by Cynthia Eden
Her hips surged up against him. “What are you waiting for?”
He sank into her. Filled her completely.
There was no more talking. Or laughing. There was just the hard, frantic drive toward release. Faster and faster. Rougher and rougher. Her nails scraped over his side. His thrusts shook the bed.
When she came, the pleasure burst through her. Her body buckled, and she held him even tighter.
And when he came, she could see the pleasure on his face. Flashing in his eyes, slackening his jaw and—
“Fucking…love you…Always…”
She could even hear the pleasure in his voice. Hear the pleasure and the love.
Lacey held him tight and knew…Dex, I will never let you go.
She’d found what she’d been searching for so long. Not just family, but a place where she belonged. She belonged with Dex. He belonged with her.
Her hand slid down to the bedding. The diamond ring gleamed.
One day, their engagement wouldn’t be pretend. Lacey understood this with certainty. One day, it would be real. As real as the love she felt for him.
Epilogue
“I can’t believe she said yes.” Eric Wilde frowned suspiciously at Dex.
Dex adjusted his tie. The tux was a little tight in the shoulders, but it would do. A quick glance in the mirror told him that he looked semi-presentable.
Good enough.
“I mean, I warned her. Told her that there were guys out there a whole lot less shady than you…”
Now he glowered at Eric. “Seriously? You understand that this is my wedding day, too? Are you trying to piss me off?”
Eric shrugged. “Are you getting pissed?”
“Look, I get it. You think I’m dangerous and manipulative and that I somehow tricked her into marrying me.”
“You are dangerous and manipulative. And didn’t you trick her into marrying you?”
“I may have used some faint trickery in the first engagement, but this last one has been completely real.” He and Lacey had dated for six months. Six months. He’d been nearly going insane because he wanted her legally tied to him. He wanted permanence with Lacey.
He wanted everything with her.
“She loves you,” Eric noted. His voice was very careful. Considering.
Dex adjusted the tie once more, even though it didn’t need adjusting. “Good to know. Because I’m insane for her.” A quick glance at his watch told him that he needed to get moving. It’s time. Finally, it’s time. He headed for the door.
Eric moved into his path. “We’re going to be family.”
“Aw, is this your way of welcoming me? Come here, bring it in.” He grabbed Eric in a quick bear hug. “Feel better now?” He’d made the guy his best man. What else did Eric want?
“Let go, Dex.”
Smothering a smile, he did. “You just can’t admit you like me, can you? And it’s hurtful since I’ve thought we were best friends for like…ever.” He made his way toward the door.
“Lacey told me to look behind your mask.”
Dex exhaled. He’s Lacey’s family. You have to play nicely with—
“I told her that I already had. I know you’re a good man, Dex, and I think you’ll make my cousin very happy.”
Dex spun toward him. “Then what is all this grilling about?”
Eric smiled at him. “Because messing with you is fun?”
What?
Eric winked. “Welcome to the family.”
“Between you and Roman, I have the feeling this family will exhaust me.” But the exhaustion would be worth it.
Having Lacey? She was worth any price that he had to pay.
***
He could barely breathe as she walked down the aisle. She was wearing some flowing white dress—looked like it was made of silk—and her thick, dark hair tumbled around her shoulders. She smiled as she came toward him. Roman held one of her hands. In the other hand, she gripped a bouquet of red roses.
Eric’s wife, Piper, served as Lacey’s matron of honor, and Eric—he was standing all tall and proud as Dex’s best man.
Eric leaned toward him and whispered, “Breathe before you pass out. That shit will be embarrassing.”
So he was able to take a breath. Then Lacey was in front of him. He realized that she’d been staring at him during that whole, endlessly long walk down the aisle.
She pulled her hand from Roman’s. Took Dex’s. Their fingers twined together.
“Hi,” he said. Random. Inane.
Her smile stretched.
And Roman lingered. Why was he lingering? Then, as if on cue, Roman mumbled, “You don’t have to do this.”
Seriously? What the hell? What was with this family? Dex glowered. Not cool.
But Lacey laughed. “It’s not like he’s blackmailing me.”
Dammit. Dex could feel heat stinging his cheeks.
Her fingers tightened around his. “Dex is what I want. Now and always.” Then she glanced toward the watchful pastor. “So, not to rush or anything, but when is the part where I get to say…”
“I do,” Dex finished.
He bent his head and kissed her.
“I do,” Lacey murmured against his mouth. “I definitely do.”
