hearts are hunting

Paris, France, the city of love was everything the woman had conjured up in her pretty little head and more. A week absent from her badge and gun, the Constable was surprised she was not going mad, but then, how could one go mad when they were already madly in love? Reminding herself when she would wake to the smell of his cologne and husky French accent purring sweet nothings into her ear that this was no an illusion, this was reality. A reality that was close to perfect.

Of course returning to the Fontaine’s homeland was met with reporters, men and woman itching just to see a glimpse of the King and his darling American girlfriend he had swept off her feet. The people adored him, they indulged him, saw him as not a man, but a god. But behind closed doors, in the privacy of the couples own private quarters he was Roman Fontaine, the brunette, wise beyond his years lawyer who had fallen into Lauren’s lap.

Overcoming mad mothers, ex-wives, royalty and everything in between, stepping out of a hot showers into her lovers gaze was exactly what the honey-haired lioness needed. Entering the luxurious living area, Lauren placed a soft kiss on the porcelain cheek of her darling King. “The shower was charming, but of course not as charming as you.”

Strawberry lips curved upwards as she noticed a sparkle that swam in his baby blue hues, a sparkle of something more than love. “What are you thinking about, my love? You have that look in your eyes …” She had no idea what was about to follow.

Returning to France with Lauren had been a dream he would have never thought could come true. He figured his next time returning to France would be in his mother’s shackles to the palace where he knew only ice and neglect. It’s said that home is not a place, but a person, and if that were so, the person Roman would always find a home in was his American lioness. Where his childhood home had been cold and unwelcoming, she was warm and familiar. He had even grown to miss her scent during long days on the job.

France could be their home if she wanted it, if she didn’t have a city back home that needed her. This trip alone left them in a very precarious position, but neither of them cared so long as they were together. Not all of the residents were so forthcoming to them and there would doubtless be issues with Marie, but none of it mattered so long as they were one. As his queen took a shower, filling the penthouse with steam, Roman found his hand travelling to his pocket wherein sat a dainty little ring to match his own.

At her emergence from the bathroom, Roman took his hand out of his pocket startled. He was still not so used to being so intimate with someone to share moments such as these and though they felt as natural as the sun, he would have to get used to the sight of her without blushing one day. His smile was bright as she kissed him, wet and cold on his cheek from the shower water. Her flattering words were something he heard often, but also never got quite used to, utterly shocked that someone like her could all but worship him. 

‘ I was only thinking of how much I love you, that’s what the look is, it’s why you can recognize it. ’ He smiled sweetly and took her face in his hands, placing his lips against hers. Though she was surprised at first, he felt her lips melt against his, sweet as chocolate. Too soon he was pulling away, wistfully wishing he could kiss her lips forever. After, he reminded himself. Soon you will be kissing her until the sun goes down.

His hands slipped back into his pocket, fingers closing on the ring, but she couldn’t notice, he was holding her attention entirely with his striking cobalt eyes. ‘ I was thinking . . might be that I love you so much that I could never spend another day apart from you. I love you too much, and selfishly, I want to spend every night in your bed and taste your lips always. I want to wake up every morning for the rest of my life beside you and start a family. But only if you want to. ’ And it was then that he pulled the ring from his pocket, in all it’s shining glory and offered it up to his queen.

‘  Lauren Gray, will you marry me? ’

“I will always be your family, my brother, no matter what is to come, I will be your backbone.” He was young enough to be her son, only three years older than her daughter, Roman had a lifetime ahead of him and she would be the wisdom and support during that lifetime.

Lips painted the darkest shade of crimson curved upwards as his velvet filled the space between them, confirming that he too knew she held immense pride for her little brother. Then the next sentence fell and his request came to light, the band of the purest gold and finest diamond. Hand crafted by royalty, worn by royalty, passed through generations of Fontaine women, a symbol of authority, a symbol of a woman who had rose and conquered, a symbol of love.

Sapphire irises fell to meet the ring, the only slither of Queen Delphine she had left, Roman in possession of Louis’s half to the set. It was a big ask, Roman knew that, but he also knew his sister, how her heart bled for family, her bones ached for her own blood. “Yes, it is incredibly precious to me. This ring has been with me since I was just a girl, since my mother, our fathers true love passed away.” Petite fingers slid the glistening ring from the finger it had sat on for decades.

“Which is why I would be delighted to see it on Lauren’s finger, to see it be passed on to the next Fontaine woman. It has been through generations, my darling and I would feel privileged to see it go to the next and hopefully see it go to your own daughter or son one day.” Adoration, admiration, affection stained her smile as she sat the Fontaine ring in her brothers palm, allowing the Fontaine dynasty to live on.

Though he knew he need not fear loosing her, the reassuring words put his pattering heart to rest. He had never so truly worried what someone thought about him, and never so hard tried to please someone for the sake of keeping them happy. He was used to having to make people love him, never realizing that there were some who would love him so regardless. And he knew one day he would not be able to support himself, be it emotionally, physically or financially, but Isobel would be there no matter what, offering all she could without expecting a dime in return.

He took turn with her, studying her ring, and glancing to his own masculine copy on his thumb, the only finger it fit currently, which meant it would have to be resized for the ring finger. Hers was smaller and daintier, as it was believed women were, but it was also a hundred times over more beautiful. Of course, it’s shine would pale in comparison to it’s wearer, only the best would do for Lauren. She deserved everything, diamond rings and gold at the least, but also his heart and passion and support, all of which he would give willingly and forever. As she spoke, he wondered if she would truly not share it with him, but at her words, he understood if she could not. And once her words were done  and he had taken the ring, it felt heavy in his hand.

‘ I would not want to rob you of it. Or Lisbeth, or Finley when they find love. ’ He felt as though he never should have asked, but seeing the little ring in his palm next to the one on his finger made him long to take it to Lauren now. The two rings were a set and belonged together, binding true loves in holy matrimony. Closing his hand around it tightly, he stood and rounded the table to take his sister into his arms. ‘ You cannot know what this means to me. ’

in truth, he had not invited his sister over for simple conversation and a mediocre breakfast of french toast. he was usually an exquisite cook and had his mind not been elsewhere, he would have perhaps created something to indulge her tastebuds. he should have been able to give her at least that, with what he was asking. there was no doubt in his mind that lauren gray was ‘the one’, and he knew his sister saw that, but it did not mean she would be so willing to part with the only things she had left of their parents. there was much on his mind and the concern in his sister’s face proved she knew that.

‘i must be honestly with you sœur, i did not invite you for breakfast and small talk. i have big news, and an even bigger question.’

it was hard for him to even say it out loud, not having fully admitted it to himself what he was going to do. he had no regret in his body over the decision nor fear that she would refuse him, but he’d never known he would get this sort of happiness in his life and it was that that terrified him.

‘i’m going to ask lauren to marry me. i never thought i would know the love i feel for her and i know that means something.’