Page 114 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“Had it made,” he said, offering nothing else about the piece or how it came to be. “Try it on for me, huh?”

She did, slipping the white-gold knuckles down the four fingers of her right hand. The rings weren’t meant to be a perfect fit to each finger, but it came pretty damn close. Cross was just going to file that down to luck, and nothing more.

Catherine turned fast on his lap, her skirt flying wide around them. With another laugh, she grabbed his face, the white-gold cool against his skin as she pulled him in for a fast, hard kiss that left his lips numb and his jeans tight as hell.

“Perfect,” she repeated, kissing him once more.

“As long as you like it.”

“You know that I’ve never actually punched someone other than my brother before, right?”

Cross lifted one shoulder, indifferent. “Just make sure you don’t tuck in your thumb. Anything else is pretty much fair game.”

Catherine tilted her head back, laughing to the sky. He tangled his fingers in the long waves of her hair, catching her gaze with his own when she finally quieted. “I love you, Cross.”

“Always, Catherine,” he murmured.

He didn’t want to ever love someone else.

No one else was like her.

No one else was her.

No one else could be.

“Shit, Cross, it’s been what, a few months since I saw you?”

Andino Marcello’s hand landed hard to Cross’s shoulder. One of Catherine’s two oldest cousins, Andino was eighteen, and one of the only Marcellos that Cross knew who didn’t attend the Academy before he graduated high school. Cross had met Andino through other friends, at parties and things like that. Built like a linebacker, anyone who didn’t know Andino would likely take a huge step back from the guy at first approach. His green gaze was cold, and his smile was a little mean, but Cross knew that was all for appearance where Andino was concerned.

“Six months sounds right,” Cross said, keeping one eye on Catherine across the room. “That bash at Zeke’s place in Odessa, I think.”

“Zeke got fucked up that night.”

Cross laughed. “I made his ass sleep right where he fell in the bathroom. No way was I dragging his stupid self to the bedroom just to end up having to clean up after him or something.”

“Smart.” Andino followed Cross’s gaze to find Catherine looking back at them. “So, my little cousin, huh? I heard you were running around with her, but I didn’t know for sure.”

“Guess so.”

Andino chuckled. “So hey, don’t screw up there because Dante wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in your skull. Fair warning and all.”

“Yeah, I got that impression a few times.”

“As long as you know.”

Andino gave Cross another smack on his shoulder as Catherine closed the space between them. “Happy birthday, little cousin.”

Catherine smiled. “Thank you.”

“Is your face tired from smiling so much yet, Catty?” Cross asked.

Her eyes flew wide, and Cross realized his mistake instantly. He was supposed to be careful with that damn nickname, especially around her family.

Andino grinned, a knowing tease already falling from his lips. “Catty, huh? That’s a new one.”

“Shut up, Andino,” Catherine muttered. “It’s my birthday, so don’t even.”

“Where did that name come from?” Andino asked Cross. “I mean, everybody calls Aunt Catrina by Cat, so just curious.”