Page 112 of The Unplanned Wedding

"My feet didn’t touch the ground.” I half laugh. “I know you wanted to go in there on your own. And I know I agreed. But my instinct—that side of me I can’t switch off from having been a Marine—couldn’t relax.” I firmmy lips. “I didn’t take my gaze off of you as you walked toward the house. And when I saw the dog barking and straining to break free—” I shake my head. ”My instincts screamed at me to move closer to you. So, when Bruno jumped toward you, I was halfway up the path to the door. I raced forward. The next thing I knew, I was standing behind you. And not a second too late." I shudder.

"If anything had happened to you, baby, I never would've forgiven myself. I was already berating myself for having brought you there without preparing you more. And then, you wanted to meet her alone, and I agreed. And I just knew, while I respected your decision, I also wanted to be there with you. So, I followed my instinct, and thank god for that."

She stays silent and my heart begins to race.Why isn’t she responding? Why isn’t she saying something. Does she not believe me?"June?" I search her features. "Talk to me baby. What is it?"

“Despite my telling you I could handle it; you decided you were going to accompany me in there?” She frowns.

I blow out a breath. ”I do trust you, June. I do. And I was ready to let you go in there and deal with your devils on your own, but”—I shake my head—”call it a Marine’s instinct. As you walked up that garden path, something in me insisted I prepare to follow you. And when I saw the way that dog was acting, I knew I had to move closer, just in case you needed me. And you did. If you hadn't started to fall, I would have stayed back. I'm not going to apologize for being there.”

“You won’t?” The fold between her eyebrows deepens.

“I’ll always do what’s best for you, even if it means, sometimes, going against what you want.” I peer into her face. “I’m sorry if that upsets you, but you need to trust my judgement too. I am your Master, and that means I'll do everything in my power to take care of you. I am duty-bound to keep you safe, and I’ll do that, even at the cost of pissing you off.”

She glances away. My heart sinks. I'm being honest with her. I'll never lie to her. “June, say something,” I plead.

She hunches her shoulders. “I understand what you did, I suppose. And in the end, it worked out because you were there when I needed you most. You were right.”

“I was?” Hope has a chokehold on my heart. Warmth floods my skin.

“As it turned out, I was so relieved to have you there. Your presencegave me the strength to face all of the images from my past that came flooding back. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I love you.” I cup her cheek. “I do, July. I love you so much.”

"You… You love me?" She swallows, as if hearing me for the first time.

I plant my hands on her hips and draw her closer. "I love you. I wish I’d had the balls to tell you so earlier, but I hope you’ realize how much I mean it." I hold her gaze. "I want you with me, in my life, by my side, through thick and thin, for better or worse, through sickness and in health. Through all the ups and downs of life. I need you, July. Only you. It was always you. There’s no one else but you.”

“Oh, Knox. I have waited so long to hear those words from you.”

I bend and kiss her forehead, then her eyelids, then her nose. I press my lips to hers and whisper, "I love you. I have loved you from the second I laid eyes on you. I had a sneaky feeling you were going to be my downfall. And when I realized how you had the gumption to challenge me, I knew you were going to be my undoing. I knew I was going to be powerless when it came to you. I knew I’d met my ruin, so I had to find a way to resist my emotions."

"Of course, you did," she says dryly.

"You’re my kryptonite, baby. I knew you’d put a chink in my armor, and that would change my future forever." I half smile. "I also knew it was inevitable, but that didn’t stop me from putting up a fight. And then what Ryott told me earlier?—"

"I knew there was a reason he was here," she says, almost triumphantly.

"There was. He came by to kick my arse into gear, and to tell me I needed to man up and tell you how I felt."

"He told you that?" she asks in wonder.

"Not that politely, but yeah, that was the gist of the conversation. But I have to say, even if he hadn’t come by, I’d have told you my feelings. What he said simply confirmed to me that I was doing the right thing. I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I knew I had to do it right now."

I bend and push my forehead into hers.

"I love you, July. I’ll never stop loving you. I promise to take care of you, and look after you, and protect you. I promise to always keep you happy. When I say I want to spend my life with you, I'm serious. I want tobe with you, July. I want to wake up next to you and fall asleep with you in my arms. I want to wipe your tears and see you smile and do everything in my power to keep you happy. I love you. I love you. I love you." I swallow. "And I can’t imagine anything better than breathing the same air as you." I take in her features and sweat pools in my armpits. Shit. Why isn't she saying anything? "July?" I narrow my gaze. "Say something."

She stays quiet a few seconds more, then a big smile curves her lips. "I feel the same way."

49

June

I glance across the front seat of the Jaguar and take in my husband’s thick fingers on the wheel of the car. He’s dressed in a black T-shirt that stretches across his broad chest. The short sleeves mean his arms are bare, and when he turns off the highway, the veins in his forearms flex. My thighs clench. My clit begins to throb. Damn, this man is a walking, talking sex-on-legs. Just looking at him sends my hormones into high drive.

When I woke up this morning, it was to find him already dressed and waiting by my bedside with a cup of coffee. The heady scent of caffeine and the headier sight of my man watching me with love in his eyes made me want to throw my arms around him and pull him back under the covers. Only, he offered me the coffee, then told me to get dressed so we could resume our honeymoon. Then he’d kissed me, informing me that he’d already packed my bag and all I had to do was wake up and get dressed in the clothes he’d set out for me.

In that moment, he switched from doting husband to demanding master. Both sides of which, I like. I love it when he looks into my eyes and tells me he loves me. I adore it when he bends me over and spanks me, then uses my mouth and my pussy any which way he wants. I polished off my coffee, then got dressed in the pink lacy underwear, jeans, and plaid shirt he chose for me. Finally, I pulled on socks and low-heeled boots.

---