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this moment's ours to treasure
Nikki can’t stop smiling or kissing Jack happily. She feels like her heart could burst with all the happiness and love welling inside of her. Nikki’s not sure she’s ever been so singularly happy in her life. Jack is her best friend. Her lover. And she’s pretty sure that he’s the love of her life too. She can no longer imagine a day or a life without Jack in it. Just like he said he can’t imagine a day without her.
She presses close, wanting to be as near him as possible in this moment. He seems to feel the same, his strong arms wrapping around her and holding her close. She’s practically in his lap now when she remembers the ring box she’s still clutching in a hand. A little gasp escapes as she pulls away slightly, her eyes immediately looking down to the box, the ring still securely inside.
It’s a beautiful ring, is her first thought. She had been too surprised before to really take in any details of the ring. She had been too focused on her racing heart and the fact Jack was proposing.
Nikki’s gaze lifts to find Jack beaming, watching her with love so clear in his eyes. She’s beaming too, she can feel the smile in her cheeks.
“Put it on me?” Nikki asks, her voice light and breathy as she lifts the ring box up between them.
“Aye,” Jack nods, reaching out to cup her slightly shaky hand, holding it steady as he plucks the ring from the box. He gently pulls the box from her hand and drops it to the cushions beneath them.
His focus is solely on cradling her left hand. Nikki extends her fingers, moisture pooling happily in her eyes as she watches Jack slide the engagement ring onto her ring finger.
“Pretty sure I got your ring size right. But if it’s a little loose or…” Jack says, almost as if he’s nervous. He gives her one of his sweet, crooked smiles.
Nikki shakes her head with a smile, dashing forward to press a quick peck to his lips. “It’s a perfect fit,” she assures him.
She pulls back and watches as Jack frowns a little, eyes darting over her face curiously. He lifts a large hand to gently swipe the tears from her cheeks. “Darlin’, why’re you crying?” He asks gently, concern and love clear in every word.
Nikki lets out a surprised laugh, shaking her head. She doesn't realise she is crying.
“Oh. Happy tears,” Nikki insists, still smiling widely. Jack’s frown morphs back into his own happy smile. Nikki can’t seem to resist throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him thoroughly.
They pull away panting after a long moment, their foreheads connected and breathing each other in. Nikki doesn’t want to move, she just wants to stay in his arms forever. She presses her lips to his cheek, his jaw, his ear lobe, the side of his neck - everywhere she can reach in his embrace.
“Ah,” Jack murmurs against her ear. He shifts, to pull back only slightly so they can look each other in the eyes. “I promised Cara I’d let her know how it went. If you said yes,” Jack tells her with a happy smile.
One of Nikki’s eyebrows lifts at his words. “If ?” she asks. “Did you think I’d say no?” she sounds incredulous, mostly because she is. She is so full of love for Jack, she can’t possibly imagine a situation where she would say no. If he had asked six months, or a year ago she doesn’t think she would’ve said no. She worries then that she may have made him doubtful in some way - even if he did still take the chance and propose.
Jack shakes his head slightly. “Nah. Not really. It was just m’nerves talkin’. Maybe just a wee bit,” Jack tells her, his eyes crinkling delightfully as he brings his thumb and forefinger up to gesture a small amount. He’s still smiling so lovingly at her. “Told Cara I was finally going to do it before I came over. No doubt she’s waiting by her phone,” he continues amusedly, his voice tender as he speaks of his niece.
Nikki melts. Finally she thinks and it makes her wonder just how long he’s been wanting to do this. How long he’s had a ring and planning what to say, how to do it. It’s so clear he’s put a lot of thought into this moment for them, it’s so typically Jack; thoughtful, sweet and romantic in its own way. Unique to them.
Nikki is sure she’s fallen even more in love with him than she already is - no one has ever made her feel like this before. She feels like she’s floating, ready to burst with love and nowhere to put it. Everything right now feels heightened and she wants to bask in these moments with Jack for as long as she can.
