Bind Me Before You Go (Entangled Brazen) (Serve) (14 page)

She immediately brought her lips to his and seared him with her kiss and everything that was her. And he knew right then, for the rest of his life, he would never take for granted or get tired of the feel of his Cassidy.

“Take me back home,” she said, and she threw her arms around his neck and melted into his embrace. “I’m ready for us to get started on forever.”

Epilogue

Six months later

“Cass! I’m home!” He dropped his leather jacket and travel duffel by the front door and dusted the snow off the top of his head.

He had only been gone for five days, but she didn’t care. Now that they’d been living together for the last few months, it made the separations especially unbearable. So even though she was in an apron, covered in flour and sugar, it didn’t stop her from running full speed, from the kitchen to the foyer, to collide into David’s arms. The force of her impact was so strong that he rocked back on one foot.

“You came back early! I didn’t expect you home ’til later this afternoon!” she breathlessly exclaimed, as she wrapped her legs tight around his waist.

“Mission’s in good hands with the new team, so I got an earlier flight,” he said and beamed the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. But then again, all the smiles he gave her these days were her favorites, because he smiled almost all the time now.

She drank everything about him in, like heady liquor, and then drove her fingers into his hair and kissed him fully. God, he tasted so good, like cinnamon, mint, and coffee. When he sucked hard on her tongue, she thought she’d have a mini orgasm right there.

She reluctantly broke the kiss and gazed into his deep and soulful green eyes. “As much as I’m dying to continue offering you a proper homecoming, I’ve got about three dozen cookies in the oven for tonight’s party, and Allie’s coming over soon to help me bake some more.”

He play-growled into her neck as he carried her over to the kitchen. “What the hell were we thinking when we decided to throw a Christmas party?” He put her down and sat on one of the stools by the center island. “Next year, we’re ditching this cold weather and going someplace with a beach, lots of rum, and no people. Promise me, Cass.”

She quickly put on some oven mitts and reached in to take out the trays of cookies. “I’ll do no such thing. I’m finally getting a normal Christmas with friends and family, so don’t be such a scrooge.” She tossed the mitts to the side and used a spatula to place the cookies on the cooling racks. “Besides, I just spoke with your mom. She said Dante has been doing so well at the Academy that he earned a weekend pass. So he’s going to come by with them for a little while.”

David’s eyebrows shot straight up. “Really? So soon?”

The “Academy” was the shorthand they all used for the Academy Way Community Residence, a care facility for people with persistent and chronic mental illnesses. It had taken many talks with his parents, but finally Cassidy had convinced them to give the place a try. She had been trained to be sensitive to others’ cultural beliefs while still trying to advocate what was best for the person in crisis, but she suspected that—for all her efforts—what finally made his aging parents agree was that one of the psychiatrists on staff just happened to have family from the next village over from David and Dante’s mother back in Italy.

“Hey, whatever it takes,” her man had said to her.

Actually convincing Dante had taken zero point two seconds, especially when he realized the facility was co-ed, and he’d have access to the library and classes at the local college nearby.

Being in a structured, round-the-clock care facility meant the doctors found an effective medication protocol for him fairly quickly. Having individual and group therapy sessions—and also having his family be part of his psychological education—really made a difference. It lessened much of the shame and stigma they had all been carrying around for years.

It still brought tears to Cassidy’s eyes every time she remembered the first time they all went up there to visit him, once he had been stable for a while. His parents had broken down in their relief at seeing their son functioning and finding a small slice of happiness.

“Fine, fine…but I should get a reward for magnanimously sharing you,” he said.

She let out a melodic laugh while shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah, I know what you want.” She grabbed one of the bowls and a spoon and brought it over to him. “Your chocolate with hazelnut cookie dough, dear sir. Enjoy your spoils.”

He tossed the spoon and slid his fingers along the inside of the bowl. Just as she was about to walk away, he hooked her by the waist with the other hand and pulled her into his body. She yelped and cackled loudly, pretending to protest his manhandling.

“David! Stop!”

After licking his finger, it was his turn to dive his hands into her soft hair and bring her in for a kiss.

“I’m never going to stop, so don’t ask that of me,” he whispered against her lips. “I love you more than life, Cass.”

It still took her breath away when he said that to her. “David,” she sighed with happiness. “I love you.”

“There’s one more present I want,” he said, his voice and expression taking on a serious tone.

She rolled her eyes and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Oh really? What else do you want for Christmas, you spoiled, spoiled man?”

He got quiet and cupped her face in his palms, taking in a deep breath and, if she wasn’t mistaken, actually looking a bit nervous.

“The best present of my life has been having you move in and getting to love you every day,” he said, his voice cracking at the end. “But I can’t go on not knowing for sure that you won’t be there with me every day.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box.

Her mouth fell open. “Baby…”

“I can’t go on just being the boyfriend you live with. I want…no, I
need
to be your husband. And I need you to be my wife.”

“I don’t know…” she said, but she threw him a smile to let him know she was giving him a hard time.

“You love me, Cass?”

She stared into the infinity of his gaze. “More than life.”

“Can you see being mine until the end?”

“David, I already am.”

Now it was his turn to smile.

“Then
marry
me.”

The tears that had been hovering in her eyes finally fell down her cheeks, and she could taste their salt because she was smiling so big. Then she looked down as she felt him place the most luminous ring she had ever seen on her finger.

She held her finger up. Yep. Definitely the biggest diamond she’d ever laid eyes on. “You know I’m saying yes, right? I couldn’t say no to you if I tried.”

“Don’t even think about it,” he said and brought her into his arms.

“Merry Christmas, David Cavill.”

He held her tight, and he knew he’d never let go. “Merry Christmas, Cassidy Peyton Cavill.”

THE END

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About the Author

Born in California and raised in South Florida,
Harper Kincaid
has moved around like a gypsy with a bounty on her head ever since. Along the way, she worked as a community organizer, a professional matchmaker, an art teacher, a popular blogger, and a crisis counselor (to name a few things), all the while longing to have the guts and follow-through to do what she really wanted: to write and become a published author. That wish has finally come true.

Besides writing about sexy people falling in love, Harper adores listening to indie, lo-fi complaint rock played on vinyl, wearing black, the theater, well-informed optimism, happy endings (both kinds), and making those close to her laugh ’til they snort. She’s a self-proclaimed change junkie, loving new experiences and places, but has now happily settled in the cutest lil’ town—Vienna, Virginia.

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Exposed by Fate

When Eliza Ballas attends New York’s premier BDSM club, she’s taken aback by the sexy Brit who assumes she’s adept at sensual arts. She needs an erotic education fast, and she knows just the man to teach her. Oliver Preston never turns from pleasure, but Eliza’s his sister’s best friend. Torn between a sense of duty and his need to make her his, he draws Eliza deep into his world of exquisite pleasure, knowing he’ll have to give her to another man…if he doesn’t lose himself to her first.

Mistaken by Fate

With seduction in sight, fashion designer Ridley Ethridge arranges to meet her potential Mr. Almost Perfect anonymously at a club that caters to erotic appetites. What happens next is both intense and satisfying—until Ridley’s blindfold comes off to reveal the twin brother of Mr. Almost Perfect. The same twin who broke her heart eight years ago before he enlisted. Garrett Reaver will be damned before he lets someone else have Ridley. They have some seriously unfinished business to take care of…and it starts now.

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