Page 142 of The Ecstasy of Sin

“I love you so much. I’d rather die than be without you,” he whispers against my ear, his voice full of intense emotion. “If you leave this world before me, I’ll slit my throat and follow you.”

The love in his words, and the devotion in his voice, is more than I can bear. “Untie me, please,” I beg, tears forming in my eyes. I need to hold him.

He obeys, his fingers working fast to unbuckle the belt. The moment I’m free, my arms fall around his shoulders, and I cling to him like I’ll fall apart without his touch.

“Don’t you dare leave me alone in this world,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “I can’t live without you either.”

“I’ll never leave you. Even if I have to crawl my way out of hell to get back to you.”

Tears well in my eyes, then break free as my heart aches with the love I feel for him.

We lay there, wrapped in each other on the cold, cracked floor of a probably super haunted abandoned prison, while our heart beats sync and our breathing slows.

After several long minutes, my eyes flutter open again to see the moon shining down on us from above, its silver light breaching the ceiling and illuminating the cell. What was once being swallowed by darkness, is now bathed in the light of the moon.

I shift beneath him, and groan when my body protests the movement. I’m aching in all the best ways.

Dominic stirs, and I wince when he slips from my body, the absence leaving me sore and sensitive. He sits back on his heels, watching me as he fastens his pants and pushes to his feet, stretching his back with a satisfying crack.

I start to sit up, but he drops to one knee in front of me.

Without a word, he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out, holding it up for me to see.

I lift my hand to my mouth, covering the gasp that escapes me.

Between his fingers, he clutches a glimmering platinum engagement ring, crowned with the biggest, most breathtaking kite-cut blood-red ruby I’ve ever seen.

Moonlight spills across its faceted surface, silver sparkles catching all over it like trapped stars. The stone is accented with small diamonds, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

My eyes lift to his, and I’m stunned into silence as he reaches out and takes my hand in his. He pulls it toward him, then slides the ring onto my finger.

A gentle sob breaks free, and my tears fall just like rain.

“I bought this six days after I met you,” he confesses, shifting to rest back on his heels. His arms reach for me, and I fold into him without hesitation, tears streaking down my face as I sink into his lap.

“I knew then what I know now,” he breathes against my lips. “That you were always meant to be mine. And that I’d kill anyone who tried to take you from me.”

The obsessive glint in his dark green eyes makes my entire body ache with renewed need. “I chose a ruby to remind you thatthere’s no limit to the blood I’ll spill for you, and the lengths I will go to be with you.”

I cry harder, a fragile sound that makes his heart race beneath my hand.

“I love you more than anything,” he says. “And there is no future where you are not my wife.”

I smile through the blur of tears, laughing gently at the sheer certainty in his voice. “Are you asking me… or telling me?”

That wicked grin curves his mouth, slow and dangerous. “I’m not giving you a choice, little lamb. I’d carry you kicking and screaming down the aisle if I had to.”

I laugh, and collapse against him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders in a fierce hug. “You’re insane,” I whisper.

“Your very own pet psychopath,” he confirms, his fingers threading into my hair and tugging gently, tilting my face up to his. “For a future husband.”

Then his mouth claims mine in a kiss that’s nothing short of devastating: slow and soul-shattering.

When I move to stand, he doesn’t let me. He scoops me into his arms with effortless strength, rising like I weigh nothing.

“I can walk, you know,” I murmur, my voice whisper-soft in the darkness.

“You’ve done enough walking in your life. You can be carried from now on,” he says, sounding completely serious.