After we finished dinner, Victor and I stood in front of the fireplace toasting our engagement.

"Here's to…" Victor paused, searching for the right words I supposed, "Whatever the future brings to us."

"Here's to us," I added.

He nodded, "Yes, here's to us."

I smiled and we clinked our glasses together before each taking a sip.

After toasting, Victor took his and my glass, putting them on the table beside the fireplace. He stepped back to me and slowly took me in his arms. I could sense hesitation in him, which confused me. I had never known Victor to be anything but forthright and anything but reserved, but here he was cautious to take me into his arms. I smiled and stepped against him, wrapping my arms around him.

Just touching him was filling my body with a surge of energy I never knew existed. I'd never felt like this from any man. Was it just the physical responses my body was giving me after not being in a relationship for so long, or could I actually be falling in love with Victor? I smiled to myself, knowing that which ever it was, I was ok with it. If Victor made me feel like this, and Reed never could, then I'd much rather be with Victor. Victor was not afraid to go after the things he wanted, and right then, he wanted me. He wanted me to be his wife, his partner in life.

I looked into his eyes, yes, I could definitely love him. I could be the wife he wanted and then some.

"What are you thinking?" Victor interrupted my thoughts.

I sighed, smiling even brighter, "I want to be your wife. I want to be everything you want in a wife, not only by name, but everything. I said when I accepted the proposal that I don't want it to be just business."

He carefully judged what I was saying, "So, what you're saying is..?" I could tell he was slightly afraid of asking the question for fear he wouldn't be receiving the answer he was hoping for.

"I want to be yours, Victor, in every way possible, including physically and intimately," I admitted to him frankly.

Victor laughed full-heartedly, "Oh, Susan, this is a dream come true for me. All those years I saw you and Reed together my heart ached that I could not have you. Now I do, and I could never be happier."

I smiled back at him, "Just forget about Reed. I'm yours, for now and for always."

Victor exhaled in relief at hearing me say that, "Oh, Sue, I want to marry you as soon as possible."
I smiled at his impetuosity, "Why, Victor?"

"Why waste time?" He shrugged. "We've already known each other for years. Let's just do it. I want to make it official."

I took a deep breath, "Wow," and then I cleared my throat. "Well…" I thought about it, stepping away from him and turning toward the fire.

I felt Victor step up behind me, almost standing against my back. "It's too soon for you. I understand," he acknowledged.

I turned to look up at him, "No, it's not. Let's do it. Let's get married as soon as possible."

"Really?" I could tell he really hadn't expected me to agree so easily, and his excitement wasn't going to be dampened by anything. "Leonard," he called.

Leonard came walking in the door a moment later, "Yes, sir?"

Victor turned to Leonard, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me against his side, "Leonard, make all the arrangements. Sue and I will be getting married as soon as possible. Get us reserved at St. Bartholomew's: wedding and reception, the sooner the better. I want Sue to be my wife, so make it possible. Flowers, we'll have roses, red. Dinner, get Emeril Lagasse. And Vera Wang will design a dress for Susan. Get to work, Leonard."

"Yes, sir," Leonard nodded before leaving the room again.

Victor turned to look at me, connecting his hands behind the small of my back. I looked up at him and slightly laughed, "Impressive, Victor."

He smiled down at me, "You deserve the best."

"Thank you," I said softly.

He took a deep breath, "Would you like to go tell your brother Johnny the good news?"

I looked up at him with more amazement, "We just got engaged, and you're worried about me telling my brother?"

He nodded his head, "To be honest with you, I don't think we should spend much time together before the wedding."

"What?" I didn't understand.

"Susan, I love you, and I want everything to be perfect for you. I just shouldn't be alone with you too much until we get married. I wouldn't want to take advantage of you," he admitted.

"Take advantage of me?" I was still confused.

Victor took a deep breath, "As much as I want to, I think we should wait until after we are married to consummate our relationship."

I looked at him bleakly, "You're saying you don't want to have sex with me until after we're married?"

Victor only nodded his head.

I smiled tenderly at him, "Victor, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I know you respect me as a woman now."

"Of course I respect you, Susan. I love you," he told her directly.

I smiled more at him and caressed his cheek and nodded, "Good night, Victor. I'll see you in the morning."

Victor took my hand in his and kissed my palm, "Sleep well, my darling."

I pulled his hand to my lips and kissed the back of it, "Thank you."

I let go of his hand and walked away from him, leaving the room in search of Johnny.