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5 months later...

"Don't be blushing on me now, love," I smirk at her and tug her smaller frame closer to me, leaning down to her ear. "Especially considering how you begged me to smack your ass a couple of hours ago."

She gasps and smacks my arm in shock, the embarrassment on her face was worth every filthy word and my smirk widens. She crosses her arms across her chest and the sight has me weak, why is it that she can make me feel like this by such a simple action? "Stop saying stuff like that, we are in a public space."

"Do you see anyone around?" I ask her in humor and search the lake for people. The sun went down an hour ago and no one visits it out here, not at this time anyway. We wanted to go for a walk and I finally found my shot at doing what I've been wanting to do for a couple of weeks by now. She laughs at me searching for no one in vain and I give her a small smile, "You worry too much."

"I care about my reputation, Lij," She corrects me in her sassy tone. 

"You don't want the people of Hetdale knowing that you enjoy rough sex then?"

"Stop it!" She laughs in embarrassment and pushes me lightly. Her reactions are too enjoyable, but I probably should give her a little peace of mind. This is our spot after all. The spot where we got to know each other, the spot where we chose to break it off for college, the spot where we mended our relationship again. This spot is ours. 

We sit down on the bench by the lakeside and serenity hits me all at once, she cuddles closer to my side and I leave a kiss on her temple. The sigh that escapes from her lips is filled with happiness and it provokes a small smile to appear on my lips. "This is crazy, right?" She suddenly asks. 

"What do you mean?" I ask her and listen intently for her answer. 

"You and I. We have been everywhere and still managed to find each other again, we are great together and our relationship is happy, but I wonder why and how we got back time and time again. Fate seems like too corny of a thing to believe in, our relationship and story makes it hard not to believe though. We were meant to end up like this, at least that's what I believe," Her words surprise me. We rarely discuss the circumstances we met under, but she's right in everything she says. We were meant to end up like this. 

"I think it's fucking amazing. No one could ever compare to you either way, you had me from moment in the cafeteria, from the night at Relly's where you spoke your true mind. It shocked me and I was so intrigued by the beautiful woman with a sassy mouth. Your eyes were probably what really drew me in though, you stared at me with these big grey eyes. Like you wanted me to know what you went through, or anyone really, but you had no clue how to say it. I'm privileged to know what happened you, what you suffered through, thank you for trusting me with your story," I say with honesty, the words fall from my lips before I can catch them. Everything is true. She was a deep fire and she awakened some part of me. Even now when I know exactly what happened to her during those months, what her mother put her through, I see how fucking strong she truly is. 

"Thank you, Lij," Her answer is filled with gratitude and I smile at the sound. "We had a tendency to lie to each other, you know?"

"I know, I called you out on it on more than one occasion, remember?"

"Yeah. Touché," Her laugh rings through the air. She suddenly stands up from the bench and removes her shirt in a smooth manner, my gut tightens at the sight of her and I groan. Her smile lights up her face and she pulls down her skirt as well, "Join me for a swim, Elijah."

Without waiting for an answer she jumps into the cold water and I remove my clothes without hesitation, her head pops up from the water and she raises an eyebrow at the sight of my body. "You're insane, Dakota," I say and jump from the bridge, pulling her body to mine in the cold water. 

"And you love it," She sings before splashing me. 

I splash her back and she laughs loudly, our laughter fills the nightly air as a water fight emerges in the lake we frequently visit. Her eyes are carefree and a huge smile adorns her features, my heart constricts by how perfect this moment feels. This woman is fucking everything to me. 

Grabbing her cheeks I leave a kiss on her lips, she deepens the kiss and fists my hair in her hand. Her legs tighten around my waist and my erection is already pressing against her stomach, the feeling of her rubbing against it has me troubled. 

"You know I love you, right?" She suddenly says and stares into my eyes, the intense eye contact is still there. 

"Marry me," I say gently, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She instantly freezes against me and shock is written all across her delicate face. 

"W-what?" She splutters after a minute. 

"I want you, only you, for the rest of my life. Dakota, will you do me the honor of marrying me?" The question rolls off my tongue easily and the idea of her being my wife makes me ecstatic. This woman is everything to me, she and I are forever and I would absolutely adore marrying her. Her widened eyes aren't moving and it's starting to freak me out, "Okay, shit. Well, uhm, I was thinking of doing this before we got into the water. I have the ring with me and everything, but my mouth wouldn't really cooperate and I kind of just said it with no-"

"Of course I will," She chokes out and I'm ripped from my thoughts, her eyes are teary. 

"Why are you crying?" I ask with uncertainty. That definitely was not my intention, I should've waited and given her the perfect proposal on the lakeside by the bench. If I messed up one of the only proposals she will ever have, hopefully, shit that isn't a good thing. 

"Elijah," She says and grabs my head in her hands, my focus lands solely on her and I give her a small smile. "I'm crying because I'm happy. You are absolutely perfect and I will marry you, without an ounce of doubt. Yes!"

"Oh fucking hell," I say and twirl her around in the water, she squeals and attaches her arms around my neck. My lips land on hers and she pours every emotion into it, "Thank you, love."

"I love you," She says with so much pride it hits me in my heart. 

"I love you, Dakota."