Page 51 of A Convenient Ring to Claim Her

A man who was very, very different from her.

Reality began to crash back in around her when they arrived at the hotel in Wildenfels. It had actually been built as a Prussian palace and had housed eighteenth-century royalty. Part of it, a tower overlooking the courtyard, had been built in the 1200s. During Soviet times, the buildings and land had been used for collective farming. Later, it was renovated into apartment living, but as those units fell into disrepair, Micah’s aunt had targeted it for purchase and redevelopment.

Over the last two years, marble floors had been uncovered, murals were cleaned, and plaster was restored. It was completely modernized, then decorated with crystal chandeliers, rococo-style furniture and sumptuous bedding. The staff were suitably intimidated by the owner’s arrival and eager to please.

Aside from a handful of intimate social engagements, Quinn hadn’t been out with Micah much. They stayed in a lot, made love alot, and it had somehow slipped her mind that he was actually a very well-known, wealthy and powerful man. When it was just the two of them across a breakfast table, she felt like equals.

They were not equals.

“It’s not like this is our home,” he dismissed when she remarked on the opulence that surrounded them. “It’s an upscale hotel. It’s supposed to impress.”

“But you own it. And it’s one property of many.” Hundreds?

He shrugged off her concern, saying that he wanted to meet with the management team to ensure there would be no hiccups on their big day.

Quinn was left to change for greeting guests as they arrived, but that was another mental wallop.

Much of her trousseau had been designed by Yasmine, but the list of items to include had been recommended by Eden. How had it become so many outfits? She had a tea gown for their welcome reception, a little black dress for the cocktail mixer later, then a dinner gown for the “intimate” family dinner they would host tonight in a private dining room.

She had a negligee for tonight and a peignoir for breakfast. In between, she had silk pajamas to wear while getting ready and a “going away” outfit for the end of the night. For the wedding, she had two different gowns! One was a simple satin crepe with organza-covered buttons down her back that she would wear for the civil ceremony. The other was a more elaborate A-line cut with a sweetheart neckline covered in appliqué lace that she would wear when they entered the reception. None of that included the two suitcases that were packed for their honeymoon.

Quinn had been happy with every single outfit because each felt like “her.” They were simple and pretty and none were particularly ostentatious, but taken together the cost made her light-headed.

It was the vertigo of climbing far beyond her station in life. The fall from here would be catastrophic, and what was stopping her from falling?

The door opened and Micah startled her into hugging the beaded dress she was holding to her front.

“It occurred to me that we won’t have a minute alone again until our honeymoon.” He secured the lock and padded toward her like a jungle cat. “Would you like to enjoy one more hour of sin before we make this legal?”

She was so shaken by how swiftly she’d lost control of her life, her fingers went limp as he tugged the dress free of her grip. His mouth covered hers and she clasped onto what felt solid. Him.

Their tongues brushed and their groans of pleasure intermingled. He released a satisfied noise at her near-nakedness and cupped under her bottom, inviting her to leap onto him. She did, hugging him with her legs as he carried her to the bed.

It was like old times—almost frantic. As though time was limited. As though each time was the last time.Thistime felt like their last time.

“Quinn.” He lifted his head once to look down at her, nostrils flared and cheeks flushed with lust. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I want this. I want you.” She practically tore his buttons trying to open his shirt.

He popped them himself as he swept his hand down and yanked it free of his trousers. He tore the delicate French lace of her underwear rather than slide the silk down her thighs. His hand cupped her, hot and possessive.

“I love knowing this is all mine. Forever.”

Her heart took a swerve at what she thought he almost said, I love... But he was kissing her again. Caressing her in a way he knew emptied her mind. They tangled tongues and she sucked on his bottom lip and scrambled to open his fly to take him in hand.

She was rushing both of them, she knew she was, but she needed to feel himthere.

As she guided him, he rolled atop her, clothing in disarray, but still on. With a ragged noise, he gathered her beneath him and pressed.

She arched as she took him, savoring the slight sting as an echo of her distraught emotions.

“What’s going on?” he asked gruffly as he smoothed her hair off her temple. “What do you need?”

“You. Just you.” She swept her touch over every inch of bare skin she could access, inciting him to begin thrusting.

He kissed her again, deep and hot. His hips began a slow, powerful rhythm that made her groan. She felt his smile against the edge of her jaw.

“Shall we play our old game? How many times can I make you shatter before you destroy my control?”

---