I swallowed the lump in my throat. To keep my blush from setting fire to my cheeks, I yanked his tie from his vest. “I like it. Pink suits you.”
“Yeah?” he drawled. “And where’s your pink?”
A flirty smile pulled on my lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He fixed his tie and looked at me with an inquisitive stare. “I’ll find out sooner or later. More sooner than you’d like if you don’t share.”
I rolled my eyes but lifted the hem of my dress to show him my light pink heels. There might have been more pink, but that was all he was seeing right now.
He smiled, rubbing a thumb across his bottom lip. The commotion from the rest of the wedding party spilled into the room, and Nico grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front door.
“What are you doing, Nico? We can’t leave yet.”
“We’re not going anywhere, just outside.”
I blinked. “Why?”
“Need a cigarette.”
My brows pulled together. “You want to smoke right now?”
“That’s what I said, wife.” He held the door open for me, but I paused before it as a rumble rolled across the dimming sky.
“Nico, it’s going to rain. My dress—”
“I’ll buy you another.”
I hesitated, but as his gaze pinned mine with insistence, my reservations melted away. The man was just too handsome. I told myself not to marry a handsome man, and what did I do? It was all my fault if I got rained on.
I headed outside, lifting my skirts and watching my feet as I carefully made my way down the steps. As my train dragged across the pavement and through all kinds of dirt and grime, I was chastising myself for not knowing how to tell this man no a little better.
My gaze lifted, and my heart stopped.
When my pulse started back up, it drummed in my ears and stole my breath.
Amongst cracked pavement, the fading sound of sirens, and the taste of urban air, the yellow lights of a carousel blinked bright beneath the overcast sky. It sat static, alone and beautiful.
I walked closer, the train of my dress forgotten. My eyes burned, and a tear slipped down my cheek. Nico’s familiar presence brushed my back.
The first drops of rain fell from the sky and they chimed like music off the golden carousel.
His deep voice slipped into my thoughts. “Do you like it?”
Do I like it?
Slowly, I turned to look at him. Confusion passed through his eyes when he saw my expression. “What’s wrong?” He brushed the tear from my cheek.
The rain was warm and light, and I blinked it off my eyelashes.
“I love you,” I breathed.
His gaze burned around the edges, as the mantra of my pulse filled the space between us.
Love me too. Love me forever.
He stepped forward until his tux brushed my dress, slid his hand to my nape, and pressed his words to my ear. “And I love you, Elena Russo.”
Nico might have been a bad man, but where he lacked in morals, he more than made up for as a husband.
He loved me forever.
The End
The Sweetest Oblivion took six months to complete, with ups and downs and sudden periods of “This is great!” to “This is a giant heap of garbage.” However, now that it’s over, I already miss writing it.
I want to thank my friends and family for their continued support, and their thoughtfulness to always ask me if I’m still writing “those porn books.” Forever and always.
To my husband. Thank you for being my rock, my inspiration, and always answering my strange questions without a blink.
To my beta readers. Tawni, you deserve your own sentence because you’re amazing, girl. Emilia, Kristin, Samantha, Elizabeth, August and a countless number of others—thank you! This book wouldn’t be what it is without each one of your suggestions. You’re my village.
To my editor, Bryony. Your attention to detail has made this novel so much better. And my proofreaders who helped make every sentence shine: Juli Burgett, Khalima Bolden, and Jessica Bucher.
To Sarah at Okay Creations for the amazing cover. And Stacey Ryan Blake for the beautiful formatting.
To the bloggers and reviewers who helped spread the word about this book. I appreciate every one of your emails, reviews, and comments. I write because I love it, but you guys make it that much more enjoyable.
Last but not least, a book is not a book without a reader, so thank you for making The Sweetest Oblivion tangible. It means the world.
Love,
Danielle xo