Twisted, page 31
And the only future for me is her.
“What did I do now?” I ask, glancing at her through the mirror by our dresser as I adjust my cuff links.
“You were planning to kill me,” she says.
I purse my lips, walking over to her, the mattress dipping beneath me when I sit down.
“We’ve talked about this.” I reach out and press my hand against her cheek.
She scoffs. “Yeah, well, what are we supposed to tell people when they ask how we got together? Oh, my husband is a romantic. He forced me into marriage and then drafted up a fake will so he could kill me himself and inherit everything that’s rightfully mine.”
I smirk.
“But don’t worry,” she continues. “It all worked out in the end. I have a magical pussy and he just couldn’t stay away from the siren’s call.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss to her lips. “That’s true.”
She grins, shoving her hands against my chest. I reach up, gripping her wrists and dragging her underneath me, my body hovering over her frame until she’s flat on her back.
“Care to show me more about this magical pussy of yours?” I press my erection into the heat between her thighs.
She moans, giggling as she wraps her hands around my neck.
Happiness races through me, and I still can’t quite believe that this is my life. That I’m hers, and she chose me.
“If people ask, tell them the truth. That your husband is a greedy, selfish man who tied you to him and won’t ever let you go.”
“Promise?” she asks.
“I do.” Tapping my hand on her side, I move back, my cock twitching at the way she protests, trying to pull me back in. “Up. I have a surprise.”
Her eyes lighten and she jumps out of bed, tangling her hand in mine as I lead her out of our room and to the new space I had built off the garage.
I told her I was renovating the garage to make space for another car because I didn’t want her to get nosy, but the truth is that I was building something for her. Preparing for this moment.
My stomach jumps in anticipation as I lead her through the house and to the new room, maneuvering her in front of me when we reach the door off the garage. “Go ahead, open it.”
She looks back at me with a curious expression before she opens the door and steps inside, a gasp leaving her mouth as she spins around and takes in her new darkroom.
It took a lot of research and a month and half to complete, but finally it’s done.
“You built this for me?” she asks, her back still toward me.
I take the moment to drop down to one knee, waiting for her to twist back around. “I did. Do you like it?” I ask.
“Like it? I lo— ” She spins, her hands covering her chest when she sees me lowered to the ground. “What are you doing?”
I reach out and grip her hand, my thumb brushing on the underside of her left ring finger, the metal of her wedding band cool against my skin. “I told you once that I don’t want your firsts, but I have a confession to make.” My heart skips with nerves. “I lied.”
Her bottom lip trembles as she stares down at me, her fingers squeezing mine.
“I want your awkward moments. And your fumbling hands.” I slide my hand from hers, up her side until I’m gripping her hip, and I pull her into me, my face pressing against her stomach. “I want your laughter and your love and your endless fucking light. I’m a greedy man. A selfish one. And I want it all. I want the rest of your firsts and your forever.”
“Julian,” she chokes out.
I shake my head, pressing a kiss to her torso and hugging her to me. “Tell me you’re mine.”
She drops down until she’s on her knees, her hands flying to cup my jaw, forcing my eyes on hers. “I’m yours, Julian Faraci. I choose you.”
Our mouths crash together, and my heart flips and flies, feeling like it might explode through my chest.
“Thank you for my darkroom,” she says against my lips.
I pull back from her face, feeling my love for her fill me up until I can hardly breathe. “Don’t you know yet, gattina? I would do anything for you. Burn this life down to the ground and build a whole new world if you demanded it.”
She grins, pressing her lips against mine one more time. “To a new world then.”
“Our new world.”
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Other Books in the Never After Series
Hooked: A Dark Peter Pan Reimagining
Scarred: A Dark Hamlet Reimagining
Wretched: A Dark Wizard of Oz reimagining
Crossed: TBA (Coming August 1, 2023)
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Also by Emily McIntire
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THE NEVER AFTER SERIES
Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance
Scarred: A Dark, Royal Romance
Wretched: A Dark, Contemporary Romance
Crossed: TBA (Coming August 1, 2023)
Acknowledgments
The first thank-you goes to my sensitivity readers who gave me invaluable help and incredibly in- depth read- throughs of this novel. Sarosh from Tessera Editorial and Salma: Thank you for your time, your willingness to help, and your dedication to ensuring that I wrote this book with authenticity and care.
To my husband, Mike: The man who does everything behind the scenes. Stickers, merchandise, kid duty, dish duty, dinner duty, working out plots, and supporting me while I live my dream. I love you. Thank you for loving me too.
To my best friend, Sav R. Miller: You already know and I say the same thing in every book. Thank you for being my rock. Here’s to the smokies. Love you and wouldn’t want to do this without you.
To my editor, Christa, her assistant, Letty, and the rest of the Bloom Books/Sourcebooks team: Thank you for pushing me to become a better writer, talking me out of my spirals, and making my dreams become reality. This book wouldn’t be half of what it is without you.
To the McIncult: Thank you for being my biggest supporters and loving the words I write. Forever grateful for us finding each other.
To all my readers, new and the OGs: Thank you for taking a chance and picking up my books. For reading until the end and getting lost in the worlds I create.
And last but certainly not least, to my daughter, Melody: You are now and always will be the reason for everything.
About the Author
Emily McIntire is an international and Amazon top-fifteen bestselling author known for her Never After series, where she gives our favorite villains their happily ever afters. With books that range from small town to dark romance, she doesn’t like to box herself into one type of story, but at the core of all her novels is soul- deep love. When she’s not writing, you can find her waiting on her long- lost Hogwarts letter, enjoying her family, or lost between the pages of a good book.
McIntire, Emily, Twisted
