Epilogue
Malice
I’d built empires out of fear and loyalty, but nothing had ever made my pulse stumble the way she did when I walked through our front door.
Our door. Those words settled deep within my chest.
The house was dim, warm light spilling from the kitchen. Greg was settled into my old house, while the kids were at my mother’s having a sleepover so they could eat junk and watch comedy movies.
I found Gwen standing at the counter in one of my shirts, her legs bare, wild red curls falling over her shoulders.
She didn’t hear me at first, so I leaned against the doorway and watched her, committing the moment to memory like I did with everything she did.
I intended to keep her.
Chained to me forever so she could never get away.
“You’re staring again,” she said without turning around.
I smirked. “And I’m allowed to because you’re mine.”
She glanced over her shoulder at me, her eyes softening. “I made the new recipe your mom showed me.”
“Smells amazing,” I told her, moving to step behind her. I slid my hands over her hips, fitting her back against my chest. She melted into me automatically.
Since moving in, I woke to laughter in the mornings or music drifting down the hall. There were always books or bags scattered around, clothing draped over chairs, or shoes to trip over.
It could be messy and chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I liked it.
I liked that Gwen and the kids weren’t afraid of me.
But I also liked that they all knew what I was, what my world was like, and had accepted everything.
I brushed my mouth against her ear. “Do you realize what happened when you asked me to move in?”
She huffed softly. “That I brought fun to your boring days?”
“You made it permanent.”
She stilled.
Good.
I turned off the burner and took the spatula from her hand to rest it on the counter before I turned her in my arms to face me. Her brows knitted together as she searched my expression. I didn’t joke when it mattered. She knew that.
“You’re everything to me. You and the kids. I loved you long before I admitted it to myself.”
Her breath caught.
“I love you, Gwendolyn.” I cupped her face, forcing her to hold my gaze. “And I don’t mean the soft version. I mean the kind that takes root into my bones. That doesn’t let go. It’s a love that says you’re mine now and fuckin’ forever.”
Tears welled in her bright eyes.
“I want to spend the rest of my days with you,” I said.
“All of them. The good, the bloody, the quiet. I want to wake up next to you when I’m old and mean and still possessive as hell.
” She snorted even as tears slipped down her cheeks.
I wiped them away with my thumbs. “And if anyone ever thinks they can take you from me,” I murmured in a low, rough tone, “they’ll learn very quickly that I’ll end them. ”
She released a shaky laugh through her tears. “That’s a terrifying declaration of love, but it’s so you.”
“You know it’s honest. But what I’m also trying to get at is… I want my ring on your finger. I want the world to see that you’re mine. That you accept me in the only way that’s final. Marry me, doll.”
More tears filled and fell. She reached up, gripping my shirt.
“Yes. In all ways, yes. Make me your wife, Mr. Mafia Man, because I love you too.”
She pressed her lips against my jaw as my corrupt heart swelled.
“I love you,” she repeated, standing on her toes to capture my gaze. “And I’d choose you every day until we’re old and gray. Even when you’re annoying.”
Relief and something darker curled through my chest. Claim. Ownership. Devotion.
I kissed her, slow and hard. When I pulled back, I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip. “Good.”
I tugged the ring box from my pocket and opened it. She gasped at the jewelry, but her hand shot out, and she wiggled her fingers.
Smiling, I slid it into place.
Fuck yes.
Pride filled me at seeing how perfect it looked on her.
Leaning down, I nipped at her neck and warned in her ear, “There’s something else.”
Her expression immediately shifted to suspicion. “Why do you sound like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’ve already done something.”
I smiled. “I have.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Max.”
“You’ve agreed to marry me, which means what’s mine is yours,” I said simply.
She blinked. “Max….”
“I opened a joint account this morning,” I continued, watching her carefully. “Transferred a significant amount into it. You have full access.”
Her jaw dropped. “You sneaky idiot.”
I shrugged. “It’s practical.”
“It’s not right. We haven’t even signed the marriage license.”
“That’s irrelevant. Our marriage is a given.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “You didn’t even ask me.”
