Page 190 of Wicked Refusal

I let myself feel the strength of her grip, the life inside her veins.Twolives, both mine to protect. “I’m not going anywhere,kotyonok.”

“Good,” she says. “Because this is a two-way street. You want me to be yours? Then I get to have you, too.”

“You’ll have me.”

“Forever.”

“That’s a hell of a long deadline for a contract.”

“Yes.” She’s fighting down a grin. “But I’ll still sign it.”

“You’ve said it now.” I cup her chin. “No takesies-backsies.”

We kiss again. Eli grumbles something that sounds suspiciously close to “Gross,” making us both laugh.

I put one hand around his shoulders. The other, I place on Mia’s belly.My family. My future.And finally, I know what it is—my new mission. My new purpose.

To protect them.

No matter what.

EPILOGUE: MIA

September in Manhattan is pure chaos.

I’m rushing down the stairs of NYU, racing against the clock. I still have to pick up Eli from school, get my dress, change?—

“Ms. Winters!” One of my old professors runs up to me. “I just wanted to congratulate you on your return to NYU. Heard the admissions committee voted in your favor today. Can’t wait to see you back in my classroom!”

“Thank you,” I say, accepting his handshake. “Can’t wait to be back. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really need to?—”

“I remember when you first showed up,” he bulldozes over me with a wistful sigh. “So full of promise. I always knew you’d make your way back to…”

He launches himself on a leisurely stroll down memory lane. Normally, I wouldn’t mind it in the slightest, but today of all days, I’m on the most merciless timeline of all.

My wedding day’s.

By the time he finally lets me go, I’m not just late—I’m desperate. I’ll never make it in time. Why did the admissions committee have to pick today of all days? Is the universestillhell-bent on messing with my life, or am I just that unlucky?

Then I get to my car, and?—

“Oh, comeon!” I glare at the white behemoth parked askew right next to Rhonda the Honda, effectively blocking her in. A limousine—on the freaking curb of NYU. “Seriously?!”

Calm down, Mia. Deep breaths, Mia. You can’t risk jail today of all?—

“Whose freaking car is this?!” I start yelling. “Who left this giant ass dildo here?! ‘Cause let me tell you, if you think it’s gonna compensate for anything, you’ve got another thing?—”

“What exactly should I be compensating for,kotyonok?”

…coming.

I swallow. Hard.

Then I turn towards the voice, and?—

Oh. My. Abs.

As a general rule, Yulian looks like he’s been sculpted by the gods themselves. I thought I’d get over it, with time—the wow effect of hisGQstubble, lightning-in-a-bottle eyes, and cheesegrater eight-pack.