Page 36 of Ink

Smoothing the front lapels over my breasts, he murmured, “Fucking perfect. Just like you.”

“Perfect for you.”

“Damn straight.” His lips curved down slightly at the edges. “Except that you’ll be leaving for college soon. Promise me you’ll wear this every day while you’re there?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“What the hell?” he growled, his gorgeous blue eyes narrowing.

There weren’t any barriers to me heading off for my freshman year anymore, but I found myself in a quandary. “I can promise you that I’ll wear it, but not at school.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I don’t want to go.” I took a deep breath and added, “I was doing it because I wanted to get away from Riverstone and my uncle, but now he’s not an issue. And you’re here. Why should I run off to get a degree I don’t even want in a subject I haven’t picked yet when I can stay here. With you.”

“You don’t have to twist my arm to talk me into it.” Matteo lifted me off my feet and spun around in a circle before setting me back down again. “We can start looking for a place tomorrow.”

“Or you could just move in with me?” I suggested. “Help me build new happy memories in the home that used to be full of them?”

He searched my expression for any hint of doubt. “That’s what you really want?”

“Absolutely.” I couldn’t wait to start building a life with him there. “But if you want to live somewhere else, we totally can. I just want to be with you.”

“So damn sweet,” he murmured. “Which is why I couldn’t help falling in love with you so quickly.”

Hearing those three little words from him made butterflies swirl in my belly. “I love you, too.”

“Thank fuck.” He gave me a quick but hard kiss. “We’ll toss our shit into the back of your Jeep and my truck so we can get a head start on moving into your place.”

“Damn, Ink.” Onyx clapped him on the back. “You’re a kept man now.”

King slapped Onyx on the back of his head, but Matteo ignored him. “You’re gonna meet mymammasooner than expected.”

“How come?” I asked.

“Even with him gone for so many years, she still loves my father as much as the day she married him.” He reached for my left hand, brushing his over my ring finger. “The ring he gave her means the world to mymamma, but she’s always said that the day I bring the woman I’m gonna make my wife to meet her is when she’ll pass it along to her new daughter.”

Happy tears spilled from my eyes. “Did you just ask me to marry you in the sweetest way possible, even though it was completely unplanned and spur of the moment?”

“Nope,” he whispered against my lips before claiming a deep kiss. “That was me telling you that you’re going to be my wife. And soon.”

Less than an hour later, his mom did exactly what he said. And then she helped us plan one of the quickest weddings in history. I walked down the aisle to him surrounded by my newly found family—the Hounds of Hellfire and the DeLucas—with King at my side and my best friend only a few feet in front of me.

EPILOGUE

INK

Annika was in the kitchen cooking something that smelled like my favorite dessert when I walked in the door. I grinned and sauntered behind her.

“Ciao, dolcezza,” I murmured as I slid my arms around her, resting my palms on her belly and burying my face in her hair. “You smell amazing.”

Annika giggled and leaned back against me.

“I do? Or my cinnamon rolls do?”

After taking another deep inhale, I whispered in her ear, “Doesn’t matter, they’re both making me hungry.”

A shiver raced down her spine, and I smirked as I pushed her hair to the side and over her shoulder. My lips glided over the soft skin of her jaw, and one of my hands sneaked under her skirt to cup her pussy over her underwear. “It drives me insane to think about anyone else smelling your delicious treats.”

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