She shifts on the seat a little, reaching for her phone. “Let’s take a photo, to send to Cara,” Nikki suggests. She knows Jack isn’t one for selfies usually but she thinks this is a rather special occasion. Plus, she wants to document how happy they both are, in this moment too.
“Aye,” Jack agrees with a nod as Nikki snuggles into his side. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, leaning his head against hers. She switches to her camera and hands over her phone; she needs her hand free to show off the ring.
They’re both beaming as she lifts her left hand up and into the camera's view. Jack takes a few shots and then hands her phone back. They stay cuddled up on her window seat though.
The photos are lovely, beautifully framed by the window and peek of blooming flowers behind them. Nikki thinks they’re glowing in every shot. She picks a photo where Jack is looking at her as she grins giddily at the camera. It makes her insides twist happily.
“You look beautiful,” Jack says as she shows him the photo she’s picked. Her cheeks still flush a little pink at the compliment; even though Jack is always complimenting her. It still makes her heart skip a beat though because she knows Jack is sincere in every compliment he gives her. He thinks the absolute world of her, she knows.
“You look happy,” Nikki counters, feeling light and giggly.
“I am,” Jack says with a nod. “Never been happier in my life. You make me so happy Nikki,” he tells her earnestly, looking deep in her eyes. Nikki knows it’s true and leans in to give him a lingering kiss.
“You make me so happy too,” Nikki replies and it’s the truth. She’s never been happier either. But she can’t let herself get lost in his loving eyes just yet. They’ve got a niece to share some news with.
She adds the chosen photo to a new message to Cara from her phone. Jack doesn’t seem to mind. I said yes! She types out, wondering if she should add more. But Jack had said he told Cara what he was planning before he came over; she’s been expecting an update. Nikki knows the young woman will be thrilled for them.
She drops her phone by her thigh as Jack nuzzles at her neck. She tilts her head a little to allow him better access. “We can tell everyone else later, hm?” Jack suggests lightly, bringing a hand up to gently cup her cheek and turn her face towards him.
Nikki grins and nods. “Later is good,” she agrees, leaning in to kiss him passionately. A hand slips up to curl around his neck, keeping him pressed close.
After several long moments they part, both breathing heavily. Nikki stands, taking a hold of his hand and tangling their fingers together - they grin at each other. She tugs him up to standing, Jack following her lead easily.
“Come on,” Nikki says breathlessly, leading Jack through the bottom floor of her home and up the stairs quickly.
They’re both giddy and giggly by the time they make it to Nikki’s bedroom. Jack pulls her into a heated kiss, stripping her of her jacket as he does so. Then slipping off his own jacket, tossing it away towards hers.
Nikki cradles his cheeks in her hands, the sight of the engagement ring distracting her for a moment. It seems to glow in the afternoon light shining through her bedroom windows. It’s a beautiful sight.
She sighs then as Jack kisses the inside of her wrist, holding gently as he moves the kisses upwards. He presses his lips to her palm, the pads of each finger. It’s intimate and sensual and she can feel her body swaying to lean into his; so solid and strong before her.
Jack’s not like any man she’s ever been with before. It’s all the better then, she thinks, that he’s the one she’s going to spend the rest of her life with. There’s no doubt in her mind about that.
“Jack,” she murmurs breathlessly as he turns her hand over to plant sweet little kisses on top of her hand and to her knuckles.
“Yeah, darlin’?” Jack murmurs, his lips whisper to her skin.
“I love you,” Nikki tells him, more ardently and honestly than she’s ever been in her life.
Jack smiles wide and crookedly at her. “I love you too, Nikki,” Jack replies in a matching heartfelt tone.
They take a moment to simply look at each other, cataloguing each and every detail of happiness they can find; before falling into a happy, passion filled kiss. It lasts several long moments as their bodies press together delightfully.
“Make love to me Jack,” Nikki sighs as she pulls away from their kiss, resting their foreheads together. She just wants to be close to him in every way right now.
Jack brings both hands up to cradle her face, smiling besottedly. “Always, Nikki.”