Devoted (Beneath the Mask, #3)

by Luna Mason

“No, not if that life is what put her in this mess. Right now, you are her best option. I know you’d never hurt the girl. Just be careful with this.”

She might not have anyone to protect her, but while she’s here, I will step up.

“This isn’t about me. If this is what it takes to heal you, then I’m glad I did it.”

“I want to help you, Rosa. I really do. But that has to stop. I won’t let you do this to yourself under my watch. You’ve handled the absolute worst of it and you got through it like a boss. Now you have to fight it every damn day, but I will be with you every step of the way. I promise you.”

“Because I like you. Because I can feel your pain every time we’re in the same room. Although you may not, I see your potential. I want to help you stop hurting. I want you to be able to walk out of here when this is over and live your life. I had my life taken away from me, and I know how it feels to not be certain of who you truly are and where you belong.”

“I’m so proud of you. You are the bravest woman to walk this earth. I promise I will make sure he never comes back. I swear on my life.”

I’ve wanted to take Marco out of power for years. But now, I won’t stop until I kill that asshole. His one job in life is to protect his daughters, and he failed.

“You’re a survivor, Rosa. You did what you needed to fight. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Not with me, not with anyone. No one can tell you how to deal with your own trauma.”

“I was so alone. I messed up my college, my future. He took everything from me. No matter how hard I try to regain some type of control over my life, he always wins.”

“You are so strong, Rosa. I don’t think you realize your own strength yet. I will always listen. I might not know exactly what you’re dealing with. But I do know what it’s like to be left alone. To fight with yourself every damn day. To feel like you’re suffocating in your own thoughts, that you will never quite be good enough. Watching everyone else around you move on and have these perfect fucking lives and you’re just stuck.”

I rest my forehead against hers. And, for some reason, it feels like home. Something I’ve never truly had.

“And why am I your treasure, Luca?” His full lips twitch into a smile. “It’s because you are. You are my stolen treasure.”

“It’s you, Rosa. Just simply by existing, you are perfect. Even if you want to just lay here and let me worship your body for the night, we can do that. This is new for me too. What I do know is, anything with you will be everything.”

Putting my hands back behind my head, she leans forward, her hand grabs my throat to hold herself upright. “Well, fuck, that’s new,” I choke out. “Oops, sorry.” She lifts herself back up, her cheeks now red. “Leave the hand there, Rosa.” I tug at her arm to put her hand back.

Heck yeah 🥵

“Please be safe, Luca.” My bottom lip starts to tremble, and he runs his thumb along it. “When I have this to come home to, of course I will be,” he rasps and pats my ass.

“No matter what happens next, my treasure, you will always be my home,”

“I spent days holding you while you threw up all over my goddamn floor. I cuddled you while you screamed in your sleep. I was so worried sick I stayed awake for days–days, Rosa–just watching to make sure you didn’t die on me. You know me well enough to know I would never think you are a joke.” He shakes his head. “Un-fucking-believable.”

“Do you seriously believe this was all a lie? That I don’t truly love you?” His chest heaves as he takes a deep breath.

“Because I do, Rosa. I love you so much it hurts. This is the last thing I ever wanted to happen. I even bought a goddamn house in Greece for us to go to. I wanted it all with you.”

“You’re taking my heart with you, okay?”

“One last kiss?” My voice shakes. She wraps her hands around me and squeezes. “No.” “Please, Rosa. Don’t make me beg.” I’m desperate to have one last taste of heaven before I get sent to hell.

“I knew this tattoo would look gorgeous wrapped around your neck.”

who wouldn't :)

“Most of all, I think about the way you’d jump into my arms when I came home. You’d have the brightest smile before you kissed the life out of me. I miss the way you opened up to me, and only me.”

“I will take everything you told me to the grave. You can trust me with your life. I will always be honored that you were brave enough to tell me. And I will always be there for you, no matter what.”

“One last kiss?” he whispers. “I thought our last one was our last?” I bite the inside of my mouth. “We will have as many last kisses as it takes to finally be back where we belong, tesoro.”

“Rosa, I want to show you love. True, unconditional love. All the dates, the extravagant gifts.” He pauses, bringing my left hand to his cheek, pulling off my engagement ring with his teeth. “A real diamond, the wedding of our dreams, the family. Every. Single. Damn. Thing. That will bring a smile to those beautiful lips. I want to give you that. No, I will give you that. It’s the only thing keeping me going, tesoro.”

“I don’t want sorry, I just want you. I am so madly in love with you. You know I will do anything for you. You say the word, it’s done. I would lay down my whole life for you.”

“Please don’t hide from me, baby. I love every inch of you.” He tips my chin up to face him. “And that also means don’t keep your feelings or your demons from me. I’m here to battle them with you. Always.”

“I want forever with you, Rosa. I want to be yours. You own my every thought, my heart, and my future. Will you marry me, tesoro? Make me the happiest man to ever walk this earth.”

“That hand tattoo finishes off the outfit. My own custom necklace.” I giggle, and he squeezes tighter. “The only hand that ever goes around your neck is mine. Wife,” he growls.

“Nothing ever comes close to being loved by you, Luca.”