“I wasn’t going to either.”
She glowered. “Excuse me?”
I stepped closer again, lowering my voice. “We live together. We share a bed. You’ll soon carry my name. Do you think I’d let you stand on your own financially like you’re separate from me?”
She opened her mouth, closed it, and huffed before she made her own demand. “Well, I’ll be putting money into it as well, and you have to use it, too, or I’ll hack the account and transfer it into some old lady’s account.”
I never wanted her obedience.
I’d always loved her fire. Her defiance. Her sharp tongue and softer heart.
She was mine and not because I caged her.
But because she chose to stay.
My lips twitched. “Deal.”
“You’re insufferable,” she muttered.
“You love it.”
She exhaled slowly. “I do, and now it’s time you show me.”
“As you wish,” I clipped before picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder. She let out a wild laugh, holding on as I stalked upstairs to our bedroom.
This woman—my woman—had accepted me in every fucking possible way. My world was hard and cruel and vicious, but with my doll in it, she balanced it out.
She was mine to keep for-fucking-ever.
Gwendolyn
My man was in the mood to claim me, and I was all for it. In the bedroom, he set me on my feet. When I looked up at him, his eyes were darker than usual, heavy with intent as they slowly dragged over me, like he was memorizing every inch.
There was also a possessive glint in his gaze that had my pussy tingling.
I needed him inside me. I wanted my soon-to-be husband to fuck me so hard, I’d feel it tomorrow, which was exactly what I told him.
His chest rumbled with approval, and as I backed up to the bed, he stalked me.
“Get undressed,” he demanded.
I slipped his shirt over my head and dropped it on the rug. He sucked in a ragged breath when he saw I wore nothing underneath.
We didn’t often get time alone, so I wanted to take advantage of it when we did.
My breath hitched as he quickly stripped out of his clothes, all while keeping his burning gaze fixed on me.
As soon as he was naked, he stepped closer. His hand came up to my jaw, thumb brushing along my bottom lip before he leaned down, his mouth hovering just close enough to tease.
“Mine,” he murmured, the word warm against my skin.
The kiss that followed wasn’t soft. It was deep and claiming. He slid his hand into my hair to tilt my head exactly how he wanted it. I melted into him, hands gliding over his chest, waist, and back.
When he pressed me down onto the bed, his weight quickly settled over me. I loved the way he made me feel small in the best possible way.
He kissed down my neck, slow and deliberate, leaving heat in his wake. Every touch felt purposeful, like he was reminding me who I belonged to. My hands wandered over his back, feeling the tension in his muscles—the restraint he was barely holding onto.
“Tell me,” he clipped against my skin, his voice rough.
“I’m yours,” I breathed without hesitation.
That was all the encouragement he needed. His mouth found mine again, slower this time but deeper, hungrier. Then he pulled back and flipped me over onto my stomach. I went with a gasp.
His palm slapped down on my ass, the sting sharp, but he quickly rubbed the spot.
Moving onto my knees, I looked over my shoulder. “Fuck me, Max.”
A groan tore from him as he stepped forward. With his hands on my waist, he slowly pushed his cock into my wet hole.
“Christ, doll. You take me so well.”
“Hmm, you fill me perfectly.”
He slowly withdrew and thrust back in. I moaned, my nails clawing at the sheets.
Then he showed me exactly how much he owned my body by fucking me deep and hard.
He groaned. “I like when you let me have you like this.”
Another moan slipped from my lips when he hit the right spot. “I like when you do.”
“Christ,’ he bit out.
“Stud, I’m close. So very—” I whimpered through my orgasm as my walls spasmed and fluttered around his beautiful cock. “Need your come, Mr. Mafia Man.”
He groaned, his hips stuttering before regaining control as he emptied inside me.
When he pulled his cock free, I glanced back to see his still-hungry gaze on my hole. I knew the night was far from over—and I was more than okay with that.
I rolled onto my back and demanded, “Kiss me like you love me.”
He grinned. “My love’s dark and crazy, doll.”
Smiling, I nodded. “I know.”
And I wouldn’t have him any other way.