Page 91 of Savage Promises

“Of course, you can,” he says firmly, his hands wrapping around my waist. “You’re my wife. I told you, I’d give you everything and anything.”

The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. My heart twists with a mixture of gratitude and confusion.

“But this isn’t real,” I whisper. “I’m your wife, but our marriage isn’t real.”

Even though we’ve been honeymooning like it is. Every night we make passionate love for hours, but afterward, Shane locks himself away in his bedroom while I try to fall asleep, alone in mine.

He tilts my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Our marriageisreal, Lennox. Very real for me.”

We lapse into silence for a moment, the weight of his stare wrecking me.

I look around the office and out at the club through smoky double-sided glass. Feeling another kind of reality wash over me, I ask, “What about the warehouse that burned down? All the weapons you were expecting to get out of this deal?”

His jaw tightens. “That’s between your brother and my family.This, my gift of the club to you, is between us. Husband and wife.”

“Is this a payoff?” I ask, my voice trembling. “You’re going to kill Garrett, aren’t you? Is this to make me look the other way?”

His expression softens, though his eyes remain searching. “I’m not going to kill Garrett.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, notyouliterally, but your enforcer team.”

“No one is killing Garrett. There’s no evidence he warned the Albanians. They’re at war with the Italians. A war we instigated,” Shane reminds me. “And I have what Ireallywant.” He kisses my knuckles. “You. And this is what I want to give you. A gift you deserve. You worked hard for this, baby.”

“And my hours don’t bother you? Be honest,” I whisper.

“Do I wish you were home more? Sure.” Shane’s lips capture mine in a heated kiss. “But I’m strong enough to let you have your dreams.”

For a moment, all other questions, all my doubts dissolve. But as his kiss deepens, one question hits me. I lean away and stare down at the papers. “I didn’t see the outside. What’s the name of the club?”

Shane snags my hand, a mischievous smile building on his mouth. He brings me to the office window overlooking the entire nightclub. “Look at the sign overthe bar area.”

The blue mercury mirror over the opulent bar has shimmering letters that spell outLuxe.

He kisses the back of my head. “A statement of class and elegance. Like my wife.”

“Shane, it’s perfect.” My heart pounds as I dive into his arms.

He cups my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “You’re perfect. You earned this, all of it. I examined the business records of Echelon and how you made it a success. I have every faith you’ll shine even brighter here because it’s all yours.”

I clear my throat, guilt always stealing my joy.

“I... I have to pay you in some way. My father’s settlement for buying me out of Club Echelon isn’t a lot.”

This is amazing timing on Shane’s part. The date for Garrett to take over had been looming, and crushing me to lose what I worked so hard for.

“That settlement is money you earned. He paid you a pathetic salary. Take that money and spoil yourself with all those little things I know you don’t want to ask me for. Like your manicures. Like getting your hair done. Or just take Mara out for a girl’s night. I don’t want a prisoner. I want a wife.” His hands lift my skirt. “I want us to have respect, passion, and great fucking.”

“Shane,” I rasp, feeling him grow hard in his trousers.

“That’s me. Your husband.” He reaches under my skirt and slides off my panty with one hand. “And there is a way you can pay me back, my beautiful wife.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Shane

With Lennox’s dress hiked up around her waist and my trousers puddled around my ankles, I fuck her against the smokey window looking down at her club. I cup her ass, anchoring her weight against the glass. Her legs wrap tightly around my hips as I arch my back and pump my cock in and out of her drenched cunt.

I can’t get enough of this woman. “You take me so good, baby.”

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