Page 51 of Stolen Vows

"So, Cara," he murmurs, as he lifts the ring from the box and takes my hand. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course, I will," I reply, without so much as a second thought.

He grins as he slips the ring on my finger, and he pulls me in for a kiss. It’s just a chaste one, but I know that there will be far more to come tonight.

When we pull back, Maya is gaping at us both in total shock.

"Max, it’s fine to surprise her, but you should have at least told us!” Maya exclaims, punching her brother lightly on the arm.

"Hey, I wanted to see the looks on all your faces," he replies, holding his hands up playfully, like he’s been caught in the act. "And trust me... it was so worth it."

He glances around the room at all of us—at his father, who is grinning widely, his sister, who is already leaning over and demanding to get a look at my ring. And then, his gaze lands on me, and the look on his face when our eyes come together is everything that I need in that moment.

"I love it," Maya sighs. "Just like the one Mom had..."

But I can hardly hear what she is saying, nor can I make out what Dario is announcing, though I’m distantly aware that it’s got something to do with getting a priceless bottle of champagne out of the wine cellar. I slide my fingers across the table to interlock with Max’s, hardly able to believe that this is the man I am going to get to spend the rest of my life with.

The last time I knew that I was going to be married, all I could think about was how scared I was. How it felt like a million opportunities slamming in my face, crushing me, pushing me down, leaving me with no way to come out the other side unscathed. I had slipped into that wedding dress like a funeral shroud, feeling as though I was walking to my grave instead of my husband.

But this? This feels anythingbutthat. This feels like everything opening up before me again, the light of a new day breaking over my face, the pressure finally lifting. Not just being with Max, but being a Mastroni, being part of this new empire that would dogood in the world instead of tearing it down as my father had done.

I mouthI love youover the table, and he mouths it back. He tightens his grip on my hand, and I know, more clearly than anything in the world, that this is where I belong.

23

Max

"I don’t know," Cara laughs, as she follows me out of the elevator. "I still think I have some impressing to do with your family..."

"Seriously?” I shoot back. "My dad loves you. I think he was happier than me when you said yes to the proposal."

"Oh, I don’t know about that," she teases, as she spins around to face me, biting her lip.

Her cheeks are slightly flushed, and I can see the playful flirtatiousness flashing in her eyes. She might have been playing the role of my innocent, loving girlfriend-turned-fiancée all night, but there is another side to her, a side to her that I can’t wait to remind myself of tonight.

I make my way towards her, sliding my hands beneath the green fabric of her dress. As I sink my fingers into her thighs, I let out a long groan.

"You see, how could I let anyone else get close to you?” I murmur to her, shaking my head as I brush my lips across hers. "I had tolock you down as soon as I got the chance. Couldn’t risk it going any other way..."

"Oh, that’s how this works, huh?" She giggles, swooping a strand of hair back behind her ear. "And what exactly do you want me for, Max?"

"I think you know..."

"Yeah, but I’d like to hear you say it."

I pull back, cocking an eyebrow at her. This side of her, this liberated, exciting side, I can’t wait to see more of. I love it when she’s vocal with me, and I intend to make the most of that over the course of the night.

"I want to fuck you," I breathe in her ear, and she shudders against me, her body sinking into mine. I pick her up off the ground and pin her to the wall just next to the elevator—no need to get to bed to do this. I have to have her right here and now.

"That’s what I thought," she teases, as I kiss her again, reaching up to slip my fingers into her panties.

She groans against my mouth, her tongue sweeping along my bottom lip lavishly. I can taste the remnants of red wine on her lips, though she is more intoxicating than it could ever be.

I sink two fingers inside of her, grinning as I feel how wet she is for me, how ready. She moans again. I sink my teeth into her lip slightly, drawing another shudder from her. She is still so new to all of this that we have a whole world of sexual connection to explore, and I want nothing more than to be there to lead her through every single part of it.

"Tell me what you want," I demand, turning her question around on her.

She squirms slightly against me, as I curl my fingers a little, pressing against the sensitive nub a few inches inside of her.

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