Page 185 of Vicious Addictions

His gaze ignites at the word that spills from my lips, and in a flash, he’s on his feet, his hands gripping my hips, his knee pressing my thighs apart to nestle his body in between them.

Jude gently tilts my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his, forcing me to stare into the gold flecks in his eyes.

“Why are you really here, Mina? No more games.”

“You know why,” I say, deliberately echoing his words, knowing only he understands their underlying meaning.

“You’re not marrying Felix?” he asks again as if he needs further clarification.

“No.”

“You’re wearing my pendant.”

“Yes.”

“And you came back to Chicago… for me.”

“Correct,” I smile, running the pad of my finger over the seam of his bottom lip. “Jesus, cowboy, I thought you’d connect the dots faster than this.”

“Cowboy.” He lets out a low, rumbling chuckle. “You used to call me that a lot when you were a kid.”

My legs wrap around his waist, my ankles digging into his back until his crotch is pressed against me.

“Do I look like a kid to you now?” I arch a brow as my hand slides in between us to cup his bulge in my hand.

“No, you don’t,” he grunts, his hazel eyes turning darker.

“I didn’t think so,” I coo, adding just enough pressure to turn him insane with want. “Now, I went through all this trouble because we needed to have a heart-to-heart before we let our baser instincts get the better of us. But it’s clearly apparent that you can’t behave long enough for us to do that. So here are your options.”

“I’m listening,” he says, his hands sliding my skirt up higher, bunching the fabric at my hips until his hard cock is just inches from where I need him most.

Heat coils deep inside me, desire pooling as my breath shudders in anticipation.

“From this point on, you are mine, and I am yours. Whether we live here in Chicago or return to Kent Manor is up to you. Those are your choices. Everything else is non-negotiable. We can deal with the logistics of how our combined lives will look like at a later date, but for now, that’s where we stand. Agreed?”

His smile turns predatory, and suddenly, my clothes feel too tight on my body.

“Mina Crane, is this your romantic way of saying that you love me?” he taunts, delicious danger and wicked promises laced in his voice.

“No, Jude. This is my way ofproposingto you,” I say and then take a deep breath, praying to God I don’t muck what I’m about to say next too severely. “Ti amo così tanto, amore mio. Non c’è niente che non farei per trattenerti. E intendo trattenerti per sempre. Per amarti per sempre.”

His gaze becomes a molten mess, his lips parting as if he’s at a total loss on how to respond.

Thankfully, Jude doesn’t leave me in agonizing suspense for long.

“I love you so much, my love. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you. And I intend to keep you forever. To love you forever,” he repeats my words back to me in English with love in his eyes. “From this point on, you are mine, and I am yours. And nothing nor no one will ever stand in between our love again.”

My eyes begin to water at his poetic words. Words that I’m sure he’ll repeat to me every day of his life.

He then leans in and presses his lips to mine, sealing his vow to me with this one kiss.

Check-fucking-mate.

Epilogue

Jude

Two months later

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