Page 20 of The Devil's Demise

“Don’t look at me that way,” he grunts under his breath. “You know what that does to me.” His inhales turn rough, his chest expanding, his fingers around my neck deepening.

He runs his other hand down his face, looking up to the sky for a moment before he pulls me up into his lap, his large hands around my hips as I settle over his lap.

“You drive me insane, sweetheart. The shit you do to me . . .” He exhales sharply, his nose leaning to my neck, running up and down. His lips meet my skin, showering me with soft kisses while my pulse thrashes wildly.

His heavy, hard cock rubs around my achy clit. All I want is to rock against it, but I fight it, remembering we aren’t alone.

“I love you, Raquel. Only you.” Another kiss, his teeth softly biting, his growl set with a dark edge as I squirm, needing him inside me. “We gotta go though, baby. Before I lose my mind with how badly I want to fuck you while everyone here watches what I can make your body do.”

“Dante,” I whisper on a moan.

He somehow makes it to his feet, my legs still wrapped around him. With another kiss to my lips, he slides me down his body, then packs up the empty hot chocolate cups and throws them into the basket filled with baked goods and chardonnay.

Hand in hand we stroll toward the castle. “Have you ever been inside?” he asks, his eyes darting to mine.

“No, never. But I heard it’s beautiful.”

“Nowhere as beautiful as you.”

My cheeks flush as I peer down, squeezing his hand in mine. “You’re not too bad to look at either.”

Chuckling, he bumps me with his shoulder just as we climb up the first set of stairs. He warned me to wear comfortable shoes, so I’m in a pair of flat boots, and now I see why.

After we make it all the way to the third floor, entering the rooftop, all those steps are finally worth it, because that view . . . “Wow!” My fingers clasp the stony edge, gazing over onto the lake—green grass, trees just past the water, buildings towering in the distance. We’re alone up here, which is kind of odd, considering how popular this place is.

“Wow is right,” he breathes against my neck from behind, his palms tightening around my hips. Then they’re gone, and I suddenly feel colder, needing them back around me.

I pivot toward him, intending to tell him just that but I don’t get the chance. I slap a hand to my mouth, my eyes growing large as I take in the sight before me, my heart beating so fast, it will probably burst.

His smile is wide as he kneels before me on one knee, reaching into his pocket. As he does, music starts to play, and four people enter the rooftop. I immediately recognize the song. It’s the one we danced to many times because it’s my favorite. The beat from “Infinity” by Jaymes Young fills the space as tears spring to life within my eyes when a ring box appears in his hand.

Once he opens it, I’m overflowing with emotions, unable to hold them in. One thing Dante has said he regrets is never getting down on one knee to propose the right way, with a ring and all. But I didn’t have any regrets in how our love story began. He came into my life when it was in ruins, when I thought I’d never get out of the forced marriage my parents arranged. I thought I’d die or suffer in agony with Carlito as my husband.

I never had imagined that I’d end up with someone as good to me as Dante is. But there he was, giving me a new life. A fresh start. He’s been the one constant in my world from that day on. The one I can count on. So a ring was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t need it. I just needed him.

He surprises me daily with his thoughtfulness, his affection. He’s the type of man women dream about. But I didn’t have to dream too long because he found me and made me his.

I don’t care about the reasons. He was never a bad man, even when he lied. His love was pure even when his heart may not have been at the time he met me. But if it weren’t for him, we’d never have what we do right now.

I hope wherever my mother is, she knows how happy I finally am, and that she didn’t get to ruin my life for her benefit.

“Raquel.” Dante smiles. “I never thought I’d ever end up finding someone like you. But you changed me, for the better, baby. And though we’re married already, I needed to do it right, the way I should’ve from the start. So if you would agree to be my wife a second time, you’d make me the happiest man in the world.”

“Ask me,” I cry, swiping away the tears tracking down my cheeks. “Just ask me.”

“Raquel Cavaleri, will you be my wife?” A smirk teases the rim of his lips. “Again?”

A blundering laugh escapes me as I sniffle, nodding. “Yes, I’ll be your wife no matter how many times you ask.”

“Good. Because I’d marry you over and over again.” His grin is infectious as he slides the ring onto my finger, his eyes fastened to mine, just as tightly as his soul is bound to me for life.

When he gets to his feet, he lifts me into the air, and smashes his lips to my own for a kiss that’ll last a lifetime.

CHAPTER2

RAQUEL

FIVE MONTHS LATER

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