"Just because we've been living together for months doesn't mean I want us to marry"
"Does it not?"
"No, of course not. I like my independence"
"Right, say that again"
"I like my independence" She said once more, this time rather more loudly. He humphed, his eyes boring down into hers. "Say it again but this time, try and mean it"
She let out a shocked gasp. "I meant it the first time around!"
"Sure babe"
"I did!"
He sighed. "No, you didn't. You might fool yourself, thinking, even believing that you're independent while under my roof but it's not true"
"What? How can you say that? I've been earning my living-"
He cut her off. "Your job couldn't even pay for our weekly food budget"
"It's not my fault you only like expensive stuff!"
"I'm used to them, that's all"
"Exactly what I'd been saying. God, you're infuriating"
"I know. Now onto this marriage business-"
"See? Business! As if marriage was another one of your ventures. It's not!"
Pausing, she added under her breath "And it never will be"
"What was that?" He stepped closer to her, his chest nearly brushing her breasts with every deep breath he took.
"Nothing" She replied and turned around, her eyes already focused on the nearest exit.
"Come on, baby" He murmured right behind her, his hands clasping around her shoulders. She breathed out then, feeling suddenly defeated. Knowing she probably shouldn't, she let herself go, her back settling against his hard chest. Comforted by his presence and yet aggravated by his smooth tactics, she closed her eyes and held onto her silence.
"You know you want to get married, you told me so"
"I meant in the future"
"It is the future. That was ages ago and this is now. And I want you to become my wife. I want us to make our relationship official. To make our love official"
"It's not like no one knows we're together. I'm living in your house!"
"I know, babe. But it's not the same" He stopped, his fingers running lightly down her arms until they met and crossed over her stomach. "It's not for life"
"Who says?" She reacted, tensing in his arms.
"I do. I want something tangible, something that will bind us forever"
"I love you, you know that. Nothing is going to change it, not a piece of paper or a contract"
She felt his responding shrug seconds before he said "Maybe but I still want us to get married."
God, she groaned inwardly. She had never wanted to marry, not because she had never thought she would find the right man...because obviously she had. But because of statistics. Statistics that said that one in third marriages ended in divorce...often bitter and disputed divorce.
Something she had been through while only a child, listening to her parents argue every day about the smallest things. Something she couldn't imagine going through as an adult, desperately not wanting to recreate this with the man she loved.
Because she loved him so much, maybe too much. And because of that love, she knew she would agree to his plan.
They would get married. She knew they would. He was too intent and too persuasive and too...he was hers. And he loved her and he wanted her to be his for the rest of their lives. And while she might be frightened, while she might be completely petrified at the prospect of something going wrong, she couldn't deny him this.
And also...well, maybe she wanted this too. Had maybe, possibly been wanting it for some time now. And so, as he bent down slightly and began kissing his way around the back of her neck, eliciting small shivers all over her spine, she simply moaned and nodded.
"Yes?" He asked, his voice turning husky.
"Yes" She replied, moving in his arms until they were standing face to face.
Looking up at him, she spied the happiness he didn't even try to hide, love for her shining in his eyes.
"I love you" He whispered before their lips met in a soft kiss, her response lost around his warm, warm tongue.