Page 58 of When He Hunts

A sweet peal of laughter came from her. Absolutely musical. “I am proud to be your first.” She leaned forward to kiss him.

But a phone was ringing. The new phone he’d been given by Gray. It was on the nightstand. He should answer it. He would. Dammit. “Reality is calling.” Gruff. As much as he’d like to ignore reality, he couldn’t. He pulled away. Climbed from the bed. Reached for the phone. He whipped it up to his ear. “Gray. We’re about to leave now for?—”

“Change of plans,” Gray said, voice crisp. “We need to talk. Make sure the target can’t hear this conversation.”

She was in his bed. Naked. Calling her the target felt wrong as hell. Ronan glanced over at Luna. “You should get ready to leave.”

She nodded.

He kept the phone to his ear and headed out of the bedroom. The stairs barely creaked beneath his steps. “She can’t hear me.” Flat. “What’s the change?” He reached the landing.

“We’re going to let Marcus Aeros take her.”

His steps halted. “What. The. Fuck?” Then, right after that thought…

Over my dead body.No, even better.Over Marcus’s.

Chapter Thirteen

She hada gold wedding ring on her finger, and her husband was the sexiest, most dangerous looking man on the island.

Luna glanced down at the white dress she wore. Unless she was on a stage, she would never have worn the dress. Way too revealing and sensual and…uh, not her. But this was not an ordinary day. Did she even have ordinary days—or nights—any longer? The garment fit her like a second skin, the top had a daring V that plunged between her breasts, and the dress stopped mid-thigh.Maybemid-thigh. That was certainly being generous. The dress had been paired with a pair of elegant, strappy sandals.

Her hair had been cut. Her decision because she’d wanted it to match the image on her new driver’s license. Gone were the long locks she’d sported before. Now her hair skimmed just above her shoulders in a sleek bob. She wore long, dangling earrings that danced when she moved her head. And bright red lipstick to match the shoes.

I feel like a different person.Because, for all intents and purposes, she was.

She was Ronan’s wife.

He hadn’t been excited when she told him that she wanted to pause their trek to cut her hair. He’d muttered about her hair being gorgeous. Buthe’dgotten to change things up in order to match his new ID—he’d shaved off his beard—so she’d wanted to blend better, too.

And when she’d come out with the new cut…

Even sexier.That had been his response. It had warmed every inch of her.

Though she could certainly have said the same words to him. Before they’d left the safe house, he’d ditched his beard. And she had loved the beard. But without it…

Even sexier.His square jaw was on full display. Not just sexy, but gorgeous. He even had a little dent in his chin. Not a full cleft, but a dent she had the oddest urge to lick.

Whatever. She’d like to lick all of him.

“What are you thinking?”

His low question had her hand flying out to grab the champagne flute in front of her. “Just thinking I’d like to lick all of you.” Yep, she said the words. Because this was her second glass of champagne, and she clearly could not control her tongue.

He blinked. Then glanced around.

They’d made it down to the Keys. Or, specifically, to the couple’s retreat on a private island. They’d been taken to the island via boat. Dropped off on the wooden dock, and she’d tried hard not to look as dazzled as she felt. The place was paradise. Pure paradise with palm trees and thatched-roof-covered bungalows. They were currently having their dinner on the beach. A million stars glittered overhead, and a dozen tables had been set up beneath hanging lights. Not that they needed those lights, not with all the stars to light the sky.

A band played about fifteen feet away. Flames twisted in firepits strategically placed around the perimeter. Couples danced in the sand, swaying as they listened to the music. The champagne kept flowing.

Upon arrival, she’d been told there were no televisions in the bungalows. No phones were to be used in the guest rooms or any public areas. There was Wi-Fi on the island, but she’d been firmly informed that any ringing phones were frowned upon by management and the other guests.

Not like she planned to have a ringing phone. She was just too delighted by the escape.

I’m trapped in a nightmare one day. Living in paradise the next.She almost wanted to pinch herself because this could not be real.

Twelve acres of paradise. No distractions. No fears. And the sexiest husband in the world.