Page 109 of Bastard

“No more lies. Not to you, anyway.” He sinks to a knee.

One. Knee.

I gasp down at his handsome, battered face.

“I love you, Luciana. Stay married to me?”

“Are you smoking peyote again?” Despite my words, I’m crying. I’ve only ever loved one man. Come to discover, he’s always loved me the same way.

“Yes. I’ll stay married to you.”

He slips the ring back onto my finger.

Stands, and swoops in for a tender kiss.

Claiming me, just as he did years ago.

Epilogue

“Hurry.”

I draw in a sharp breath, my insistence that Hayden speed things up and take me over the edge once more instantly forgotten as I feel the excruciatingly slow drag of his beautiful cock slip out of me.

He’s brought me out to the hammock that hangs on the front porch of the old, yet modernized, Victorian house we’ve just moved into. And Dios mío, so far we’ve had sex in the attic, on the kitchen island, against the window in his office that overlooks Salt Lake, and so many times in our bed it’s a wonder the frame’s still in one-piece.

The man is possessed; it’s a wonderI’mstill in one-piece, not that I’m complaining.

The hammock was my idea. My fantasy from long ago coming true, though instead of cuddling inside it with Hayden whispering sweet nothings in my ear, he stands with me seated spread-eagle with my thighs around him while he masterfully maneuvers the swing, expertly controlling the pace of our lovemaking.

“You’re so goddamn sexy,” he says, the raw emotion in his tone loud enough to echo across the entire lake. “Loving you is the smartest decision I’ve ever made.”

“I didn’t give you a ...” I groan like a wild woman, unable to finish my sentence, as he jerks the hammock forward and thrusts his hips, sinking so deep inside me my toes curl.

I manage to lock my ankles around his waist. Needing to speed things up, though cursing that we’re unable to take our time, his deliberately slow movements building what’s about to be a mind-blowing climax.

“Hurry,” I insist. “Diego’s never late.”

“Then say it.”

My lover, my husband, the love of my life is completely loco. Will he never grow tired of hearing I love you? “You go first,” I manage.

“Luciana,” he growls out my name as he slides his cock out and slowly dips back inside me. “You’re going to fight me tooth and nail on everything, aren’t you?” His green eyes sparkle. For a man who prides himself on always being in control, he gets off on me challenging him.

I cock my head and grin at him.

“Luciana ...”

“Hayden.”

He laughs. It’s a rare sound, one that startles me, though I intend to hear it more often.

“This is our story. Did you imagine, knowing me and knowing you, life together would be a simple one? I mean, the first time we met, you said my name was Trouble.”

“Truer words were never spoken.”

I grin at that. But it’s short-lived as a bell loudly chimes from within the house. Someone is at the entry gate. Someone the guards positioned there are familiar with.

Dios mío.Times up.“Say it, again.”