Plans and proposals

When the song finishes, Doe shifts her head a bit. You move your head and look down at her, only to find her looking up at you. Her deep blue eyes search your face. Tenderly moving your hand from her hip, you reach up and caress her cheek. The two of you simply stand there as the next song begins.

A thought suddenly dawns on you, and you let her go. Immediately a look of worry crosses her face. You smile reassuringly at her. “I have a surprise for you. I’ll be right back.” Doe nods her assent. Going over to a small box in your dresser, you take out your college graduation ring and a long silver chain. Slipping the ring on the chain, you walk back to Doe.

She looks at you quizzically, sniffing the air for a clue as to why you’re behaving so oddly. You sit down on the edge of the bed and motion for Doe to join you. “What is it, John?”

You show her the makeshift necklace. “Well, it’s kinda silly, I suppose. But I’d like you to have this. At least until I can get you something better.”

She caresses the ring with a claw, examining the engravings and markings. “It is a very big and intricate ring. What is it?”

“Well, it’s my graduation ring. I got it when I left school and took this job. It’s not much, but it’s the only piece of jewelry I own.” You pause to exhale deeply, mentally preparing yourself. Then you hand it to her. “I’d like for you to have it.”

“Why?” she asked innocently. “Do you wish me to wear this?”

“Well…in human society, it’s sort of a custom to give a person jewelry when you’re going to ask that person to marry you.”

She blinks once. “Marry?”

You nod, clutching the necklace nervously in your hand. “Do you remember when we first met in the lab? When we became mated?”

“Of course, John.”

“Well, humans do it a bit differently. They have a small ceremony where they invite those closest to them to witness, well, a sort of mating ritual…”

“They would watch us mate?” she asks, a bit confused.

You chuckle at the thought. “No, nothing like that. See, when two people love each other and they hope to spend the rest of their lives together, they make a promise to care and nurture and protect each other, with their friends as witnesses. That’s what it means to be married.”

“It sounds very beautiful,” Doe comments. “But it also sounds a bit odd and complex. Why not just simply mate and stay together?”

“We do. This is, I guess, a sort of party, a way to show everyone you want to stay together and have other people celebrate it with you.”

She nods once, processing the information. “And you want to have a party here, to announce that we are mates?”

You smile softly as you stroke her cheek. “If you would like to, yes?”

“And the jewelry is a sign that we belong together, yes? Like the rings that Tracy and Leah wear?”

“Exactly,” you reply.

Her eyes meet yours for a moment. Then she leans over and kisses you. “I would be honored to wear your jewelry, John.” She turns around slowly so you can put the necklace on her. After placing it on her neck, you trace the chain around with strong, delicate kisses. Her breath catches as she leans against you, surrendering. “I surrender to no one but you, John,” she whispers.

“And I to you, Doe,” you reply as your hands reach around her to caress her hips through her dress. She turns her head slightly so she can lick and nibble at your neck, her paw running though your hair.

“I want you, John,” she softly commands. “I want you now, my Alpha, my mate."