Page 54 of Forced Innocent Bride By the Bratva

His gaze lingered on me. I could feel it; I could feel the weight. Softly, I let out an exhale and then raised my head and looked into his eyes. “I warned you that day because…” my words caught in my throat for an instant before continuing, “because I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”

His eyes narrowed with a subtle motion, his expression softening ever so slightly.

“I couldn’t imagine living without you, and as crazy as that sounds, I promise you, it’s the truth,” I continued, my heart racing in my chest.

“You said you couldn’t imagine living without me. What about now? Can you imagine living without me?” he asked, his voice smooth and easy, fingers brushing over my skin.

His touch ignited a fire within me, leaving me breathless and nervous, my body shuddering at the shivers running down my spine.

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. “No. I can’t. I can’t live without you, Daniel. You’ve snuck your way into my heart. You’ve pulled down my high walls and broken all of my defenses.” I paused, letting the words sink in as I took a moment to revel in the smile on his lips. “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m glad that you did.”

He stared into my eyes, passion dancing in the depths of his. “Do you know what Ilya said about you?”

I squinted, tilting my head to the side, unsure of where this was going.

Daniel continued, “He believed that you changed me. In his opinion, you made me weak.”

“That’s not true,” I interrupted, shaking my head.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” he said, his fingers working their magic on my neck. “But the truth is,printsessa…you unlocked something in me, an emotion I never thought that I was capable of feeling.” He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. Daniel’s voice dropped to a low whisper when he said, “I love you, Scarlett.”

My heart sank into my belly, my breath hitching for a moment as my eyes widened.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but I am now,” he added, his voice dripping with sincerity. “It’s a strange feeling—an unfamiliar one—but…I like it. I like how you make me feel.” His thumb brushed over the tears streaming down my cheeks.

My heart swelled with emotion, my lips trembling subtly at the big reveal. Daniel was not the type to talk about his feelings—hell, he wasn’t even the type to feel anything other than hate and lust. Hearing him say those words—those three little words—meant the world to me.

His confession left me numb, speechless, with tears of joy simmering in my eyes. I wasn’t ready for this. Maybe that was the reason why I was so emotional about the whole thing. I knew he’d developed a liking for me over time, but I was too scared to think that it was actually love. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to have them bashed to the ground.

Daniel’s grip tightened around my waist, and he pulled me closer to himself. “You’re my wife, and as your husband, I vow to adore you, protect you, and love you in every sense of the word.”

Fuck, that’s so sweet.

My heart raced with joy, shock, and surprise, the mix of emotions threatening to consume me. My brain went blank for a moment, my lips parting, but no sound came forth. No words. Just warm breaths.

“This is the part where you make your own vow,” he teased, a soft chuckle falling from his mouth.

I drew a deep breath, stuttering. “Sorry, I, uh…you—you sorta caught me off guard.” I wiped my tears, sniffling, clearing my throat as I got a grip on myself. “You’re my husband, and as your wife, I vow to respect you, honor you, submit to you, and love you in every sense of the word.”

His lips twitched at the corners, eyes sparkling with pride and mirth. “Till death do us part?”

I nodded, holding back my tears. “Till death do us part.”

Daniel leaned forward, his lips claiming mine in a soft, tender kiss that sealed our vows. A rare warmth spread through my body as I melted into his grip, savoring the moment like this was our first kiss on the altar.

As far as I was concerned, today was the day I officially married Daniel Tarasov, and I would hold on to this moment until my last breath.

Lucky me.

Extended Epilogue

Daniel

My wife and I went on a vacation away from the problems of our regular lives. I needed some time alone with her, just the two of us, getting wild and free and enjoying each other’s company. Our story had taken an unexpected turn for the best, but we weren’t done telling it; we weren’t done exploring the next few pages.

Dressed in a white shirt with the top buttons undone and a pair of white shorts, I stared at my wife from the helm station. She stood on the deck, her elegant figure silhouetted against the vast expanse of sea and sky. Her manicured hands grasped the railing, slender fingers wrapped around the polished steel as if anchoring herself against the wind’s gentle caress.

The fiery tendrils of her red hair swirled around her face, dancing to the rhythm of the sea breeze. Her flowing white gown, almost see-through, seemed to shimmer and glow in the sunlight, its hem flailing in the direction of the wind.

---