Page 65 of Tangled Vows

Before I could turn to face him, Easton was at my side, slipping his arm around me protectively and pulling me against him. I looked up at him, but his stare was leveled at my father, fury blazing in his normally serene gaze. “You will treat her with the respect she deserves.”

“Walker,” my father ground out through gritted teeth, “this is a family matter, and she is my daughter. What we discuss is none of your concern.” He clearly didn’t have any self-preservation talking to an angry Easton that way, but he sure as shit had the audacity.

Easton took a step toward him, putting himself between me and my father. “And she is my wife. That makes hermyfamily.” My heart galloped in my chest, and butterflies took flight inside my belly at that possessive declaration. “So yeah,” he continued, raising to his full height and staring down his nose at my dad, “it is my concern.”

I peered around Easton’s broad shoulder, my hand gripping his bicep and squeezing. His body was coiled tight, like a snake ready to strike.

Smug satisfaction settled over my father’s features, and he smirked. “What are you going to do? Deck me like you did Danvers? Get kicked offanotherteam?”

Easton took another step toward him, and I tightened my hold on his arm. “Easton,” I pleaded. As much as I wanted to throttle my father, I didn’t want Easton to do anything to jeopardize his career. And he looked ready to pummel him.

“No,” he replied finally, grabbing my hand and tangling his fingers with mine. Warmth suffused me at his gentle yet possessive touch. “I’m going to take her home and show her how areal mantreats his family. I’m going to protect her and cherish her like you should have but never did.” He turned, ready to walk away, but paused for just a moment. “And then I’m going to make sure you never have any power over her again.” With that, he left my father standing there gaping like a fish out of water.

Tugging me along, I had to jog to keep up with his long strides. I didn’t say a word as he led me to his vehicle. What could I say? There were too many thoughts running through my head to form a coherent sentence. He released my hand to open my door, and sadness filled my chest at the loss of his warm, reassuring grip. He didn’t reach for it again once he was behind the wheel, and knots formed in my stomach. Had he meant what he said to my father? Or was he regretting his choice to marry me now that he knew just how messed up my family was?

He peeled out of the parking lot, driving like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. Not a word was uttered between us on the drive home. Easton’s posture was rigid, his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel causing the leather to creak. I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed silent, my mind replaying the encounter with my dad over and over again. The things Easton said… Had he meant them or was it all for show? Was he just trying to get my dad off my back? All that talk about how Iwas his family now, it almost sounded like he wanted to keep me, like he didn’t want this to eventually come to an end.

Once we arrived home, I followed Easton silently into the house, my mind still reeling. He tossed his keys onto the entry table and shrugged out of his suit jacket. Draping it over the back of the couch, he turned to face me, sadness mixing with the fury in his gaze as he undid his cufflinks.

“Shayla, I—” he began, but his words fell away. He ran a frustrated hand over his stubbled jaw. “I had no idea it was that bad. Your father is a real piece of work.” His jaw flexed, and his mouth flattened in distaste.

“Thank you,” I said, gulping at the tension blazing in his eyes. “No one has ever stood up to him on my behalf before.” It was nice not to feel so alone for once.

“You’re my wife,” he said as he took another step toward me, rolling up his sleeves as he closed the distance. I reluctantly tore my gaze from his muscular forearms to peer up at him. “I will always defend you. I will always protect you.” He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear, and my chest tightened. Then his eyes darkened, and something carnal filled the bottomless hazel depths. The air crackled between us, an electric charge filling the small space separating our bodies.

He lowered his hand, his gaze dropping to my chest as he ran the backs of his knuckles down the bodice of my emerald gown. “This fucking dress,” he growled, his eyes raking down my body. Heat skittered across my skin, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Warm, calloused fingers trailed up from my ribs, gliding over the scoop neckline and barely skimming the swells of my breasts. “I’ve been dying to peel it off this sexy body all night. It’s all I could think about.”

Words left me, and I stared up at him adoringly. My breaths sawed in and out of my chest, and my pulse thundered against my ribs. It didn’t matter how many times I had him. His touchstill sent a shockwave through my body, my skin tingling each time he made contact.

“You’re all I’ve wanted, all I’ve been able to think about since the night we met.” Even though I realized now he’d been attracted to me this whole time, it still felt good hearing that he’d always wanted me, that he’d been fighting his attraction to me just like I had for him.

His fingers trailed higher, brushing over my collarbone, and I held back the moan threatening to escape my lips. “It was torture not being able to act on my desires for so long.” His fingers continued their languorous journey up my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine. The gentle caress tickled, but I didn’t dare move for fear he would stop. His warm palm cupped my jaw, tilting my head back further.

“But now,” he said, his heated gaze dropping to my mouth. My lips parted as short, shallow breaths puffed in and out between them. “You’re mine, and nothing will come between us again.”

His lips crashed down on mine, his kiss stealing my breath and covering my moan. Tingles erupted over my scalp as his hand tangled in my hair and tugged, angling my head to deepen the kiss. Cinnamon and sandalwood invaded my senses, a combination that was all Easton.

I melted into his embrace, relief coursing through me along with arousal as his free arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me flush against him. Snaking my arms around his neck, I arched my back, pushing my breasts into his chest. He groaned, tightening his hold on me as his tongue plundered my mouth. Goosebumps spread over my skin as need coiled tight in my lower belly. I wanted him. Ineededto feel him inside me.

As if reading my thoughts, his hands dropped to my hips, fisting the fabric of my skirt. Cool air ghosted across my thighsas he lifted it higher. He cupped me through the thin layer of lace covering my center.

“Hmm,” he hummed in approval, “already so wet for me.” Teasing the edge of my panties, he dipped one finger inside and glided it along my slick center. I moaned when his rough skin met my swollen clit. Dipping lower, he gathered the moisture on his fingers then brought them up to circle the tender bundle of nerves. “You’re soaked,” he growled into my neck before biting down on the sensitive flesh.

I gasped, a riot of sensations rippling over my skin. Suddenly his hand was gone, and I let out a whimper. Before I could protest, he pressed me against the back of the couch and dropped to his knees. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to my hip before looking up at me.

“I need to taste you.” That was my only warning before he dove in, yanking my thong to the side and taking a long, slow swipe. I fell back against the couch, my hands searching for purchase as he repeated the motion before flicking his tongue over my clit. Two fingers slid inside me, curling forward, and my back bowed.

“Easton,” I gasped. A growl rumbled up his throat. The vibration sent a jolt of pleasure through my center, and I cried out. I was almost there. Just a few more flicks of his tongue would send me over the edge.

Then I was sailing, flying high on a cloud of bliss. My legs shook and nearly gave out on me, but Easton held me upright, pinning me against the couch. His tongue and fingers worked me over until every last drop of pleasure was wrung from my body.

My legs shook as I straightened, wobbling like a baby giraffe. Easton scooped me into his arms bridal style and carried me to his room.

No,our room.

It wasn’t just his anymore. I’d offered to move back into the guest room after his family left, but he was having none of it.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he’d declared, picking me up and tossing me onto his bed. He’d crawled over me and pinned me to his mattress.

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