Page 65 of The Unwanted Wife

I nod slowly. "And that surprised me."

"Did you expect me to run from the room screaming?"

"Maybe?" I whisper my knuckles up her jawline. "I certainly didn’t expect you to play along without missing a beat. I didn’t expect you to turn me on to the extent that I couldn’t stop myself from taking you so quickly. I didn’t expect you to give me your virginity wholeheartedly."

"I’ve wanted you to have it since our first kiss."

I blow out a breath. "You shouldn’t be so honest with me, baby. You shouldn’t wear your heart on your sleeve."

"Why not?"

"Because I’m a bad man. Because I’ll take advantage of you. Because I’ll use everything you share with me to mold you into the kind of woman who’ll relish the kind of sex I like."

"I see no problem with that." She smiles slyly.

"I’ll corrupt you, Starling. I’ll debauch you. I’ll pervert you and turn you into someone you won’t recognize when you look in the mirror."

"You’ll turn me into someone who’s not afraid. Someone who’s courageous enough to own her sexuality. Someone who isn’t going to hide her need for the kinky-fuckery stuff I’ve only read about so far."

I groan. "Fuck, when you talk dirty, it’s such a turn on."

"I can tell." She pushes her pelvis into the tent that’s been steadily forming at my crotch. "I’m a whore for your brand of depravity. A slut for your kind of corruption. It thrills me and makes me so horny that I get to explore everything I only read about with you, my husband."

Fire sweeps under my skin and zips down to my groin. I’m instantly hard. She called me her husband and now, I’ll turn the world upside down to ensure she always has a smile on her face. The possessiveness I felt when I placed that ring on her finger multiplies. She’s my wife. My soulmate. Mine.

She must sense my thoughts, for her pupils dilate. Her lips part. Her breathing grows ragged, and she leans in toward me. The air between us crackles with lust and need and something so honest, something that’s so intense, it turns my chest into a seething mass of need.

"The emotions I’m feeling”—she swallows—“are too much."

I release her, only to scoop her up in my arms bridal-style. "I know the remedy."

35

Skylar

"Taylor Swift? You’re playing Taylor Swift?" The familiar words of “All Too Well” play over the speakers in the background. After placing a robe around my shoulders—one which looks like the one I own, and which he confirms is mine, because he enlisted a team to pack up most of my possessions from my apartment while I was getting dressed for the wedding—he cinches it firmly at my waist and walks me over to the island in the kitchen.

I should feel upset that he packed up my stuff without asking me, but there’s something to be said about having him take charge. Besides, he did mention to me that I’d have to move in with him so the relationship would look genuine. I wasn’t happy about that, but it wasn’t something I could refuse. It’s important his grandfather buys into the veracity of this marriage. Also, I’m keeping my apartment, since it’s so conveniently located over my bakery, and that means, I can go up whenever I feel the need for space.

"Does it not bother you?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" He frowns.

"Having music in the background." I point in the direction of the speakers. "Does it not hurt your, uh, hearing?"

"If the sound increases over a certain decibel, or if there’s too much heavy bass, then yes. But at this decibel, it doesn’t bother me… much."

"So, it does bother you?" I chew the inside of my cheek.

"It’s worth it." He half smiles.

Something softens in my heart. "How did you know that song was my favorite?"

"I happened to catch the video of the song during my research, and I admit, it pulled me in."

"You researched her and listened to her songs?" That melting sensation in my heart spreads to my belly and, lower still, to between my legs. Is there anything more freakin’ romantic than your husband spending time to find out more about your tastes?

"It wasn’t exactly a hardship, especially when her lyrics do seem to come from a place of genuineness."

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