Author's note: This chapter contains sexual descriptions. Also the proposal idea came from Crazy Rich Asians and Bride Wars.

Chapter 22

2 weeks passed and me and James were sitting in my bedroom talking about the future.

- We are leaving for Norfolk in 2 weeks...so...what are your plans?

- I have been thinking about it...

- Do you want to stay?

- No, I want to go back with you – I said without hesitation. I saw a smile forming on his lips.

- And about New York...Do you want to go back there or stay with me in Norfolk? – I really wanted to stay with him but did not want to impose anything. I mean, we knew we were going to get married, but I didn't know if he wanted to take things a bit slower after we go back.

- What would you prefer? – I asked and I felt very awkward.

- Obviously, I would love my fiancé to stay with me but if you want to spend more time in New York, I understand – I almost burst from happiness when he called me his fiancé. That means he is going to ask me to marry him while we were here. In the next two weeks!

- After all we have been through, I don't want to waste any time. I want to stay with you – he smiled at me and leaned forward to kiss me.

During the next week, I was expecting the proposal to happen every day. I could not wait to marry that man. However, as more days passed, I was getting more impatient by the second. On that particular Friday, I was in a foul mood. I was sitting by the nursing station and felt like every little thing annoyed me.

- Are you thinking about James? – Eve suddenly came up to me.

- I just don't understand. He implied that he wants me to be his fiancé by the time we go back. We are leaving in 4 days Eve. 4! Maybe he changed his mind? – I was anxiously biting my nails which I have never done before.

- Never would have thought that I will see you so anxious about a man popping the question – she laughed.

- Yeah, it makes the two of us – I was tapping my left heel on the floor. Before she could say anything, Cheryl came up from behind me.

- I heard there are wedding bells in your future – she said in a sing-song voice. That was when I lost all my patience. I stood up so quickly that the chair almost fell behind me and started to march towards the door.

- Minty, Minty – I heard Eve calling after me – you have to let him do this on his own time.

It was raining and by the time I reached the military base my hair and uniform were drenched. I stormed into the canteen. He was chilling with his teammates and some other soldiers.

- Minty…..-he started surprised when he looked up but I cut in.

- Do you want to marry me or not? – the whole room went silent.

- Hell yeah – said the soldier right next to him – you are hot – I raised an eyebrow.

- Shut up Rowan – James glared at him.

- I mean you said you were going to propose to me before we go back home

and there were so many perfect opportunities….- he started to walk towards a chair where he left his uniform coat. Suddenly, I didn't know how to finish my sentence. Maybe I completely misunderstood what he said, and I just made myself look like a complete idiot. He reached into his pocket and turned to me. He was holding the black diamond ring!

- If only you have waited until tonight…but then you wouldn't be the woman I fell in love with – he came up to me. OMG this is happening.

- Araminta Gabriel Marquez you came into my life like a hurricane and have been keeping me on my toes ever since. Your beauty captivated me from the moment I saw you coming out of the hospital, and I knew straight away that I wanted to sleep with you – there was laughter from the people around. I raised an eyebrow – but when I first heard your laugh fill all the corridors, I realized that is the sound I want to hear for the rest of my life – he went down on one knee and held up the ring – So will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me? – I wanted to scream yes but I was just opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

- Yes, she will marry you – I heard Karen shout. My eyes were already tearing up and I kind of cry-laughed. Then I found my voice.

- Yes, yes, yes – I almost screamed. He stood up and put the ring on my finger. Then I jumped up, wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him. After he spun me around and put me down people came up to congratulate us.

- Officially welcome to the family –Lake said and gave me a big hug.

- Good job lad – I heard Ronald say to James. I was about to drag him out and take him to my room when LT came in. He looked questioningly at all of us.

- The boy just proposed – Ronald explained and slapped James on the back. I never saw LT smile so wide. He went up to James and gave both of us a hug.

- Well done, Atkins.

Then he looked at James who looked at me. He didn't have to say anything. I understood.

- You have to go – it was a statement, not a question.

- I will find you later.

