Knox recognized all the things this kiss was. His hands clutched her hips, and he gave himself over to her completely.

Shiori might’ve let the kiss go on forever until she got a crick in her neck and realized Knox had to be uncomfortable too. Still, she broke the kiss slowly, easing off in increments. Then her gaze hooked his. “You are mine. I love you, Knox. So much that it scares me.”

“Say it again.”

“I love you.”

His eyes softened. “Don’t be scared. We belong together. You know this. I will fight for you. Hell, I’ll even fight you to have you.”

The sound that exited her trembling lips was part laugh, part sob.

“You might outrank me, but I promise I won’t follow the rules. I won’t fight fair when I’m fighting for the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“You have that wrong. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

The joy that lit his handsome face cued the waterworks again.

“Since I’m already on my knees, although I’d rather not do this half damn naked . . .” Knox reached down and picked up a blue velvet box. His gaze locked on to hers. “I love you. Whether I call you Shiori, or She-Cat, or Mistress, or Nushi, or Shihan. You are all those to me, but there is one thing I want to spend the rest of my life calling you. My wife.” He paused. “Will you marry me?”

Shiori gasped. She placed her hand on his chest to center herself, and she could feel his heart beating erratically. “Yes.”

He briefly closed his eyes and exhaled. “Thank you.”

“Did you really think I’d say no?”

“I wasn’t sure. I didn’t think you’d run off to Japan without telling me either, so this whole trip was a shot in the dark.”

Silly man. She sniffled but let her tears fall without shame. “What’s in the box?”

“A promise that I’ll be everything you’ll ever need. I wanted you to feel how I do every time I look at the bracelet you bestowed on me.”

“Put it on me.”

“Bossy.” Knox kissed the base of her hand before he draped the delicate chain over her wrist. Then the two ends were attached to a heart-shaped lock. Once he snapped it on . . .

“It locks?”

“Yes, ma’am. I have the key. I’ll always keep it safe.”

Did he know what that meant to her?

Yes, of course he did.

She looked from the Tiffany box to the platinum bracelet to the way his eyes shone. “You one-upped me, didn’t you, Ob-Knox-ious?”

“Yep.” He grinned. “I’ll get you a traditional engagement ring, if you want me to show my public claim on you, but this is a private commitment.”

Shiori trapped his face in her hands and kissed him. “I didn’t think I could love you more than I already do, but I was wrong.” Another kiss. “Please get off your knees and hold me.”

When he wrapped her in his arms, his skin held a chill.

“You’re freezing. How long have you been waiting for me?”

“Your mother called after you left her place, so probably about an hour.”

She tilted her head back and studied him. “She knew you were here?”

“I called her before I flew in. I needed to make sure you’d see me and Okada wouldn’t toss me out on my ass for showing up at your apartment even when Amery gave me a key.”

“Did my mom say anything to you?”

Knox’s gaze narrowed. “Besides she was happy I’d chased after you? No. Why?”

“I have something to tell you. But let’s get you warmed up first.” She took his hand, intending to take him to her bed and crawl under the covers with him.

But the stubborn Viking wouldn’t budge. “No. Tell me now.”

She moved in close so they were body to body. “Remember that I still felt nauseous after my accident?”

He nodded.

“The day you had all those meetings at Black Arts, I got sick again and decided to call the car service to take me to a walk-in clinic.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you needed to go in? Baby, I would’ve dropped everything to take you.”

“I know. But Ronin had already come down hard on you, so I wanted to spare you further chastising and went alone.”

“What happened at the doctor’s office?”

She pressed her palms against his pectorals. “The doctor ran a bunch of tests.” The words stuck in her throat, bogged down by her guilt.