Page 106 of The Marine

“Sorry baby. You have bridesmaid duties.” We stare at one another for a moment, the memories of our conversation weighing silent and heavy between us.

I lean in, kissing her lips.

She accepts it but doesn’t melt into me like she has in recent days.

“I’ll drive you,” I say, sitting back.

She tenses. “Aidan, no. Everyone will see us.”

“Too bad. I’ll tell them your car broke down.” I toss back the sheets and climb out of bed. “You showering with me?”

She sits up, holding the sheets over her breasts.

“Sweetheart, I’ve seen almost inside your body.”

“Gross.” She frowns as I laugh and grab my morning wood.

“Aren’t you mad?” Briar asks, and I know she’s referring to her answer last night.

That she’s not divorcing her husband.

I’m not.

I know she was lying.

At least I’m 99 percent sure.

“No. I’m tenacious. Now get your ass out of bed before I climb back in there and fuck any memory of your husband out of you.”

I should feel like an asshole, but I don’t. Johnny Trevis is a criminal.

He’s not her legal husband.

He’s a dangerous man.

And Briar Sutton is mine...and always was.

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NINETY MINUTES LATERI’m parking the Porsche and Briar is clambering to open her door.

“Don’t kiss me, for god’s sakes.” She grits out, her eyes darting everywhere. “I don’t want any gossip about us.”

Jokes on her.

The entire BHS team knows she’s mine after yesterday’s meeting. Not that I announced it. But men know when another man is claiming a woman.

It’s instinct.

We’re predators at the end of the day.

Also, there’s the small fact that last Saturday she was sitting on my lap for the last hour of Savannah’s party. Compliments of the tequila shots. And our make-out session in the bathroom where I filled her with my thick needy cock.

I don’t have time to tease her—I need to check in with the team.

“No kissing. I promise.”

I’m not lying either. I don’t want to trigger her soon-to-be ex-husband and cellmate to some lucky guy. I just want him in cuffs and out of our lives.