Page 15 of Monster Mistake

“You’re going towhat?” Poke. “Just tell me what the hell you meant. Why is everything my decision when we both gotourselves into this mess?” Poke. “When we were both drunk that day?” Poke. “When…”

With a roar that seemed to tear its way out of his very soul, he shot to his feet, towering over her until she had to crane her neck up to meet his gaze. “I. Wasn’t. Drunk!”

With his chest heaving and rage pouring off him in waves, it took him a few seconds to comprehend what he’d just blurted out.

Well…fuck.

But there was no stopping the flow of emotions and words now, so he also added, “Orcs can’t get drunk. I married you because I fucking wanted to marry you. I’ve been in love with you for years, Justine. Fuckingyears. So, no, I don’t want a damn annulment and never will. The only reason we’re here now is becauseyouwere drunk and no matter how much I want to, I can’t hold you to those vows.” He took a deep breath, having spit all that out without one. “Is that what you wanted to know,wife?”

Justine rocked back on her heels, mouth dropping open. But if he’d expected her to back down, he would’ve been sadly mistaken. Because true to form, she stepped back up until her chest brushed his. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted. I would’ve preferred that we dated a little, maybe had sex a few times, before marriage. But I’m not sorry we did it. Not anymore. So, guess what? I don’t want the annulment, either!”

His heart rate picked up with what wasprobablyjoy, but damn it, he couldn’t turn off his temper that fast. So, all he said was a snarled, “Fine.”

She bared her teeth at him. “Fine.”

That was all he could stand. He snagged her by the back of the neck, yanked her into his arms, and swallowed whatever comments she wanted to spew at him next by slamming his mouth down over hers.

Over the years, Khill had imagined kissing Justine more times than he could count. His fantasies were vast, diverse, and pervasive. He was fairly certain he hadn’t gone a single day in their entire acquaintance without imagining taking her mouth with his own at least once.

But none of the fantasies he’d had—andoh, he’d had some good ones—compared to the reality of her.

She tasted like peppermint, need, and every hot desire he’d ever had. Her lips were somehow petal soft, yet firm and demanding all at the same time, and Khill knew he’dnevertire of feeling them against his own.

Someone moaned. It might’ve been her, but it was probably him. That didn’t matter, though.

What mattered now was that for the first time in his life, Khill felt like he belonged somewhere. To someone. In this moment, withthiswoman, he wasexactlywhere he was supposed to be. If whatever gods were in charge of this dimension decided to smite him right now, at least he’d die happy.

No, wait. Fuck that. No one—not even a god—was going to pry him away from the woman he loved now that hefinallyhad her in his arms.

Or so he thought, at least. Until a violently loud throat clearing right next to them forced them apart.

Not by much, though. Khill pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against hers. Letting her go altogether wasnotan option.

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you don’t still want an annulment?” Lila asked with a snarky smile.

“You got that fucking right,” he answered.

“Damn straight,” Justine whispered breathlessly.

Lila chuckled. “Good for you, girl. I’ll go in and let the judge know what’s up. Meanwhile, might I suggest you take your little, uh, reunion here to a more private location? Because we’re dangerously close to me having to defend you against an indecent exposure charge here.”

CHAPTER 10

The ten-minute drive from the courthouse to Khill’s cottage took six minutes. Many traffic laws (and maybe even the laws of physics) were broken along the way.

And not a word was uttered. The anticipation in the air between them was so heavy, Justine was tempted to start tearing her clothes off in the car so that by the time they got to a bed (or wall or couch or really any non-mobile, solid surface), she’d be good to go.

Not that she wasn’talreadygood to go. Khill had gotten her wetter with one kiss than she’d ever gotten during actual sex with anyone.

Which was kind of sad and cool at the same time. Her husband got her wet with nothing but a kiss. Yay! And her other partners (all two of them…but still) barely convinced her that taking off anything other than her pants for sex was even worth it. Boo!

One look at Khill’s face (and the obvious hard-on pressing against his jeans) told her his thoughts were traveling in a direction similar to hers. His jaw was so tight it looked likeit might snap under the pressure of his clenched teeth, and while his eyes were technically on the road ahead of them, she could tell his full attention was actually on her. Every time she shifted in her seat, every time she took a deep breath, his focus sharpened.

When they finally got to his place, Khill threw the car in park and shifted in his seat to face her. “I need to know now?—”

“No.”

His brow furrowed. “No?”

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