Page 26 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

FINN

S pinning the ring on my finger, I sigh.

I’m disappointed she doesn’t remember our first kiss. I can still feel how soft her lips were against mine. I was wasted, yeah. But I’m never wasted enough to completely lose control.

Especially not around her.

Pulling up my phone, I click play on the video.

My chest tightens as it starts.

The way she’s looking up at me, smiling like that. Almost sweet.

A stark contrast to the viper who just slammed my door on her way out.

But she made a grave mistake this morning.

She showed me her new button.

And I’m going to press it until she breaks.

I have fifty different scenarios running through my head, all the ways I can use our new bond to test her.

To punish her.

To ruin her.

Maybe if I push hard enough… I’ll end my obsession.

Or maybe, I’ll drown in it.

Can I really make this woman hate me?

Is that even what I want?

I’m not sure anymore.

Because when she kissed me—drunk or not?—

My entire world fucking stopped.

When the video hits the moment our mouths collide, I pause it and take a screenshot.

A keepsake. Stephanie Quinn is mine.

And by the time she’s done begging for a divorce, she’ll know the truth.

This intense friction we have? It isn’t hate. Not really.

It’s something more. Something dangerous. Something raw and consuming.

It’s intoxicating. Possessive. A disaster waiting to happen.

Her touch burns through my skin. And she’s the first woman that I haven’t wanted to sever from me.

No. With her, I want to sew her into my fucking skin and never let her go.

It didn’t feel like being haunted by my past.

It felt like I was setting fire to my future.

And that is why the ring stays.

Until I figure out what the fuck this all means.

Until I know how deep this obsession runs.

If one drunken kiss has my mind spinning. What would her complete submission do to me?

Kill me?

Maybe.

I guess something has got to one day. Perhaps she should have smothered me with that pillow, because that’s the only way I can see her getting out of this.

“Wait, we still have one more passenger,” I tell the flight attendant as she goes to close the door.

She turns to me with a frown.

“No. This is the full count.”

I turn to Poppy and Josh; they seem to be the closest to Stephanie in our department.

“Where is Dr. Miller?” I ask.

They exchange a look.

“She left late last night.”

I swallow, making sure my face remains emotionless.

“Right,” I reply sharply.

“Go ahead. Wheels up, I guess.”

The door shuts with a thud, and I pull out my cell.

Me

And why did my wife leave me without so much as a goodbye?

I see the three dots appear and disappear. I need to change her contact name. She isn’t Dr. Miller any longer. Dr. Quinn. Or Temptress would work. Because that’s what she is to me. A temptation.

Stephanie Miller

I have no idea what you’re talking about. You have a wife?

A smile tugs at my lips.

Me

You know very well I do.

Her reply is lightning speed, just as I change her name.

Temptress

Who was dumb enough to marry an arrogant asshole like you? What’s her number? Maybe I should text her and tell her you let me crash in your bed on a work trip.

I clear my throat to hide my laugh.

Me

Did you just call yourself dumb, Mrs. Quinn?

I shouldn’t enjoy calling her that as much as I do.

Temptress

I’ll pay you ten thousand to annul the marriage.

I have enough money to last ten lifetimes. But a marriage I can use to rile up my wife for the rest of my life? Priceless.

I have no intentions of being married twice in my life, so I guess this is it.

Her or no one.

I might as well have some fun with this—before we kill each other.

Me

There is not a price on our union, temptress. I’ll see you tomorrow.

I don’t have long to put phase one of my plan into action. I’ve already got Reggie and Rowan on the arts and crafts portion.

Temptress

I’m already engaged to someone else.

My heart stops for a moment. If she is, then it’s quite simple; he will need to go.

Me

You better end it, fast. I won’t be sharing you. You’re mine now.

I turn in my chair to Poppy, who immediately sits up straight. She’s scared of me. I thought I’d actually been rather pleasant to her.

“Does Dr. Q–” My mouth snaps shut. “Dr. Miller, have a fiancé?” I ask.

She frowns, and her mouth pops open.

“No. Maybe a secret boyfriend? But none that I know of.”

I nod and turn back around.

Me

Your lies will be punished.

She doesn’t reply. I wonder what she’s doing right now. Is she pissed off? Turned on? Hmm. She is fascinating. And fucking distracting.