R+B hunk Usher has revealed he was about to propose to girlfriend ROZONDA 'CHILLI' THOMAS before they split at the beginning of the year (04).

The couple's romance ended messily when the TLC star accused her man of cheating during a radio interview and Usher retaliated by insisting Chilli was trying to trap him into marrying her.

But, now the dust has settled on the break-up, the YEAH singer admits the couple would be engaged now if his ex hadn't gone public with her feelings.

He tells ROLLING STONE, "I had a ring for that girl and everything, and she never knew it."

Usher claims he'd had a 10-carat diamond ring specially made for Thomas, and was just waiting for the right moment to propose.

He adds, "Something was not right. I felt like I was in a desert, running, and then there was this mirage. It's beautiful, but wait a minute: 'Let's make sure it's real.'"

Usher reveals he even asked his girlfriend to marry him once during sex.

He explains, "Thank God she didn't take me serious. It was just that it felt so good and I had been talking to my friend, who told me that's how he proposed to his woman."

25/04/2004 20:39