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I wasn’t expecting to see my new bride’s long red hair flowing down her back in all its glory. It made me a bit unhinged. Emerson was mine from the moment I laid eyes on her, but now she was truly mine to care for and protect. We were on this island so I could keep her safe, nothing else, and I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to take anything she didn’t freely offer. The steely self-control I prided myself on was slipping away.

Slipping faster as she turned and I saw the flash of desire in her eyes. It lit me up like dry kindling under a blowtorch. She tried to douse it, cover it with anger, but that small glimpse had me in its clutches. Now, to test it out.

Her forced anger melted away when I ran my finger down the side of her throat, and trailed it along the edge of her t-shirt. I should have been watching her eyes for the reaction to my proclamation, but I couldn’t take them off her lush, kissable lips.

She stood rigid, but almost vibrating with barely concealed emotion. I waited a split second to see if she’d jump over the railing to attempt to swim away, but she stayed as still as a marble statue. Only her ragged breaths belied how shaken she was by my proximity. I moved an inch closer, tipped her chin up. Her lush mouth pressed together in a thin line, and I lowered my head to slowly ease my tongue along it.

“See?” I asked, smiling as her lips parted on a sigh. “I only want you. It’s that simple.” I kissed her again, grazing my mouth to her ear. “Tell me you’re mine, Emerson, let me hear you say the words.”

Nothing but a soft moan as she leaned against me, her hands moving up my chest. I claimed her mouth fully then, plunging my tongue to meet hers. Fuck, she tasted amazing. The kiss at the restaurant had been hot and fast, all with the knowledge that a dangerous enemy was watching. The one at the end of the wedding ceremony had been much too fast.

This was what I’d been waiting for. The taste of her tongue, still sweet from the latte at the airport, the feel of her hands digging into my shirt as she pulled her body closer to mine. Her perfect soft curves pressed against my hard planes, and my cock twitched to life. I snaked my hand around her back to hold her close. Her back arched, pushing her firm little tits against my chest and making me groan.

“I want you so damn much,” I said, moving my mouth down the side of her throat. I’d never spoken truer words.

“Nik,” she sighed. Then repeated my name more firmly. I was lost in her silky smooth skin and the scent of her hair, barely registering when she repeated it again.

Until she shoved back, swiping her shaking hands down her neck as if trying to erase the feel of my mouth. I slowly got my wits about me as she glared at me from a foot away.

“I can’t believe any of this,” she said, her voice low but full of barely constrained emotion. It looked like we were back to anger; this time, it wasn’t forced. “This isn’t real. We are not married.”

I laughed at that bit of nonsense, biting it back as more fury welled in her eyes. If only she wasn’t so gorgeous when she was mad, I might not want to goad her so much.

“We most certainly are married,” I told her. “I made damn sure everything was good and legal.” When she didn’t answer, I shrugged, forcing an air of not giving a fuck. “You’re welcome to sleep on the floor, though, if that’s what you want.”

I turned away to hide my smile at the sound of her indignant gasp, and left her steaming on the deck as I went back inside.