Mal was still asleep when I got up. It was a Sunday so she'd probably bask in her slumber as long as she could. God, she was beautiful as she slept. I stopped and watched her for a moment before going to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Her hair was sprawled out over the pillow and I could barely make out her silhouette beneath it. She was wearing one of my t-shirts and making it look better than it ever had. Knowing her, she was wearing my boxers as well, but I'd just have to wait until she woke up to be sure.
I smiled on my way to the kitchen thinking she has no idea. That smile was a permanent fixture on my face and I couldn't shake the excitement I was feeling. My precious Mallory would soon be my wife. Mrs. Thomas Porter, forever mine. I remembered how on this day, two years ago, she took my hand and led me to the very bed she was currently sleeping in. Ever since, I've been the happiest man alive and now it was my turn to deal out the happiness. Today, and every year from now on, will be remembered as the day I popped the question.
I'd like to think that our eventual matrimony was obvious even though Mal and I never talked about it. Her mother would call her all the time and bring up the subject, but Mal was always testy and off tempered after those phone calls. I wasn't about to bring up a subject that made her angry, so I never mentioned it. The way she looked at me though, the way we were together, proposing was the next natural step in our relationship. Not to mention that I considered it to be serious turn on. Call me old-fashioned, but a woman who takes your name and promises a life of love is just about the hottest thing ever.
Anyhow, it was a warm morning and I could hear all the birds outside chirping away. It was going to be an excellent day. I stretched and scratched my bare chest, still smiling. When I put the ring on her finger last night she didn't even flinch. She had stayed asleep just as I'd hoped and now I just had to wait. I burst out in a laugh as I thought of the look on her face when she realized what was on her finger. I was in for a treat.
"You're in a good mood this morning," she yawned. I tried to contain myself when I realized she had followed me out of the bedroom. She sat on the kitchen counter across from me and the coffee pot, and waited for me to come over for morning kisses. And yes, she was wearing my boxers.
"I woke up next to you didn't I?" I playfully replied. I tried hard not to act suspicious. Mal loves surprises but she's very keen to my changes in behavior. I hadn't been able to properly surprise her yet, so I was pulling out all the stops trying to keep it together. "How did you sleep, kitten?"
She reached for me as I turned to face her. I cuddled up between her knees and gave her a big hug. "I slept next to you didn't I?" She kissed my cheek and ran her hands up and down my back. I could feel the ring on her finger but she still hadn't a clue.
I pulled away and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before grabbing the coffee cups. "What have you got planned for today, Mal?"
"Well. It's Sunday so I should probably do laundry and I need to run to the grocery store so we can eat this week." I poured her a cup of coffee and handed it over as she talked. She still didn't notice. "What about you, Tom?"
I fought back the urge to laugh. When she finally did notice it was going to be so good. "Don't know. I'll probably go to the store with you, but other than that, I've got nothing." I was smiling back at her just waiting. It was torture.
Conversation moved on. She had another drink of her coffee and was telling me about this recipe she was eager to try. "It looked so good in the picture, Tom. You'd love it. I think I even have most of the stuff to make it. You'll just have to remind me to get the..."
She stopped. She had been holding the coffee cup with her right hand but switched to her left mid conversation. The ring had made a clinking noise against the porcelain mug as she grasped it. I had been staring at her hand anticipating the exact moment when it would happen, and it was finally here. She was frozen for a while. Eventually she put the mug on the countertop and held her hand out to get a better look.
Mal was speechless. She swallowed a lump in her throat and managed to look up at me. She was crying and not just a little. The silent tears were plentiful as she gazed up at me, still holding her hand out. I took this as my cue.
"Mallory? baby?" I set my coffee next to hers and knelt down, kissing her knees. I looked into those eyes and my voice caught in my throat. I came out sounding more like a plea but I had asked her. "Please marry me?"
Finding her voice, she leapt off the counter and into my arms, knocking me over. "Yes!" she cried. "Yes, yes, yes!"
There we were, sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor, making a scene. She was in my lap and hugging at me with an intensity I'd never seen before. She'd kiss me fast and desperate on the lips, on the cheek, forehead, and wherever else she could reach. I just held her and laughed. I had expected a scream with her running out of the room to call her mother, but this was way better. She calmed down a bit and I held her close to my chest. She was still breathing heavy and I rocked her slowly in my arms as she continued to stare at the ring.
"It's our anniversary isn't it?" she asked happily.
"Sure is, baby," I answered. It was such a surreal feeling holding her like that.
She took a deep breath and stood up, wiping away the tear stains. I looked up at her and she had this wild look in her eyes. "My plans for the day just changed."
"Really?" I was immediately excited. I'd only ever seen that look in her eyes a few other times before and each time it led to the most exhilarating sex I'd ever had. I couldn't help but enable her excitement. "What about the groceries?"
