Abby 2: Abigail

Chapter 11

The world outside my apartment was reduced to a murmur behind the thick curtains. It was Friday night, and I had the weekend off. Eden would arrive soon, but as excited as I was to see him again, I was also nervous about mentioning my growing interest in domination.

I talked to Elizabeth about it during a recent girls' night out with her and Mandy, and she was enthusiastic about me trying it. It was a stark contrast to Victor's reaction. She had offered to talk to Madeleine for me, but I declined, telling her I needed to consider some things first.

Elizabeth's encouragement stayed with me for the rest of the night. As we all danced and drank together, I imagined myself with Eden, dominating him in a scene. By the time we were done for the evening, I knew what I had to do.

A knock at my door shattered the silence. My heart skipped a beat as I rose from the sofa, leaving behind the comfort of my blanket. I dashed barefoot towards the door and peered through the peephole, seeing Eden's familiar profile just as he knocked again.

I couldn't conceal a wide grin as I opened the door. "Impatient tonight are we?"

"Hey, Abs."

Eden smiled as he pulled a bouquet of roses from behind his back. Their crimson petals contrasted the blackness of his leather jacket as my grin grew wider.

"Are those for me?" I said, teasing him as I accepted the flowers.

"Just a little surprise."

"Your gallantry is suspect, sir. I believe you may have ulterior motives. Though that's not altogether unacceptable."

"I admit, seeing you now may have given me some dirty thoughts. But my initial motives were honorable, I assure you."

"They are lovely," I said as he walked past me. My fingers brushed against the soft petals, bringing them up to my nose and breathing deeply.

"Like you," he said.

"Flatterer. Now I know you just want to get into my panties."

Our banter gave way to a warm kiss as he embraced me. I pulled back, staring into his eyes as my heart fluttered. Still grinning, I pushed his chest as I turned away from him to find something to hold the roses.

"You've changed things around a bit here," he said, calling after me as I walked down the hall.

"Life is better with some changes now and then, don't you think?"

"I have another surprise for you, too."

I found a glass vase in the closet and placed the bouquet of deep-red roses in it. Their beauty was stark, almost violent in its intensity against the dark tones of the room. I closed my eyes again, taking in their scent as I returned to the living room.

"Another surprise? Actually, I've also got a surprise for y—"

I opened my eyes once more, gasping at the sight before me. In the middle of the room was Eden, down on one knee, holding open a small, black velvet jewelry box in his hands.

My hands flew to my face, muffling my gasp as the now-forgotten vase smashed into a hundred pieces against the hardwood floor. Within the box sat a solitary ring of gold, a small cluster of diamonds in its prong that sparkled back at my heart.

Eden looked up at me. "Will you marry me?"

My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to form words. "I..."

He looked at me like an anxious teenager, his eyes filled with anticipation. I swallowed hard, my emotions a whirlwind.

"Yes," I breathed. "Yes!"