“And some sense of self-preservation,” I growl.
“I thought you said being held captive had changed you?” Rory asks Fitz.
When Meri chances removing her hand, Fitz looks sheepish. “My epiphany of leading a more wholesome life might be wearing off,” he admits. “I need to get wasted.”
“I’ll join you,” Calder says.
“I’ll supervise,” Rory adds, leaving me and Grace alone with Meri.
“Do I get a hug now those idiots have gone?” I ask my sister.
Meri stumbles forward and lets me wrap her in my arms. “I nearly lost you, didn’t I?”
“I was wearing a Kevlar vest.”
“So was Killian,” she says. “And I didn’t mean tonight.” She looks up at me pointedly and then it clicks. Fucking Max. He’s told her what happened at Katarina’s apartment. “I pushed you away, Duke and I let you drift too far.”
“Only because I let you. I thought it was what you needed.”
She shoves me for effect. “No, it was all about whatyouneeded. You wanted to shoulder the blame and punish yourself instead of making me face my own regrets and recriminations. You tried to shield me and that wasn’t healthy for either of us. Idiot,” she says, swatting away a tear and looking to Grace. “I’m just glad he had you there to save him.” She kisses Grace’s cheek. “You do know that now you’ve borrowed one of my dresses, we’re practically sisters?”
“I’d like that,” Grace says.
I can almost hear the plans Meri’s making in her head and break into her thoughts. “But before you steal her from me,” I interrupt, “I need some alone time with my fiancée.”
Just saying that out loud, knowing I’m talkingabout Grace, has my heart soaring. I lead her through the marquee and find a quiet spot outside. The temperature has plunged and I take off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. “It wasn’t too much, was it? The whole public engagement?”
“It wasn’t exactly how I imagined you proposing, but you asking me to marry you has been a secret fantasy of mine for over a year now,” she admits. “I love you so much, Duke.”
“And I love you.”
Grace’s fingers slide through my hair and when we kiss, she doesn’t give me the option to be gentle. I’d been scared to take things further after seeing her bruises, but as I lift her up and press my aching cock against her stomach, I can’t hold back for much longer.
“Do not make me rip this dress,” Grace pants as we break our kiss.
“I will fuck you before this day is done,” I warn, nibbling her neck.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she promises as her hands come to rest on my chest. “But you did promise me a party.”
“Grace, I’m devoting the rest of my life to giving you everything you could ever want. Don’t ever doubt it.”
There’s the most beautiful look of contentment on Grace’s face as she glances down at the ring sparkling on her wedding finger. “It’s beautiful,” she says, “but I need to know. How on earth did you get an engagement ring so fast?”
“That old thing?” I say casually. “It’s been gathering dust in my desk drawer for a year.”
She blinks. “A year?”
“I bought it the week after we met, Angel.”
Grace looks at me horrified. “Then I’ve changed my mind,” she says, leaving a beat before she adds, “Forget the damn party. I need you to fuck me, Duke. Right. Now.”
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Grace
“Ican’t keep this up. My cheeks are aching,” I complain.
