Page 102 of A Devious Arrangement

I nod, pulling at all my courage, and force the words out as clearly as possible. I need to do this quickly, or I’ll be sobbing midway.

“I used to think my brothers had everything because they found the women who completed them, but now I know that they have everything because they found the women they can give everything to. Anastasia, you are that person for me, with your fiery red hair and matching personality. You will no doubt keep me on my toes.”

She bites the corner of my lip and looks up innocently through her lashes. She definitely knows what she’s doing to me. She squeezes my fingers, and I continue. “I was lost, bored in a life that felt empty, an ever-present pressure in my chest whispering that there was more to life. Now I know that all this time, I’ve been waiting for you.” I lift her hand, running my thumb over the back, then slip the simple white-gold band over her ring finger. It nestles perfectly under her diamond ring like it’s always been there. I kiss her knuckle and rasp just for her. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

Tears pool over her lashes, and I catch them on her cheeks, brushing them away. I mouth,I love you, loving how her breath hitches. “Didn’t you prepare something to say to me?” I say it playfully, earning her eye roll.

I’m inwardly proud when her hesitance washes away, and she begins.

“You always know just what to say to ease my worries, to make me feel like I’m truly where I belong.” I expect her to make a clever remark, but her next words gut me. “Bash, you make me believe in second chances, in happiness that I never thought I deserved. I’ve spent my entire life weighed down by guilt.”

I grip her chin, forcing it up, and bore into her eyes, not letting her look away so she knows just how much I mean it. “You have nothing to feel guilty about.”

“See, you’re doing it again.”She chuckles, and my grip loosens, my finger falling to rest on her neck.

I’m captured when she leans in, her voice soft but carrying the weight of her sincerity. “You see me for who I am, not who I once was or who I could be. And for that, I am eternally grateful.”

It’s hard to focus as she slides a thick black band encrusted in sapphires over my knuckle. My heart is pounding in my chest, sending my pulse rushing in my ears. All I can think about is showing her just how much I love her in a way words never could.

“I’m proud to welcome you as my sister. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Damon says.

I don’t waste a second, pulling Stasia into me and crushing her lips to mine. I devour her sigh, loving the way her nails dig into my shoulders, clutching me tight. There are cheers from around us, and she’s breathless when our mouths part, and I lean my forehead against hers.

“I love you, Mrs. Everette.”

“I love you too.”

“I love you more.”

She laughs, kissing me again, not letting go until I’m the one struggling for breath.

“Still kissing me to shut me up, I see,” I rasp with a grin.

She tilts her head. “Get used to it. It’s going to happen for the rest of our lives.”

“I never said I didn’t like it.”I lift her off her feet, swirling her in my arms, my heart aching with how full it is.

Giggling erupts near the shoreline, bright smiles and little bare feet running through the sand as Anastasia lifts and spins our nieces and nephews into the air, winning their game of chase.

Our.

Tingling forms in my chest, and a sense of relief takes over now that she’s officially mine, not that I’d ever let her go before we were married. Watching her now, it’s as if she’s always belonged here, as if it was only a matter of finding her for her to meld into our family.

Her red hair catches the fading pink light as the sun lowers in the sky. Adoration isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I feel about her. It’s a bone-deep obsession, one that’s built on brief moments and sly smiles as she’s lit up my life and filled the hollow space beneath my ribs.

I chuckle inwardly. She’d tease me mercilessly if she knew what I was thinking.

A shadow casts over me, and there’s a looming present to my right. I don’t have to look to know it’s Nikolai from the weight of his penetrating stares. He appraises me, no doubt wondering how his perfect sister ended up with someone like me, and I can’t blame him because I wonder the same thing daily.

Nikolai shifts until he enters my vision, and his severe expression softens a fraction as he observes the scene unfolding in front of us.

“I still don’t like you.” He pauses for several seconds before begrudgingly saying, “But I’ve never seen her smile like that.”

His brows are pulled together as he turns to face me and says in a sharp tone, “Just know that if you ever hurt her, I’ll be coming for you.”

I roll back on my heels, never losing eye contact with him, meeting his challenge head-on with ease.

I’d rather kill myself before I hurt her. I chuckle. Too bad for him I’d rather play with him than ease his worry. “Aw, another threatening big brother chat,”

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