one AM when Leo started lowering us back to the ground.

We landed where we started and the conductor helped us to tie the balloon, securing it for us to leave. Leo jumped down first, then offered his hand to me like a gentleman.

His entire being was glowing with happiness, a silly grin on his handsome face even as his hair was completely windswept all over. I giggled, both giddy at what had just occurred in the sky above and at his silly expression.

As soon as my feet were back on the ground, I completely lost my balance. Leo was there to steady me but it was clear I had forgotten how to stand.

“Leo!” I squealed in surprise as he swept my unsteady feet from under me, carrying me princess-style away from the lagoon. The conductor pretended not to see by staring up at the sky and humming rather loudly and out of tune.

I just blushed deeply, my face like a furnace as I buried it into his chest. Leo didn’t care one bit as he carried me across the docks back to the solid land.

“I am so getting back at you for this,” I grumbled from where I was swallowed up in his arms, completely protected under the layers of clothing and blanket he’d buried me under. Leo just chuckled, laying a kiss on my bright red cheek.

“I have no doubt.” He grinned proudly. “But I doubt you can top me.”

I was about to argue with him, opening my mouth to tell him all the devious plans I had cooking up when a loud screech echoed across the lakeside.

“Bianca! Are you engaged now?”

If I wasn’t already embarrassed, I would be now. Recognizing the scream of Chiara, I knew right then and there that I had been set up. I raised my head, seeing exactly what I expected as my entire family ran over to our side.

My mother was grinning widely as my Aunts and Uncles tried to stop their kids from tackling Leo who was still carrying me. Part of me wanted to melt into Leo’s arms like jello and never come out again from all the stares that were now pointed at us from families and drunk college kids.

I slapped Leo’s arm, begging to be let down and he actually obliged this time, chuckling as he kept a hand over my waist until I was firmly standing upright again. The time in the air had really messed with me a bit.

The twins came running over in a rush, grabbing onto each of Leo’s arms as they rushed out questions from their mouths like professional interrogators.

“Did you get a ring? Is it pretty? Can I see?”

“Did you see the fireworks? Weren’t they so cool? We saw them over the lake like boom! Boom! Boom!”

“Are you engaged now? That makes Leo family, right? Is he our Uncle now?”

“Leo is not your uncle.” My mother came up after the rush of kids, chuckling as she gave the twins a firm stare. She held Rolando’s hand with my Aunts and Uncles right behind her along with the sulking teenager. She then smiled warmly at Leo. “But you’re right. He’s family now.”

The wide smile that spread across Leo’s lips made me want to wrap him up in a hug. I leaned back into his embrace, grinning just as brightly as he leaned down to kiss my forehead though I’m sure part of it was to hide how red his cheeks were.

I held his hand tightly as my Aunt Rosa pushed her kids away to get a good look at the ring which I hadn’t even taken a look at. It could’ve been made of candy for all I cared.

But it did make my heart warm to see the beautifully unique design he’s made. Two bands entwined together reminded me of waves chasing after one another in an eternal chase, with at least a dozen tiny diamonds. The greatest part wasn’t the big sparkling rock at the front but the unusual etch into the inner band.

Like jagged waves flowing around the inside of the band.

“What is this?” I asked curiously, glancing over at my new fiance.

“Well,” Leo chuckled, pulling me back into his embrace as he laid his head on my shoulder. “Remember when I had us both get a heart checkup a month ago? That wasn’t really what it was for.”

The sheepish look in his eyes had my eyes going wide.

“No,” I gasped.

“Right, your ring is etched with my heartbeat,” Leo murmured softly, taking my hand in his and bringing it to his lips to lay a kiss over the band. His own finger gleaned with the matching band. “And mine yours.”

“Aww,” Aunt Rosa melted as she heard it, sniffing a bit as she leaned into her husband’s arms. “That is the most precious thing I’ve ever heard.” But then her eyes narrowed as she whirled around to face her husband. “And you got mine on discount.”

Cedro just sighed and sent Leo a stiff glare. “Dude.”

Leo laughed, shrugging as he buried himself further into my arms like the baby he was.

