Page 28 of The Villain's Beloved (The Villain's Duet 2)

“Yes. We’re right behind you.”

“Hmm-mm.” He gave me a knowing look before ushering his wife through the arches in the other direction.

Finally alone, Charlotte and I remained in this bubble we had just created, the entire world around us blocked out by the ancient walls that surrounded us.

She scowled. “You knew I was going to say I’ll marry you?”

“I hoped.”

“Bullshit. Arranging a priest, witnesses. That was a pretty bold move.”

“What am I if not bold?”

Charlotte held the velvet ribbon in her hand. “I think that was the fastest wedding in the history of mankind.”

“Not as fast as Saint and Milana’s wedding, I can assure you.”

“One day I’d love to hear their story.”

“One day.” I stepped closer. “But first,” I tipped her face up to mine with a gentle touch of my hand to her chin, “there’s one last thing we need to do to officiate this marriage.”

“Elijah,” she gasped. “Here?”

I gave her a devilish grin. “Right fucking here. Pun intended.”

10

It happened so fast,it felt surreal.

Did Elijah and I just get married? The priest, the velvet ribbon, and those beautiful words weaved together with the magic of the ancient ground we stood upon had me soaring in this dream-like state while the energy of a joy I had never experienced before filled me up.

Elijah’s arms wrapped around my waist, his hard length rubbing against my stomach as he pressed me tightly against him, grinding his hips, making his intentions known.

His kiss was fire, an act of love steeped in the deepest pools of passion, claiming my mouth as if he tasted me for the first time.

Slowly, his fingers swirled behind my back as he wound up the fabric of my dress. “Since this is our wedding night, I’m going to give you the choice.”

“What choice?” I breathed against his wet lips.

With a gentle stroke of his cheek against mine, his five o’clock shadow brushed against my skin. “Whether I take you back to the hotel and make love to you all night.”

“Or?” I leaned into him, swept away and drugged on desire.

“Or…” A greedy hand slipped from my waist to cup my breast, and I arched my back, “I fuck you right here, right now…hard and fast.”

A gasp slipped past my lips as I pushed my body forward, deeper into his touch as he kneaded my breast, pinching my hardened nipple scratching against the silk of my dress.

“It’s your choice, wife.”

My insides coiled.Wife.

There was a devilish glint in his eyes as he stared at me, giving me a glimpse of his hunger—a desire to get burned to fucking ash. And God knew, I was right there next to him, ready to be consumed by the flames.

I slid my arms around his neck, leaning into him, placing my lips against his throat, feeling his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, his hand snaking up my back. “As a newly married wife…” I grazed my teeth against his jaw, and his hand reached my hair, fisting and tugging my head back abruptly. I smiled, the flames now an inferno of unstoppable desire. “I’d like my husband to fuck me right here, right now.”

A growl tore from his throat, and my back was against the wall before I could inhale my next breath, his tongue assaulting mine with a kiss so hard it left no room for doubt of exactly what his intentions were. Hard and desperate hands clawed at my dress, pulling it up and around my waist, strong fingers grabbing my panties.

My skin burned. My core throbbed. I wanted him hard, raw, hot, and all at once. There was no stopping the moans that rolled from my lips as he slipped his hand between us, pulling his cock out of his pants. The anticipation that throbbed between my legs, my sex aching and needy, had me ready to tear at his goddamn skin if it meant getting him inside me faster.

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