I was in my room, patiently waiting for my fiancé, yayyyyy, to come, reading a book to distract myself. I kept playing with my ring and every time I looked at it, it made me feel giddy. I could not believe that I was someone's fiancée. An absolutely gorgeous someone's.

I jumped out of my skin when I heard the door open. My heart definitely skipped a beat when I saw him standing there and I flew into his arms, not even giving him a chance to close the door properly.

I pulled him into a passionate kiss and when I swirled my tongue around his and not so gently bit his lower lip, he made a low growl.

- Oh, I can definitely get used to coming home to this – he said with a grin after we finally separated and from the look in his eyes, I could tell that I was going to get my brains fucked out tonight. And I was totally ready for it. I could already feel myself getting absolutely wet and suddenly I found all my clothes, and especially his, irritating. However, when I tried to pull his shirt up, he stopped me.

- Not here - was all he said.

- What do you mean not here? – I was so confused. He just gave me a sly smile and started to lead me outside by my hand. However, when we reached the edge of the jungle and I saw a familiar path, I suddenly understood.

The moment James and Minty arrived at the clearing, she found herself on the ground, lying on her back. James undressed her in seconds and when Minty tried to remove his boxers, the only clothing remaining on him, he gently grabbed her wrists.

- Nah ah – he whispered – not just yet baby.

- It's not fair. Why am I completely naked and you are not?

- Because I am about to spoil you rotten – with that, he pulled her into his lap, in a way that she was straddling him and started kissing her neck. He slowly moved one hand down her side, the edge of his fingertips sliding on her skin, giving her goosebumps. He started to draw little circles on her inner thigh with his thumb. As he was getting closer to the spot, he could hear her breath quickening and then he started to move his hand away. The second time, he barely touched her there, but he could feel how wet she was, and it made him smile. When he removed his hand again, Minty grabbed his wrist and tried to move it back, but he resisted.

- You need to use your words – he said then started kissing her neck again.

- James, please... – but before she could finish her sentence, he put one of her nipples in between his fingers and started to play with it. In response, Minty closed her eyes and moaned.

- I thought you were trying to say something – he whispered in her ear.

- J…James...- he put her other nipple in his mouth and started to slowly draw circles around it with his tongue. He could feel Minty's arms tightening around his neck and her fingernails digging into his skin. Then she tried to move his hand from her nipple, down between her legs. Red chuckled and let go of her nipple in his mouth.

- You need to tell me what you want. Come on baby, whisper it in my ear – Minty was already a shaking mess but she finally managed to say in a moan:

- I want to feel your fingers in me – Red chuckled again and very slowly inserted two of his fingers in her. The feeling made Minty growl, and the sound almost made Red lose control. As his pace quickened, he slightly curved both his fingers to stimulate her G spot and started to massage her clit with his thumb. Minty's breath got stuck in her lungs and she felt like the tension in her core was about to explode. Red looked at her face and he knew that she was on the edge. Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, and she slightly bent her head backwards. Her breathing became shallow and when she cried out in pleasure, Red slightly pulled her hair by the roots, sending electricity down her body. When she came down from her high and he removed his fingers, she collapsed against his chest.

- Feeling good – he asked with a low chuckle which made his chest vibrate against Minty's head.

- More than good – Red laid down on the ground, pulling her with him.

- I hope you are not too tired because I am just starting – he whispered into her ear, grabbed her hips and started to pull her all the way up his body.

- Baby what are you…..- Minty didn't finish her question because she suddenly felt his mouth between her legs.

- Oh fuck – she breathed when his tongue started to go in and out of her and when he gently sucked on her clit, she could not hold herself up anymore and fell on her hands.

- Baby…y..yes, yes – she moaned louder and louder. James grabbed her hips and started to move her backwards and forwards. After a while, Minty was moving her hips on her own, without even realizing, basically riding his face.

- Oh my God, yes, yes – she was screaming, and she could already feel her walls clenching – Oh baby…..James – she moaned his name loud and her word erupted as she came again. It took her a few seconds to catch her breath, but the waves of her orgasm were still going through her body when James wrapped his arms around her thighs and in a quick motion turned both of them around. Without coming up, even for a second, he buried his head between her legs again. Minty's whole body jerked suddenly as his tongue started to gently nudge her overstimulated clit. The feeling was just too much, she felt too sensitive.

