Page 13 of Forbidden Vows

“Keith’s face?” Anger boils in me, thinking of that horrible kid. Who disrespects a woman like that? “I don’t care about his face. I care about you and what he did to you.” I move in close, my voice lowering to a growl. “I could have killed him for what he did. He’s lucky I didn’t.”

She stares at me for a moment, her pretty eyes reading my expression. Seeing my truth, she swallows so hard I can hear it.

I would have enjoyed getting rid of that filth.

Finally, she whispers, “I’m glad you didn’t.”

“The only thing stopping me was the fact that you would have been pissed off at me for all eternity,” I admit.

“Absolutely, I would have!” She brushes past me, moving further into the room to create some distance.

“Don’t come in if you don’t want to smell sex,” I say. “I just kicked a woman out.”

She eyes the rumpled bed sheets. There’s a fresh, wet spotin the center of the mattress. “Oh. Goodness.” Blushing, she looks away.

I grab the white feather duvet from the floor and toss it over the bed. She hovers at the foot of the bed, staring out the window and taking in the view so she won’t have to look at me. Or the bed.

“I spotted a Wonder Woman Amazon strolling down the hotel hallway, stilettos in hand,” she remarks playfully. “Could that have been her doing the walk of shame?”

“Walk of shame?” I laugh. “More like the walk of tame. You remember how good it feels to be with me.”

She chokes back a snort. “Put on a shirt, will you?”

“Can’t. I need a shower. Wanna join, cutie?”

She gives me a curt look.

I nod to the countertop bar on the other end of the room. “Take a seat. I’ll make you a drink.”

“I appreciate it, but no.” She settles onto a barstool, letting her bag slide off her shoulder to rest on the countertop beside her. “The only reason we ended up in bed at your brother’s wedding was the intoxicating effect of alcohol.”

I correct her. “The first time wasn’t a bed. It was the back of a church.”

She moans. “Don’t remind me!”

“And you’d only had a glass of champagne by then. I was the only thing intoxicating you.” I chuckle, recalling how adorable she was that night, tipsy and giggling. “Thoughthe second time we did it, yeah, you were pretty lit.” And it was incredible. “Let me get you a drink.

As I pass her to reach the mini-fridge, I inhale the familiar scent of her gentle perfume—vanilla and those chewy caramels from the bakery near my old place. Chilled Riesling is her favorite; the bright wine is nearly overly sweet, just like her and her alluring perfume.

I grab a bottle and pour her a glass, bringing it back to her. I lean over her, allowing her to get a long look at my abs. I ensure our fingers touch as she takes the glass from me.

I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “That was a great night.”

“I barely remember.” Her voice wavers.

My lips are so close now they brush her skin as I say, “That’s not what you were saying when you were begging me to fuck your pussy.” “

She clears her throat and shifts uncomfortably on her barstool. “I think you might be mixing me up with the woman who just walked out.”

I move in to mimic her, whispering hot in her ear, “Blaze. Don’t stop. Keep going.Please.”

“What's going on with you?” She picks up her wine, stands up from the stool, her cheeks matching the vibrant red of the label. She walks over to the window, trying to find some space, not quite realizing she’s put herself in a tricky spot with nowhere to go. “Why don't you go take your shower?”

I move in, forcing her to press her back against the wall.

She scrunches her nose as I get closer. “Ugh, you really smell like pee. What's up with that? Were you and this girl getting up to something weird?”

“I’m kinky, but not like that.” I reach for the messy bun at the nape of her neck, letting my fingers tangle in it, tugging at it. “You know what I like.”

---