“Well, I for one am happy for you both,” My mother stepped up with a beaming smile, reaching out to grab my hands, eyeing the ring for a moment before sending Leo a wink. “I’m thrilled to finally welcome you to the family, Leo. And even after you two head back to LA, don’t be strangers, alright? You’re both welcome to visit anytime.”

“More like you better visit every chance you get,” my Aunt Silvia said, grinning as she held her sleeping son in her arms. Rolando was passed out, mouth open as he slept like he was dead. “You wouldn’t want to disappoint Rolando. I bet he and the baby will become fast friends.”

I beamed with warmth at the reminder, laying a hand over my belly. Even under the fluffy coat and layers to keep me warm, part of me still felt like I could feel our baby there. Their little life is growing day by day.

“I’ll have to take you up on that offer,” Leo said proudly, eyes shining as he was finally accepted fully into my family.

We loitered around a bit more until the kids started yawning, the adults tuckering out too and followed the crowds back to the villa. Everyone was exhausted by the time we arrived and trudged back to their rooms.

I was still wide awake though even though it was nearly one thirty in the morning and after everything had settled down and we’d shed our coats, Leo took me upstairs to our room.

There, Leo showed me his last and final surprise of the night.

A small little table held inside our room, filled to the brim with a dessert-tasting platter right by the window.

“Surprise,” Leo grinned, tugging me over.

“Do you ever run out of surprises?” I asked, both thrilled and exasperated.

“Let’s hope not,” He winked, rounding the table as he poured two glasses of sparkling water. He handed me one and took the other himself.

As I took a sip, the bubbly strawberry flavor hit my taste buds, bringing them to life and I sighed in happiness. It almost felt like a dream, being here with a heaviness on my finger. I couldn’t stop looking at it, admiring not the pretty diamonds but how much thought and love had gone into it.

Lost in a bit of a haze, I locked my eyes on Leo.

Perhaps It was the exhaustion of the day catching up to me, or everything finally turning from a fantasy to reality but the moment I looked into his eyes, all I could feel was a warm heat rushing through me from head to toe.

I grinned like a loon as I sat down right into his lap, snuggling up to him as I curled every part of me as close to him as I could get.

“Marry me,” I whispered aloud against the apple of his neck.

“I’m already marrying you.” He chuckled, his whole chest vibrating with the sound and I couldn’t even explain how much I adored it in that moment. If I were a cat, I’d be a purring mess in his arms as I cuddled in close, still holding onto my glass as I pressed a kiss against his neck.

“Marry me now,” I muttered, nibbling on that spot I knew drove him nuts. Sure enough, I grinned as I heard the catch in his throat, that little gasp that nobody else was allowed to hear. His arms tightened around me as he gave me a playful glare but didn’t pull me away from him as I soothed the bite over with my tongue.

“I have this whole platter of gourmet desserts in front of you but you seem more content with eating me.” He groaned, tilting his back as I kissed my way up his neck, leaving a little trail of red hickies in my path.

“That’s right,” I breathed, my mind completely thrown away now as I slid my leg over so I was straddling him, both of us barely fitting together on the chair but he kept me nice and solid as I pressed myself as far as I could against him. He was like a fire and I was the moth attracted to every inch of him.

I could see my lipstick smeared over the corner of his lips, the hungry look in his eyes as I pulled back to smirk at him.

“You’re mine now, aren’t you?” I breathed, tugging my collar down as I unbuttoned my top inch by inch to expose the red lacy bra underneath. “And I’m yours.”

“Fucking hell,” he breathed out, barely controlling himself but I just smirked as I slid my arms around his neck and pulled our lips together for a passionate kiss.

It was all a blur from there - a mess of heat and passion as the innocent desert was left behind in the cold. Clothes pushed aside as I pressed my hand over his heart, feeling the same beat as the one inscribed on my ring.

Leo didn’t let me leave him for even a second, throwing me from the chair to the window and then the bed as he took me over and over. I was just as passionate, as I clung to his waist, thrusting in time with him as we pushed ourselves to the limit over and over.

And each I love you was followed by a kiss to our matching rings.

My future husband.

My Leo.