Page 143 of Brutal Vows

“You know what? It’s really none of my business if you are.”

“Stop fighting me. I’m not letting you go. And don’t close your eyes, goddammit!”

“Will you stop shouting into my face, please?”

I put my mouth right next to her ear and say hotly, “Your jealousy is misplaced. I’m not in love with anyone else.”

“I’m not jealous!”

She’s horrified by the suggestion, which makes me think I’m right.

It also makes me so fucking turned on, I want to rip that dress off and fuck her right here on the back seat.

I grab her head in both hands and kiss her again. She squirms, trying to get away, pushing against me until I pin her wrists together. Then I fist my other hand into her hair and kiss her again, this time groaning into her mouth with need.

“Quinn, stop. Let me go.”

“I’m never letting you go. There’s a contract that says I can’t.”

“You heartless bastard.”

“Look at me. Calm down and look at me, Reyna.”

Breathing hard, she turns her face away but glances back with a hostile, distrustful look.

Keeping my voice low though I’d like to shout at her, I say, “I’m not in love with anyone else. I’ll answer any questions you want me to, but first you need to understand that fact. I was infatuated with Riley, yes. I wanted there to be something between us, yes. But there wasn’t. I never even kissed the lass. Never touched her. She was under my protection, and I fucked it up so badly, she ended up shot.By me.Accidentally, but nevertheless, it was my bullet she took. So you’ll have to forgive me for being more than a little fucked up over that, Reyna, but I’m not in love with her. She’s not who I want.”

I press a soft kiss to her lips. “I have the woman I want, even if she does hate me.”

She stares at me in silence. Then, in a voice so low I can barely hear it, she says, “I don’t hate you.”

My heart pounding, I pull her closer and kiss her again. I kiss her all the way back into the city and right up until Kieran stops the car in the underground garage. Then I take my wife upstairs to the honeymoon suite and lock the door behind us.

I stalk toward her. Wide-eyed, she backs away from me.

“Don’t be afraid of me, Reyna. I swear on my mother’s grave, I’ll never harm you.”

“It’s just that every time I think I’ve seen your highest intensity level, you set a new record.”

The last thing I want is for her to think I’m in any way as psychotic as Enzo, so I point to a chair and order, “Sit. Fuck, I meanpleasesit down.”

I prop my hands on my hips and start to pace, because apparently, it’s the only way I know how to blow off steam without shooting something.

Reyna perches on the edge of the leather chair and watches me warily.

I stop in the middle of the room, blow out a hard breath, and close my eyes. “When I was nineteen years old, I fell in love with a married woman.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Be quiet. You’ll get your chance to talk.”

I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s murdering me with her eyes, but it doesn’t matter. Right now all that matters is that I clear the air between us. I need to get her naked and into bed, and that won’t happen if she’s still angry with me.

I walk over to the bar and pour myself a scotch. I chug it, then hold up the empty glass.

“No, thank you.”

“Suit yourself.” I pour another and drink that, too. Then I setdown the glass, turn around, and fold my arms over my chest as I lean against the marble bar top.