Page 75 of Ruthless Mr. Ricco

It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, I want her taste on my tongue, her voice in my ear, and her hands on my body.

She’s mine.My lover.My friend.

My vicious little rabbit.

Mine.

Forever.

Epilogue

Brook Simons

My ridiculously extravagant skirtswishes as I complete another circuit of the lavish bridal chambers.Nothing in the room is understated.Everything screams wealth, even the tissue boxes placed strategically throughout the space.

“You’re going to wear a hole in that fancy rug if you don’t sit down,” Audrey says.

The wry amusement in her tone is soher,I smile and relax enough to almost take a full breath.Her irreverent humor brightened my darker days.I’ve realized throughout the years that she uses it as a coping mechanism, but who am I to deny her when she wields it so well?

“What, this old thing?”I scoff and gesture to the ornate rug.“No one will even notice if I do.”I joke.

“More like your loaded husband will just throw money at it and expect it to mend itself,” she sneers.

I stop in my tracks, surprised at the vitriol in her tone.

She blanches and rises from the couch.

“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean that.Matteo would never…” Nightmares lurk in her eyes as she walks around the couch to take my hands.“You’re marrying a good man, Brook,” she says.

I search her eyes and find genuine regret mixed with the demons she’s fought so hard to overcome throughout the years.I squeeze her hands, honored by her trust, and nod.

“Iammarrying a good man.You’ll find someone you can trust, too,” I insist.

She shakes her head.

“No I won’t.I’ll never trust a man again,” she vows.

I open my mouth to refute her, but the sound from the hall echoes through the suite as someone swings open the doors.

Matteo fills the frame.Joy surges through me.

He’s heart-wrenchingly handsome in a suit.Add in the wicked gleam in his hazel eyes and I might melt on the spot.

It doesn’t matter that he interrupted my bath this morning to explore new carnal delights; I want him again.Right now.

And he wants me.I shiver in anticipation as he pierces my soul with ravenous gold-speckled orbs.

Audrey squeezes my hands before letting go and stepping back.

“That’s my cue.The ceremony starts in thirty minutes.Don’t be late,” she says.

“Hang on, aren’t you supposed to say it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”I call out in mock affront.

Matteo steps into the room to let her pass.

“Don’t worry, Brook—I’ll take all the bad luck.I’m used to it anyway.Twenty-nine minutes!”

She shuts the door behind her.