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“I don’t feel rushed.” Speaking it, the truth gave her a sweet buzz. “Please…” She couldn’t summon the right words. Running her palms over his chest, she felt his heart pounding. A jolt of feminine power rippled through her. She reached for the buttons of his vest, knowing he was the answer to so many questions she’d long buried.

Questions about herself and her ability to make a personal, intimate connection.

She pressed up on her toes and kissed him, boldly following the sensual intuition rioting through her.

All good. No fear. And with his arms wrapped around her, strong and steady, she was already celebrating the new self he would help her create.

Chapter Sixteen

In the dark,Rhett stared at the ceiling for a time. He was a husband. That absolutely had not been the plan, yet here he was. Married and actually happy about it. Beside him, his wife slept soundly.

He was content and awestruck at the same time. This was so much more than he’d thought life would give him. More than he thought Trina would offer.

She’d shocked the hell out of him in the kitchen, asking to make their marriage real ineverysense of the word. And though she’d been cautious at times, it turned out they were wildly compatible in bed too.

Who knew?

Well, he’d suspected. And he’d been prepared to wait a long time for her to become interested enough or bold enough to ask for more than hand-holding and sweet kisses.

Rolling over, he snuggled closer and tried to get some sleep. Tried to think about something other than the legal, physical, and emotional variations of a marriage. He’d meant what he’d said about putting their own definition on their relationship.

So why did he want to tell her he loved her?

Were all those murmurs about the “boss’s whirlwind romance” during the reception getting to him? Was it simply bubbling up from a lifetime of watching his parents express their feelings for each other?

He cared about her. He respected her. He worshipped her body. But it had to be too soon to actually bein love. He must be caught up in the romantic story they were showing the world so neither of them would be pressured anymore.

In just a few hours they would return to Brookwell and face his family, her friends. There would be a lot of questions to answer. They should make time to tell her folks. Better to get ahead of it than letting them find out through social media or some other gossip channel.

He was dozing off to the soft sound of Trina’s breathing when the classic phone on the nightstand rang out. He’d deliberately left their other phones out in the kitchen so no one would bother them.

He couldn’t remember it ever ringing before. It was only active because this was actually a hotel room. Reaching over, he picked up before the noise woke Trina.

“Ellington.”

“It’s Marino. From the security office.”

Rhett was on his feet and headed for the closet for clothes when the phone cord stopped him. Tony Marino was a Guardian Agency liaison to the Cove. The partnership offered a stronger presence and peace of mind for everyone in and around the property—guests included.

“I’m on my way down.”

“No need,” Tony said. “The research team emailed a report to you and when you didn’t respond to the email or a follow-up call, they called me. Apparently whatever it is is urgent enough to interrupt your wedding night. Sorry about that.”

“No worries. Thanks, Tony.”

“You’re welcome. Give Mrs. Ellington my apologies.”

“Will do.”

He replaced the handset and sat there a minute. Trina hadn’t moved, but he knew she was awake. “Tony sends his apologies.”

“Hm.” The mattress shifted and the sheets rustled as she moved closer. “Security office, right?”

“Your memory is astonishing.”

“Yours is just as good,” she deflected. “What’s the problem?”

Resigned, he turned on the lamp. If necessary, they could sleep in and delay the flight back. Possibly catch another nap on the plane. “Let’s go find out.”