***
Dex had dance moves. Who the hell would have thought that? Roman stood in the corner and couldn’t help but smile as he saw Dex whirl Lacey around the dance floor. Her laughter rang out—strong and clear and so happy.
She loved Dex.
Roman had no doubt that Dex loved her.
He’d still given Lacey the out option at the altar, though, because wasn’t that what brothers were for? A reliable guy who would have an escape plan at the ready?
In the months since the nightmare in Colorado, he’d grown close to Lacey. Dex had helped them both. With Antony Kyle pulling up his tech magic, they’d even managed to locate a long forgotten nanny who’d cared for Roman when he’d been a toddler. A woman who remembered his mother all too well.
And how devastated she’d been when Gideon Valentino had refused to let her have her son. The woman had known that Roman’s mother would come back over the years, that the only reason she kept returning to Gideon was so that she could have glimpses of her son. Gideon had never let her talk to him—because, yes, he’d been a fucking twisted prick—but she’d been able to see Roman from a distance.
She’d lied to Gideon. Falsified DNA tests and said that Lacey wasn’t his child. Thanks, again, to Dex and Antony, they’d even learned that Jason Amari had been in on the subterfuge He’d met Elora while she was pregnant with Lacey. Had married her. Had fallen in love with her.
And he’d loved Lacey as if she was his own child.
To Lacey, Roman knew Jason Amari would always be her father.
There were more pieces to discover in the puzzle that was his life, Roman knew that. But he’d learn everything in time. He had people helping him now. People he could depend upon.
And he even had his friend back. His friend, his enemy. Dex had been both over the years. Now he had a new name.
Brother-in-law.
Yes, he’d be needing a few drinks to deal with that one.
Roman snagged a champagne flute from a passing waiter.
“So…” Eric drawled. “Are you just going to leave me hanging?”
His cousin. More family. More people trying to pull him out of the dark.
“I made the job offer several weeks ago, and you haven’t answered me yet,” Eric continued as he came to a stop near Roman. “What do you think about joining the team at Wilde?”
He drained the flute. Another crossroad was before him. He knew it. If he took this path, everything would change and…
Lacey was laughing again. So was Dex.
They looked so happy.
Can I ever be that way?
His grip tightened on the stem of the glass. “Screw it. Yes, yes, I’m in.”
Eric slapped a hand on his shoulder. “You wo
n’t regret this.”
“No, but you might.”
Eric laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve got just the partner to train you.”
To train him?
“You’ll absolutely love her.”
“Highly doubtful.”
Eric just grinned.
The End
Want to read another Cynthia Eden book?
There’s a sexy, new crime-fighting team in town…Check out STEP INTO MY WEB.
Step Into My Web
Step into my web…and you’ll never get out.
Chloe Hastings doesn’t like rules, and she doesn’t exactly play well with others. But she does have one amazing talent—she can get into the mind of killers like no one else. A police consultant and profiler, Chloe is definitely not like anyone that Joel Landry has ever encountered. From the moment they meet—in the middle of a bank robbery—she throws him off balance and pulls him under spell. She seems to have no fear, she plots constantly, and…Joel quickly finds himself trapped in her web.
She needs a new partner…and he’s just the man for the job.
There’s a sadistic killer hunting in the streets of New Orleans, and Chloe plans to catch him. First, though she needs a partner she can trust, and she’s decided that Dr. Joel Landry is the best fit for the job. Sure, he has a dark past. The doctor was attacked by a serial killer, but Joel survived while his attacker did not. Now the ruggedly handsome doctor has turned to the shadows. He’s learned how to hunt, how to fight, how to kill in a thousand brutal ways—in short, he’s acquired all of the skills that Chloe absolutely adores in a man.
He’s exactly what she wants. She could become the only thing he needs.
Together, they should be a perfect fit. She knows the minds of criminals better than anyone else, and Joel can protect her from any threat that comes their way. They’ll have one hell of a time tracking down the bad guys, provided Chloe and Joel don’t kill each other first. Another unanticipated twist for the new partners? Their attraction to each other is explosive, their desire uncontrollable. One reckless kiss seals their fate, and their need won’t be denied.
And neither will the killer who waits for his moment to attack.
Chloe knows that she’s facing the most dangerous adversary of her life. A killer who has waited and planned and who is determined to get his vengeance on her. And he knows that the best way to hurt Chloe…is by taking away the man she’s starting to love…
Once you step into a spider’s web, there is no going back.
