Page 166 of Hawthorne

“Well,” I trail off, freeing myself of his hold. “This is just a party to get to know prospects,” I answer. “It’s not a proposal party.”

Vincent’s eyes widen. Shock flashes through them, and then rage swirls before he glances at his brother, who is watching his brother with a guilty smile.

Of course, Edgar.

“Well,” he sighs, suddenly resigned. “It is now.”

What?

My mouth falls agape at the sight before me. One knee silently hits the marble floor, and a red velvet box appears in front of me, revealing a huge blue sapphire over a white gold band where tiny crystals are encrusted. It’s gorgeous.

“It was my aunt’s engagement ring. It felt...fitting,” he explains softly, looking at it, too. “If I was once capable of letting all of it go for you, I can surely take it on for you. Though you may not need me, I need you. And you can have it all. Wealth, power, the Crown,and me. Because there is no me without you. No world or universe I’d want to live in if you weren’t there. You’re my better half and there is nothing capable of changing that. Marry me.”

Stunned in place with buzzing ears, I try to convey the strength to come up with an answer. Sure, I didn’t want to be here in the first place, but did he have to be so eccentric? And in front of the whole court to witness...

“I...” My heart beats through my body, the pulse slamming in my ears as I look at the Duke of Hawthorne, my former boss and lover, kneeling before me. Not just for the loyalty pledge but for love, too.To wed me.

“Yes.”

EPILOGUE

Vincent Hawthorne

Heaven.

That’s precisely where I am.

After being away from Camilla for so long, I’ve learned to cherish every moment together. Especially with my woman being such a busy one…

There is nowhere I would rather be butballs deep inside my wife.

Sometimes, I still don’t believe she forgave me and accepted me back. Not when I still haven’t forgiven myself. That’s why I vowed to do right by her whether it’s with breakfast in bed, flowers, and little escapades or with mind-blowing sex.

“Oh, god,” she moans loudly.

The sounds are erotic and only spur me on as I lose myself in her.

“No god can save you, little Milla,” I husk, slowly thrusting forward. “It’s my name I want to hear.”

The fact that the most powerful woman in this realm, who everyone respects or fears, enters these four walls and fullysubmits to me is a huge turn on. Even after all the hurt, she doesn’t hold back, and that may be one of the things I admire the most in Camilla.

Camilla Marie of Severna loves fully and without restraints. And she does forgive, too, with such a soft and loving heart that is only subdued by her assertive personality.

And she chose to be mine.

“Vincent,” she whines, her hands tugging at the silk ribbons that keep her restrained.

What a fucking sight.

Her fair skin contrasts with the deep red from the ribbons that tug at her wrists and ankles while her straight black hair cascades down her chest, over her breasts. With every squirming movement, it moves and tickles her taut nipples, often revealing them to me.

These soft legs spread wide open as her dripping centre swallows all of me. Warm and wet. Exhilarating. All the swells of her body get me drunk on pleasure, the old and the new ones. And while I love her in every way and shape, like this, bound and surrendering to me is my favourite.

“Vincent,” she grits out, annoyed at my slow movements.

She’s trying to get this over and done with. That’s pointless, and she should know by now.

It’s been roughly two hours, and I have purposely kept her in here today. It’s her birthday, and little miss here thought she’d still get to work. Not on my watch.Those leeches of politicians get to take her away from me almost every day of the year.

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