Page 149 of Toxic

She laughs. "At least there will be good scotch for you."

I trace her kneecap then palm it, turning my face so it's in front of hers. "This dress looks good on you."

"Thanks."

"It'll look even better sliding off you later tonight."

She wiggles her eyebrows then leans closer. "Maybe we should skip the event and go straight to your place?"

"Don't tempt me, dolcezza." I tug her onto my lap, fisting her hair and tugging her neck back.

Her breath hitches and her eyes widen with heat.

I study her face, taking in every feature while my stomach somersaults. I graze her lips with mine, and when she tries to slide her tongue into my mouth, I retreat, holding her an inch from my lips so she can't. "I think it's time you became my wife."

She inhales sharply, her lips curling. "Yeah?"

I slide my hand in my pocket and take out the ring. "Every day I spent without you has been torture. Not waking up with you in my arms is Hell on Earth. If you marry me, I promise I'll cherish and protect you until the day I die. When you become mine, every part of me will become yours to do what you want with—to love or destroy. I'm giving all the power to you, Bridge, because I'm a desperate man. Without you, I have no life, no happiness, no soul. And I need you. I always have. All these years, I've needed you more than you ever needed me. I still do. So, will you give me the only thing I've ever wanted, and marry me?"

A tear drips down her cheek. She nods. "Yes."

"You will?" I ask, in shock I'm finally getting what I've wanted all these years.

"Yes."

"Say it again," I order, not able to contain my grin.

"Yes," she says on a laugh.

I kiss her. Slow at first to savor every part of her then deeper and deeper, unable to control my desire for her.

That's the thing about Bridget O'Connor. She got into my heart without me knowing it. No matter how many years passed or how hard I tried to shake her, I never could.

Our road may not have been easy up to this point, but we made it. And I'll be damned if anyone or anything comes between us ever again.

I hold her face. "I always knew that you were the one meant to be beside me. Are you ready to be Queen of the Marinos?"

She strokes my cheek, the light I love glowing brighter in her blueish-green eyes. "I'm ready to be wherever you are and whatever you need."

"The only thing I'll ever need is you by my side, dolcezza." It's the biggest admission I've ever spoken, and I'll die with it still ringing true.

Epilogue

Dante

A Month Later

"You look beautiful, Bridget,"Papà declares, embracing my dolcezza and kissing her on the cheek.

She hugs him back, glowing with happiness. Pride fills me, knowing she's only a few months away from being Mrs. Dante Marino. She replies, "Thank you, Angelo."

The house is bustling with last-minute preparations. Papà is throwing another one of his huge parties, but this time, it's to celebrate our engagement. All the O'Malleys and Ivanovs, along with the O'Connors, will be here. Arianna planned the entire party, just like she still plans Papà's monthly ones, but Fiona helped her. They decided to make the theme of the party an Irish and Italian mix.

I glide my hand across the silk of Bridget's royal-blue dress, covering her ass. She leans closer to me, and I don't miss the soft inhale of her breath.

It makes me hard as nails, which isn't new. The intensity of how much I want my dolcezza never seems to fade. It only grows more potent, driving me crazy even when I'm not around her.

She tilts her head, glancing up at me. In a low voice, she murmurs, "Did you get me what I requested?"

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