Page 186 of Savage Hearts

His eyes glitter. His nostrils flare. He doesn’t know whether to laugh or spank me.

I snuggle closer to him, grinning.

“You’re trouble, little bird, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you like trouble.”

His eyes soften. He kisses me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, then says gruffly, “Actually, I love trouble. I love it more than anything.”

That settles it. My next tattoo is going to be the word“Trouble.”

I’ll let him choose where on my body I should get it.

I say innocently, “You know what I love more than anything?”

“No, what?”

“This gorilla I met. Once you get past the scary exterior and all the grunting, he’s really sweet.”

His smile is as brilliant as the love shining in his eyes. “I’ve heard that about gorillas.”

He kisses me again, this time more deeply, his tongue delving into my mouth and his hand wrapped lightly around my throat.

I put my hand over his and make him squeeze tighter.

He chuckles against my lips and whispers something in Russianthat sounds filthy. Then he says in English, “You’re going to have my baby. You’re going to be my wife. You’ll be the center of my universe and the queen who stands by my side.”

His voice drops. “But first, I’m gonna fuck you again and show you who your king is.”

He flips me onto my belly, drags me up onto my knees, and spanks my ass five times.

I bury my face in the covers, laughing.

Yes, Daddy’s home. Oh, yes, he is.

EPILOGUE

SPIDER

TWO WEEKS LATER

It’s just the two of us in Declan’s office, sitting on opposite sides of his desk with whiskeys in our hands.

It’s the night of his first day back from his honeymoon in Greece. He’s tan and relaxed, leaning back in his chair in a white dress shirt and black slacks, looking like what he is.

A man who has everything he’s ever wanted.

If I looked in a mirror, what I’d see would be the opposite of that.

He doesn’t bother with small talk. Neither of us has ever been good at it. He simply opens with, “I’m promoting you to second-in-command.”

When he sees my shocked expression, he says, “Did you think I’d fire you?”

“For ruining your wedding? Aye.”

“Don’t be dramatic. You didn’t ruin anything. All you did was put on a wee show.”

“Is that your wife’s attitude, too?”