Page 42 of Marrying the Enemy

Nico rode down with them, muttering that he hoped to reach their parents before they saw the headlines.

Thirty minutes later, he and Eve were in the air, flying south. They each held a glass of champagne, but she was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her.

“My parents. I should have gone with Nico.” She worried the edge of her phone with her thumb.

A surge of possessiveness had him wanting to dismiss whatever guilt or obligation she might be experiencing, but he made himself say, “Are you feeling strongly enough that I should ask the pilot to turn this plane around?”

“No,” she said on a sigh. “Dad will need some time to cool off. Mom, too. She’s been planning my wedding since she heard the words, ‘It’s a girl.’”

He let out a subtle breath.

“I’ll foot the bill on the reception. Tell her to go whole hog.”

“Ironically, it’s always been a family joke to warn me not to elope like Nonna Maria. A joke, but not really,” she clarified with a crooked smile. “Now I have, but instead of running from a Blackwood, I’m with one.”

“Are you regretting that?”

“No,” she said promptly, then grimaced slightly at how quickly she’d said it.

Which was cute. Endearing.

“No,” he repeated as he picked up the hand wearing both his rings. He set his teeth against her bent knuckle. Her gaze hazed exactly the way he liked to see it.

“What are you thinking about, my pretty little Evie?”

“Um...” Her lashes quivered as she watched the play of his lips against her twitching fingers. “That...um...”

It was like a switch, this thing between them. It took absolutely nothing to flip it and once it was on, it was on. But he made her say it. He wanted her to acknowledge it. He needed her to. The small beast inside him needed to know she was exactly as helpless to it as he was.

“I’ve...um...” Her cheeks flushed with shy color. She glanced to the flight attendant in the galley before leaning closer to whisper, “I’ve always wondered how one joins the mile-high club?”

“Oh.” He was absolutely addicted to her when she was both carnal and curious. It turned him on like nothing else. “It’s a very exclusive club. You need a personal invite.”

“By someone who’s already a member?” Her tone grew piqued.

Uh-oh. “Not at all,” he said smoothly. “You could definitely ask me to become a member with you.”

“Well, then. Consider yourself invited.” She unclipped her belt and rose.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EVE’S THOUGHTS AND emotions were all over the place. Part of her did want to turn this plane around and run home to where she was safe. She had married Dom Blackwood, essentially still a stranger to her. How had she thought this was a good idea?

Oh, right. He only needed to skim away her light jacket, fingertips grazing her bare shoulders and upper arms and she was suffused in heavenly vibrations. He slid the zip on her simple sheath down her spine and she shimmied to help him drop the navy crepe over her hips to drop it to the floor.

Turning to face him, she began working on the buttons of his shirt. He’d removed his tie and jacket when they had boarded and pulled the tails of his shirt free of his trousers.

“Evie.” He caught her urgently working fingers into a single, firm grip, halting her. His other hand found the side of her neck. “I’ve just realized.” He waited for her gaze to meet the glow in his. “You’re mine.”

Her stomach pitched at the magnitude of that statement.

“Are you mine?” she asked shakily.

“This ring says so, doesn’t it?” He tilted the hand that was gently crushing her tangled fingers, making his gold band wink. “We’re going to spend the rest of our lives doing this. Why don’t I show you I’m capable of seducing my virgin bride?”

After everything they’d done on the island?

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