Page 125 of Brutal Vows

I growl, “Nobody could ever mistake you for innocent, viper.”

“Good. By the way, what moron thought I wear a size small?”

“This moron.”

Holding my gaze, her voice low and smooth, she says, “Dear husband. You should know by now that there’s nothing small about me.”

We stare at each other across the room. And of course—because I clearly have a problem—my dick starts to get hard.

She glances down at the growing bulge in my trousers, and her lethal smile grows wider.

I cross the room, take her by the arm, and head to the front door, guiding her along.

She pulls her arm from my grip and says acidly, “I’m able to walk without a rabid service animal, thank you.”

So we’re back to square one. Fucking wonderful.

Opening the front door, I make a grand sweeping gesture, complete with a mocking bow.

She walks past me like a queen past smelly beggars.

Once we’re in the car, she decides her hatred of mankind doesn’t extend to Kieran.

Sitting forward on the back seat of the SUV, she says to him, “So tell me all about the reception. Did you have fun?”

“Ach, did I! Met one of yer kin that I fancied. Wee lass named Aria?”

“That’s Leo’s daughter! Oh, she’s the prettiest thing, isn’t she?”

“Aye.” Kieran whistles, his cheeks turning pink. “What a wetser. With the sweetest little arse I’ve ever seen in my—” He cuts off abruptly, sending a horrified glance over his shoulder. “Sorry, lass. I’m an eejit. Just ask Spider.”

She waves a hand and laughs. “Don’t be silly. I don’t mind.”

I growl, “You mind if I breathe in your general direction, but you don’t mind about that?”

Ignoring me, she says, “How did everyone get along? Were there any altercations?’

“Altercations? Nah, it was pure craic! Half the lads were ossified, the other half were fluthered! And the Bettys were bleedin’ deadly on both sides, so there was plenty of tonsil tennis goin’ on. If they weren’t on the dance floor, they were in dark corners, wearin’ the face off each other.”

“So translated that means everyone had fun?”

“Yer bang on they did!”

She exhales a relieved breath and sits back against her seat. “That’s good to hear. I was worried. You know how dangerous putting a bunch of oversized egos into one room can be.”

I say, “Was that jab about egos directed at me?”

“Not everything is about you, Prince of Arrogance.”

“That’ll be King of Arrogance, if you please.”

After shooting me a sharp glare, she turns her attention back to Kieran. “So where are we going?”

He sounds confused. “Spider didn’t tell ye?”

“We’re not on speaking terms at the moment. You tell me.”

He sends me a look in the rearview mirror. “Er… forgive me, lass, but if it’s all right, I’d rather stay out of a marital spat. I tried to intervene between my ma and da once and only got a savage slap about for the trouble.”