Author’s Note: Chloe Hastings always has a plan in play. Her investigations are unusual, her friends are generally on the shady side, and her social skills? Well, those are pretty much non-existent. But Chloe solves every case that crosses her path, and she never, ever backs down. When she teams up with her new partner, all bets are off. Joel is gorgeous, sinful, and about to break through every wall that Chloe possesses. He’ll fight for her, she’ll fight for him, and the criminals in their path had better get ready. There is a new crime-solving team in town.
Learn more about STEP INTO MY WEB.
A Note From the Author
Thank you for taking the time to read SAY I DO. I hope you enjoyed reading tricky Dex’s story. He’s a character who demanded his own HEA, and I had such a fun time bringing him in to the “Wilde” world. As you can tell by the ending of SAY I DO…it appears that Roman might just be brought into that world, too… (And maybe Antony? What do you think?)
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Again, thank you for reading SAY I DO.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Cynthia Eden is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
More Information
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Her Other Works
Wilde Ways
Protecting Piper (Wilde Ways, Book 1)
Guarding Gwen (Wilde Ways, Book 2)
Before Ben (Wilde Ways, Book 3)
The Heart You Break (Wilde Ways, Book 4)
Fighting For Her (Wilde Ways, Book 5)
Ghost Of A Chance (Wilde Ways, Book 6)
Crossing The Line (Wilde Ways, Book 7)
Counting On Cole (Wilde Ways, Book 8)
Dark Sins
Don’t Trust A Killer (Dark Sins, Book 1)
Don’t Love A Liar (Dark Sins, Book 2)
Dark Obsession Series
Watch Me (Dark Obsession, Book 1)
Want Me (Dark Obsession, Book 2)
Need Me (Dark Obsession, Book 3)
Beware Of Me (Dark Obsession, Book 4)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series
Mine To Take (Mine, Book 1)
Mine To Keep (Mine, Book 2)
Mine To Hold (Mine, Book 3)
Mine To Crave (Mine, Book 4)
Mine To Have (Mine, Book 5)
Mine To Protect (Mine, Book 6)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 1 (Mine, Books 1-3)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 2 (Mine, Books 4-6)
Mine Series Deluxe Box Set (Books 1 to 6)
Lazarus Rising
Never Let Go (Book One, Lazarus Rising)
Keep Me Close (Book Two, Lazarus Rising)
Stay With Me (Book Three, Lazarus Rising)
Run To Me (Book Four, Lazarus Rising)
Lie Close To Me (Book Five, Lazarus Rising)
Hold On Tight (Book Six, Lazarus Rising)
Lazarus Rising Deluxe Box Set (Books 1 to 6)
Lazarus Rising Volume One (Books 1 to 3)
Lazarus Rising Volume Two (Books 4 to 6)
Bad Things
The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things, Book 1)
On The Prowl (Bad Things, Book 2)
Undead Or Alive (Bad Things, Book 3)
Broken Angel (Bad Things, Book 4)
Heart Of Stone (Bad Things, Book 5)
Tempted By Fate (Bad Things, Book 6)
Bad Things Volume One (Books 1 to 3)
Bad Things Volume Two (Books 4 to 6)
Bad Things Deluxe Box Set (Books 1 to 6)
Wicked And Wild (Bad Things, Book 7)
Saint Or Sinner (Bad Things, Book 8)
Blood and Moonlight Series
Bite The Dust (Blood and Moonlight, Book 1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight, Book 2)
Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight, Book 3)
Blood and Moonlight (The Complete Series)
Bite Series
Forbidden Bite (Bite Book 1)
Mating Bite (Bite Book 2)
Purgatory Series
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory, Book 2)
Charming The Beast (Purgatory, Book 3)
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory, Book 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Bound Series
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
Bound In Darkness (Bound Book 2)
Bound In Sin (Bound Book 3)
Bound By The Night (Bound Book 4)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Bound in Death (Bound Book 5)
Boxed Sets
Lazarus Rising Deluxe Box Set (Books 1 to 6)
Lazarus Rising Volume One (Books 1 to 3)
Lazarus Rising Volume Two (Books 4 to 6)
Bad Things Deluxe Box Set (Bad Things, Books 1 to 6)
Bad
Things Volume One (Bad Things, Books 1 to 3)
Bad Things Volume Two (Bad Things, Books 4 to 6)
Blood and Moonlight (The Complete Series)
Only For Me (Dark Obsession, Books 1 to 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 1 (Mine, Books 1-3)
Mine Series Box Set Volume 2 (Mine, Books 4-6)
Mine Series Deluxe Box Set (Mine, Books 1 to 6)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Naughty Or Nice
Cynthia Eden has written many other works. Check out her full book list.