3rd POV
Dante smirked as he wrapped the sheet around his body. Sorin, his lover, his soul, lay fast asleep. It had been a year since they bonded. A year since Sorin discovered his birth family and a year since he brighted Dante's cold, dark existence.
Over the past year, Sorin had learnt, with the help of his younger sister, to develop and control his powers. He had also designed several more highly successful jewellery pieces, making him a well known name in the industry.
Today was the launch of their most recent design. Intricate wedding bands for men. When looking for a ring for Sorin Dante noticed how bland most of them were. For men the design usually consisted of a thick band.
He wanted something more intricate and detailed for his soul. So he tasked his team with coming up with new designs. They had risen to the challenged and succeeded as expected.
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Sorin yawned as he stood with his team at the launch. They smirked at him.
"Did your boyfriend keep you up all night?" they teased.
Sorin smiled but pulled his tongue out at them. They laughed and playfully pushed him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please."
Everyone turned to see the announcer calling for everyone's focus. The team moved closer and gave each other confused looks. They'd gone through plans of the night earlier and there was no mention of this.
"Thank you, tonight we have a little surprise for you or to be more specific for a certain individual. To explain, I would like to invite Mr Dante Astello up."
Dante smiled as he walked up and took the offered microphone. He scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of Sorin.
"First, I would like to thank you all for attending the Obsidian Jewels event today. We wanted to create intricate designs for male wedding rings. Unless custom made, a man's wedding ring is usually very plain and simple but we wanted to expand on that."
"I would like to introduce the designer responsible for these beautiful pieces of art. Sorin James!"
Everyone turned to him but Sorin remained frozen. The plan never included Sorin being in front of a crowd.
"Sorin?" Dante urged.
Mac pushed him forward so Sorin had no choice but to slowly move. Dante smiled warmly at him as he approached. However, Sorin was glaring at him.
"This, as many of you know, is the amazing designer Sorin James. A year ago Sorin came to work in Obsidian Jewels and in that time he has made a name for himself."
Dante turned to Sorin beaming.
"Since the first day we met, I've been blown away by your creativity, your kindness and your attitude to your work. You've inspired me from the first moment I saw your designs."
Sorin didn't know what to do or what was happening. All he could do was stand there staring at Dante. Luca walked up with a small ring box. Sorin watched as Dante pulled out one of the new designs.
"When I tasked you with designing a range of male wedding bands I had one purpose in mind."
Sorin's head tilted to the side as he raised his eyebrow. However, soon, his eyes went wide and his mouth hung open as Dante lowered himself down onto one knee.
Sorin registered a lot of gasps around them and it brought him back to the present.
"What are you doing!" he whispered.
"Sorin James, I've been in love with you before I even met you. Your designs inspired me and lit a fire within me that has only burned brighter since meeting you."
Dante held out the ring to Sorin.
"Though you know that every part of my being already belongs to you, and every part of you belongs to me. I wanted to ask you for the last part of you that can only be mine."
"Sorin James … will you marry me?"
The room gasped then fell silent. No one dared to breathe as they waited for Sorin's answer.
Sorin stared at the ring then at Dante and then back again.
"This is the part where you answer." Dante chuckled.
"Oh my god! … yes!"
Sorin cried and fell into Dante's arms crying. The room erupted into a loud cheer. Tears fell down Sorin's cheeks as Dante pushed the ring onto his hand.
Dante pulled him to his body and kissed him as the audience clapped and cheered.
Ella, Yumi, Tony and Mac all rushed forward to congratulate the couple. However, the girls managed to pull Sorin aside.
"So this is the amazing boyfriend you've been hiding away all this time?" they accused him.
Sorin nodded, "I'm sorry, I didn't want anyone to say bad things about him or act differently with me so I didn't tell anyone."
"Oh honey!" Yumi smiled. "We wouldn't have treated you differently but we understand and we are all so happy for you both!"
They squeezed him tightly as Sorin started to tear up. Dante came and pulled him away.
"Did you like the surprise?" he teased as he held him.
"Why did you have to do it in front of everyone?" Sorin pouted.
Dante laughed and kissed his fiance.
"I did it that way so there was no chance of you saying no to me."
Sorin slapped his shoulder, "As if I would say no to you."
They kissed and forgot about everyone there. That night they went home and made slow passionate love to cement the next part of their journey. Though they had no idea what the future held, they knew they would face it together.