Page 68 of Savage Promises

I think.

But with my stomach in knots, I can’t eat.

“Can we please talk now?” I put down the cake and take Shane’s hand.

“Aye.” Shane steers me away, keeping our hands locked.

We walk right past Neve, who sulks in a chair, staring at the fiancé she made clear she did not want.

Shane shifts his hand to my ass as he whisks me away to my office. When I click the door shut, he’s behind me, his hands caging me against the door.

“See, you got what you wanted.” He nuzzles the back of my neck.

Damn, that feels so good. But is this real?

“What did I want?” I ask playfully.

“That night in the villa. You got drunk and crawled into my lap with a wet pussy for me. I’ll never fucking forget that. Now you’re mine.” He exhales, his warm breath fanning my ear. “You can ride me with this amazing body every night. I’m yours, Lennox.”

I swallow, my core tightening. “But how? What happened with Neve?”

“I guess we have to get this out of the way.” He releases me and I turn to step farther into the office. “But after this conversation, I don’t want to hear her nameagain. I’m marryingyou.Youare going to be my wife.” He runs a hand through his hair, the first sign of unease all night. “I suspected Neve was in a relationship with her volleyball coach. I hired a PI to confirm it.”

My throat tightens. “God, Neve!”

Shane’s expression hardens. “She’s been seeing him for months. She didn’t want this marriage any more than I did. But I wouldn’t have...”

“But you did... Kind of. With me. You kissed me. You made me come.”

His eyes take a leisurely stroll over my curves and a rough, sexy growl erupts from his chest. “I guess I got what I deserved. And I deserve you, Lennox. Iwantyou. God, how I want you, every last bit of you.”

His admission makes me swoon. I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch my chest, needing to share the looming concern that overshadows my happiness.

“I’m worried, Shane,” I admit. “My father will punish Neve for her betrayal.”

“Griffin is talking to him right now,” Shane says, his tone matter-of-fact. “Making it clear that Garrett is to hold up his end of the bargain. I’ll make sure Neve gets into the school she wants. She can join the Olympics for all I care.” His voice softens as he steps closer. “You are my priority. In one week, you’ll be my wife.”

I stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest. This isn’t how I imagined my life, but something in Shane’s eyes pulls me in, steady and unwavering.

“And Lennox... I intend for us to have averysexually gratifying marriage.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Lennox

I’m Shane Quinlan’s fiancée. Not Neve.Me.

The diamond on my finger feels heavy, like my knuckles might drag behind me. It all feels very primitive. Like this ring means Shane owns me. Or will.

After my surprise engagement party breaks up, Shane puts me in his Sentinel, but the ride is a blur of traffic lights. With how Shane turned everything upside down and claimed me, I’m surprised when the spire to The Sterling comes into view.

He’s not taking me to his brownstone.

We get out of the Sentinel and with Shane’s hand on the small of my back, he steers me inside, right to the villa elevators. When the door closes, he cages me against the paneled wall.

“Say something,” he whispers, his first crack of insecurity.

I wasn’t given a choice. He wants to know how I feel about this. “My head feels like it’s spinning.”

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