- Baby I don't think I even finished coming – Minty said lifting her head up slightly. She saw his lips curl up in a smile and he gently sucked on her clit. The sensation made her drop her head back.

- Shit, baby….I…I – when she tried to move slightly, he dug his fingers into her hips, keeping her still.

- James, I…- no matter how hard she tried, she could not finish a single sentence. She could not piece her words together. After all, she didn't even know what she wanted. She felt too sensitive, it was all too much, and her body was involuntarily moving at every swirl of his tongue, trying to get away from further stimulation. On the other hand, she was loving it and could feel the tension building up in her core again. She knew that this was going to be the best orgasm of her life. Minty could feel pleasure traveling to every cell of her body and when James drove her over the edge, she dug her heels deep into the ground and made a sound between a scream and a growl, coming deep from her throat. It was almost animalistic but music to James' ears. The orgasm was a whole-body experience, every inch of her pulsating with pleasure. Minty didn't even know how long it took for her to come down from her high. It felt like time didn't exist anymore. She opened her eyes to the feeling of James' body on top of hers and him gently kissing her neck. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, but she could not move. Her limbs felt like they were made of jelly. James slightly lifted himself up and supported himself by his elbows. He gently nudged her nose with his. Minty's breath was still shaky. He rolled over to his side and pulled her close by her waist. He cupped the left side of her cheek in his hand and placed a light kiss on her lips.

- Jesus fuck – was all Minty managed to say. Red let out a chuckle, coming deep from his chest. Minty felt like she could fall asleep, but she knew it was not over. She didn't want it to be over. As she inched even closer to Red, she could feel that he was rock hard.

- I might need a minute baby, but I can feel you don't – she whispered while moving her hand all the way down his chest. She pulled his boxers down and she could feel his whole body tense. She started to move her hand up and down his whole length slowly and he inhaled deep. After a while, she was quickening the pace which made him moan quietly and he dug his fingers into her skin. When he came, he kissed her roughly and groaned into her mouth.

They were both lying on their backs, next to each other, feeling totally spent from pleasure. But they still needed the real thing. He needed to be inside her and she needed to feel him inside her. Minty slowly climbed on top of him and before Red could do or say anything she inserted him in herself. Minty was riding him slowly and Red was admiring the view. The sky was clear with a thousand stars glistening like diamonds. The background sound of insects chirping was only broken by Minty's soft moans and pleasure was written across her face. Nothing else mattered to him at that moment. The word didn't exist, and he forgot about all the terrors and suffering that he saw and survived every mission. But he needed more, he wanted to feel more, and he grabbed her hips to make her move faster. However, Minty resisted.

- Use your words baby – she said with a grin. As a reply, Red kept her still and suddenly moved his hips up, pushing himself even deeper into her. Minty inhaled sharply.

- Your words – she said again but was starting to breath heavier. Red put his hands under her butt and lifted her off him. He quickly turned around, pushed her onto her hands and knees and inserted himself into her from behind. Minty moaned and bit her lower lip. He was keeping her in place by her hips and was continuously slamming himself inside her while closing his eyes.

- James – she moaned loudly. He wrapped his hand around her hair and used it to pull her head up.

- Say my name again.

- Make me – she said between two moans. He pulled her upper body up by her hair and she was resting her back against his chest. He used one hand to play with her breast and the other to stimulate her clit. He moved his tongue all along her neck and when he reached her ear, he started to bite it while never slowing his pace.

- James – she whimpered.

- That's it baby. Say it louder – he said panting and started to draw circles around her nipple.

- James – she moaned into his ear. The sound made him move in and out of her even quicker. Their bodies were glistening with sweat as they were grinding against each other in the heat. Red focused all his attention on her clit and seconds later, she came, screaming his name and he shortly followed her. He could feel Minty's body quivering, and he was holding her tight, pressing her against his chest. They were both panting and Minty turned his face towards hers and kissed him roughly.