Page 61 of Wicked Pursuit

Gods help me, but I believe him. I carefully step back, and he tenses as if he will pull me to him, only to release me at the last moment. I wobble a little on my heels, more nervous than I expected. “In that case...” I sink slowly to my knees before him and pull the little box out of my pocket. “Casimir Romanov, we’ve had a relationship that you can hardly call traditional, but I’ve never met someone who sees me the way you do. Who loves me the way you do. I never will. You’re the only one I want. I know it won’t be easy, but with you at my side, I don’t think there’s an enemy who can stop us. Will you marry me?”

“You got me a ring.” For the first time, he actually sounds shocked. “You’re proposing.”

“Yeah. Though if you had made me wait much longer, I don’t know if I would have.”

He reaches down and hooks my elbows, then lifts me back to my feet. “Liar. There’s no one else for you.” He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a nearly identical ring box. “Just like there’s no one else for me.” Casimir opens it, and I swallow a gasp. The ring is gorgeous and looks old as fuck. “Give me your hand, baby.”

I stretch out my left hand—the first ring he gave me is still on my right—and he slides the ring onto my ring finger. I’m not even remotely surprised to find out it fits perfectly. As if he’d leave something as important as that to chance. “Now you,” I say.

“It’s not traditional for men to wear an engagement ring.” But he does as I ask and allows me to slip my ring onto his finger. Mine fits perfectly too. I didn’t live with this man for over a year to not know his ring size.

I slide my thumb over the cool metal and grip his hand. “I don’t give a fuck if it’s not traditional. You’re mine, and I want everyone to know it.”

“I’m not about to argue.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me as if we’ve been separated for years instead of less than two weeks. The first touch of his lips ignites a spark that I’ve been doing my best to ignore. I tangle my fingers in his and press my body even tighter against him. If we weren’t standing in the middle of my family’s foyer...

But we are. Which means we can’t afford to forget ourselves.

I reluctantly break the kiss. “We’re not getting out of here without telling my parents our decision.” A couple of weeks ago, I would’ve said ‘fuck it’ and dragged him somewhere we could be alone. But my parents are right: it’s time for me to start acting like the heir that I am. Which means going about things the proper way.

Casimir pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wipes around my mouth, cleaning my lipstick as best he can. “Come home with me tonight.”

“Neither one of us has moved out. It’s still my home too.” Surely my mother won’t require another two weeks of separation when Cordelia insisted we get engaged tonight.

“I know.”

I catch his thumb between my teeth and bite him lightly. It’s so damn satisfying to see his expression flip to that of the predator I crave. I lick the tip of his thumb and release him. “When we get there... I think it’s time to finally decide whose teeth are bigger.”

His grin is pure sin. “I can’t wait to eat you right up.”

Curious about Reaper and the woman he won for a dollar? You’re going to want to read Jenny Nordbak’s book, IRRESISTIBLE DEVIL, which is the sexy, kinky Rumpelstiltskin remix romance that we all deserve!

Or maybe the very naked, very vulnerable blonde who was auctioned after Ruby has caught your attention? You’ll have your eye on Sara Cate’s SHATTERED INNOCENCE, a FFM Cinderella remix romance that puts the wicked in wicked stepsister…

You may have caught mention of amagicalchalice, which means you simply must read R.M. Virtue’s DIVINE INTERVENTION, a MMF remix of Goldilocks with a heist and the heroine falling for her ex’s father… PAPA BEAR, INDEED.

That priceless diamond necklace is none other than the ROYAL HEART, which is the title of Nana Malone’s Beauty and the Beast remix. It’s a heist second chance romance. If you likedThe Italian Job, you’re going to love this book!

And the final story in the Black Rose Auction Kickstarter, is STOLEN VOWS by Sav R. Miller, a Rapunzel remix that will give us some answers on what exactly is going on with the orchid rare enough to warrant a place in this auction. Oh, and you didn’t think she’d leave the last Ricci sister’s story untold, did you?

You can find all these stories in luxurious special editions, ebooks, and paperbacks, along with custom swag and art in the Black Rose Auction Kickstarter, launching Spring 2024!

Accept your invitation here.

Keep reading for a sneak peek of Jenny’s book, IRRESISTIBLE DEVIL!

I setthe bottle down and gathered my wits, turning to greet him properly.Thiswas the man my father wanted me to marry?

Oh God, I’d been vicious with him in the boathouse.

I aimed a loaded pistol at him! I told him to go fuck himself!

But he’d kind of deserved it.

The son of a bitch must’ve known the entire time that we’d meet later. Why did he let me humiliate myself like that?

It didn’t matter. I could salvage this. I had to salvage this, or he might tell Daddy the whole story.

I extended my hand, giving him my sweet smile. “I’m Juliet. I’m sorry I wasn’t myself earlier.”

---