Page 112 of Married with Blood
I kissed that cocky smirk off his face, annoyed that he was right. As far as relationships went, ours started off rocky.
“We can have another one if you want. A ‘real’ wedding. With ‘real’ vows.”
I huffed. “I thought our marriage was legit.”
“Oh, it is.”
“Then you mean you’re offering to have a renewal of our vows with the impression that we’ll actually listen to them this time?”
“Instead of scowling at each other,” he joked.
“And without you threatening me at the altar?” I added playfully before kissing him again.
“Without you biting me ,either.”
I did then, a teasing nip on his lower lip.
He growled, grinning back at me and clutching me closer. “I’m so fucking lucky I have you.”
“Me too.” I sighed as he lifted me into his arms before carrying me out of the room and kissing me on the way. Cradling his face and adoring this strong, dangerous man, I licked my lips and looked forward to how we’d celebrate how legitimately married we were as he took me to bed now. “I promise that our marriage is real. Our vows are real.”
He kissed me as he lowered me to our bed.
“All that matters to me is that I am married to you.”
He paused, staring at me with all the open vulnerability he could let me see and count on. His heart was mine. And he had mine, too.
“All that matters to me is that you are the father of our child.”
He lowered to kiss my belly that was only just almost showing how it would swell.
I ran my hands over his head and urged him back up to kiss me again. Sinking under the familiar heat of his mouth on mine, demanding and brutal with tenderness only he could have for me, I embraced how my pregnancy was a symbol of survival. Of making it to this man and belonging with him, both in bed and in the control room.
With all this love, all this hope, I knew that we would almost certainly be stronger together.
And should anyone come for any member of the Volkov bloodline, they’d have to contend with me protecting what was mine.
That was one more very real and unforced vow I would always ascribe to.
