“What type of modeling?”

“Anything not labeled as ‘porn.’” He laughed. “Got good money from it! Everyone wanted the pale freak,” I gave a big grin, and he laughed again.

“You’re my pale freak now, so they’ll have to come through me.” He kissed me deeply. I returned it.

“Don’t you ever feel, I don’t know, dangerous kissing me?” I asked after the kiss.

“What do you mean?”

“My venom is toxic for you. Kissing me is a major risk. It doesn’t bother you?”

“Never even crosses my mind.”

With that I tackled him, almost making us fall off the bed. I straddled his stomach as he kissed me, holding me close.

“I have another question for you,” he told me, not letting me more than six inches from his warm face.

“Here we go again!” I joked. “Sure, one more. Don’t waste it.”

“I don’t think it’s a waste,” he said with a smug grin.

“I think you’re stalling,” I grinned back. “Forget your question?”

“Nope. Just replying to your comment.”

“So what is it that you want to know?”

“Will you marry me?”

I nearly fell off the bed again. “That’s what all this was about?”

“I would like to know all I can about my future wife.” He smiled. “And it helped me work up the nerve. It’s not easy, you know. The way Bella talks makes it seem like Edward had no problem asking her! As easy as saying, ‘Good morning!’ or something!” He let out a nervous laugh.

I giggled. “Of course I’ll marry you. I want you for all of my eternity.” I kissed him.

“Hold up,” he said, pulling away from my lips. “Let me do this sort of right. There’s no room to kneel, really, so I’m doing this my way. Winging it.” He smiled at me and slid me off his belly and sat me on the bed next to him. He reached into a small drawer next to him and pulled out a small, beaded, velvet bag.

“There’s no box or anything, but hold out your hand.” I did and he dumped the contents into it, a small gold ring. I stared at it in awe. “It isn’t this expensive heirloom other people give as engagement rings,” I laughed at the reference to Edward’s ring he gave Bella, “but it was my mother’s.”

I stared at the ring. It had a single diamond on it, hugged by two small heart-shaped turquoise gems. It was beautiful.

“She was from a different tribe, one that loved turquoise. So Billy had that custom made for her.”

I was still speechless. He took it from my hand. I looked at him, wondering why he took it away so soon. I was still admiring it! He chuckled at my face.

“I want to do this right, remember?” He pulled me so I was sitting in his lap, leaning on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, taking my left hand. He slipped it on my ring finger. It fit perfectly. “Good! I thought you two had the same body type. What a relief.”

That’s when I found my voice. “I’m never taking it off.” I couldn’t take my eyes off my hand.

“I’m just glad you like it.” He pulled me close and put his chin on my shoulder. I kissed his cheek.

“This is the happiest I’ve been in my 120 years. I hope you’re aware.”

He slid around me, so he was hovering over me. “I’m glad I made you feel that way.” He kissed me again.

That night we ignored our old ideals, no longer caring to wait. We had forever, and our love was real. We spent most of the night as one as a tribute to our love. It only made the night sweeter.