Page 20
"You are the one reason she brought Connor," he says.
"I am," I murmur, not denying it. I respect the man too much to lie to him.
He nods as if he expected the answer. "My Nadia had a rough road to love, but I always knew it would turn out well for her in the end. It has always been Zoya who worries me. She is stubborn. She tries to ignore her heart. It is not good for her."
"She's learning."
"This is good, but she is…special. She needs patience and laughter and independence.
" He pauses, watching me carefully. "But she also needs man willing to help slay her dragons with her so she can fly.
She will try to do it herself, of course, and man for her will lend his strength when hers fails.
She does not need to be changed, only loved and supported.
That is how she learns to listen to her heart. "
"I understand, sir," I say quietly, meeting his gaze. "She's perfect exactly the way she is. She always has been in my book."
"Good, then we are on same page." He claps me on the back hard enough to knock me forward a step. "I knew you were good man, Jareth. Take care of my daughter, or maybe I turn you into wine." He grins at me like he's joking…but I'm pretty fucking sure he isn't kidding.
Maybe Zoya isn't the only terrifying one in her family.
I can't take my eyes off her throughout the entire ceremony.
She looks stunning up there with her sisters.
As Nadia and Teo exchange their vows under the moonlight, surrounded by the people closest to them, those who know their story and stood beside them through every messy moment of it, Zoya discreetly wipes tears from the corners of her eyes.
She catches me staring at one point, and our eyes lock. The whole goddamn world falls away. It's just me and her, caught in something too vast to ignore. It feels like the judge is speaking to us as he talks about walking into the future together.
By the time Nadia and Teo exchange rings, I'm fucking desperate to kiss Zoya. I know she feels the same way. I see it written all over her face. I don't take my eyes from her as Nadia and Teo kiss, and everyone breaks into applause, cheering them on.
I duck behind a post as Teo scoops Nadia into his arms, rushing her down the aisle with the rest of the wedding party following behind. As soon as Zoya steps into view, I hook an arm around her waist, hauling her into my arms in the shadows.
My lips come down on hers, our kiss frantic as we stumble away from the party, disappearing from the crowd.
"Jareth," she moans against my lips as I lift her into my arms, needing her closer.
"You feel it, don't you?" I ask, my heart pounding. I hurry around the side of the building, stopping beside the mechanical harvester where I first made her shatter for me.
"Yes," she whispers.
I groan softly, pushing her back against the cold metal of the machinery as I rake her dress up her thighs. She trembles in my arms, writhing like she's as desperate as I am. Her fingers pluck at my tie before she uses it to haul my mouth back to hers.
I slip her lacy panties aside, running my thumb up her slit.
"Don't make a sound," I breath, balancing her on my thigh as I work my cock free of my pants. Within seconds, the hard bastard is in my hands, and I'm lining up at her entrance.
She buries her face in my throat, whimpering as I sink into her, thrumming her clit the whole time.
I growl softly, my eyes rolling back in my head as her heat strangles me, dragging me right to the edge. My hand digs into her hip, lifting her off my cock and then dropping her back down. I move like a man possessed, desperate to feel her coming apart around me.
"Give it to me, princess," I growl, nipping at her throat. Her collarbones. Everywhere I can reach. "Come all over me before someone catches us."
"God, Jareth," she moans, rocking against me to take me deeper. She clutches me to her as if she doesn't want to separate from me at all. "What are you doing to me?"
"Loving you, Zoya." It's the truth. I'm so fucking in love with her.
Is it too soon to tell her that? Will it send her running?
Maybe. But if she runs, I'll chase, the same goddamn way I have all week.
I plant my lips against her ear, giving her the truth threatening to shatter me into pieces. "I love you."
Her body locks down on mine as she flies apart, thrown over the edge by my confession. Her pussy milking my cock sends me over with her. I groan my way through it, holding her down on me as I spill inside her.
A rough chuckle leaves my lips when her eyes pop open, landing on my face. She opens her mouth, closes it, and then opens it again, but no sound comes out.
"Yeah, I said it, princess."
She gasps softly, her gaze flying to my face. "What?"
"I love you."
"You…"
"I love you." I brush my lips across hers. "Just thought you should know."
"Jareth," she groans, her inner muscles fluttering around me in a way that has me ready to fuck her all over again. "You don't play fair."
"Who said I'm playing, baby?" I lift her again, slamming her down on me.
"I told you months ago that you were mine.
I told you days ago that I'm not going anywhere.
And now I'm telling you the rest of it. I love you.
I love your smartass mouth. I love your attitude.
I love the way you think you can run from me.
I love the way you squeak and moan and shake for me. I fucking love you."
She chokes on my name, her eyes full of wonder. But I see the fear lurking beneath it. The worry that I don't mean it, that I'll break her heart. Her father's words float back to me, and I know exactly what I need to do to prove to her that it's safe to listen to her heart.
"Jareth, I…"
I slant my mouth down on hers, silencing her. "You don't owe me anything, princess. Not until you're ready."
"Why are you so good to me?" she whispers when I let her up for air.
"Mmm. Maybe because you keep letting me do this to you," I growl, bouncing her on my cock again. "A pussy like this makes a motherfucker want to be real good, Zoya."
"Jareth!" She smacks me across the shoulder and then shakes her head, smiling despite herself. "You are so freaking cocky and annoying sometimes."
"You fucking love it."
"Maybe," she whispers, wrapping her hand around my tie to haul me back to her mouth again. "Or maybe it's all part of my plan."
"What plan?"
"To ruin you," she says sweetly, clenching her inner muscles around me again.
I growl, rocking my hips into hers. "Ruining your own property, huh? That's a helluva plan, baby."
"I know." She bats her lashes at me. "Thought of it all by myself."
"Has anyone seen Zoya?"
"Crap," she whispers, faceplanting into my chest as her mom's voice floats to us. "They noticed we're missing."
"Then you better come fast."
"You wouldn't," she growls, her eyes narrowing on me.
I just smirk in response, lifting her off me. My eyes lock on hers before I yank her back down, proving that when it comes to her, there isn't a whole lot I won't do.