Page 60 of Deal with the Devil

Her mouth pops open, but I’m pretty sure that’s a twitch in the corner of her lips. But then she says, “This is fun, right? What we’re doing—we’re just having fun.”

I stiffen. This. Woman.

Carefully, I say, “Think we had fun last night, Sunshine.”

She breathes a breath of what I’m sure is relief. It pisses me off. “Okay.” She nods to herself. “I’m clean, by the way. I got checked after I caught ass-face with my crappy bestie. Figured if he was sleeping with her, he was probably sleeping with half of L.A.” A little sniff and then, “I’m also on birth control, but we should probably be smarter if there’s going to be a next time.”

“Not if.”

Her nose scrunches. “Hmm?”

“No question ofifthere will be a next time, Sunshine.”

“So, you plan on fucking me again?”

“Often. Daily, even.” I amend, “Multiple times a day.”

She huffs a laugh, cheeks pinkening. “You’re insatiable.”

“Way that wet pussy gripped my dick all hungry just hours ago, could say the same about you.”

Her mouth falls again. The pink turns red. “That’s—crass.”

“Truth isn’t crass, wife.”

“Kane!”

I shrug. “Won’t be wearing a condom, either.”

She makes an adorably indignant noise. “And areyouclean?”

“Yep. Tested when I brought you home.”

“Why?”

I wink at her. “Always planned on having you, Nevaeh.”

Her lips are parted still as she gapes at me. Then she wets her lips, gathers control of herself and murmurs, “A condom would be extra protection from facing something messy like pregnancy.”

“You want babies?”

Her head swings my way, confusion knotting her brows, but she says, “Eventually, yes. When I’m married and financially stable.”

“You are married, and because you’re married to me, you’re more than financially stable.” I pull into the parking lot of the bakery as she huffs more incredulous sounds.

“This marriage isn’t real, Kane.”

Not this shit again.

I kick open my door and round the truck to hers. She’s already sliding out, so I push my hand in her belly and shove her gently, but firmly, into the side of the truck. My other hand lifts to her face, finger hooking the band of her sunglasses, tugging them away from her eyes so she can look unguarded into mine. Then I tell her point-blank, “The deal is off. This is real, Sunshine. I made it crystal fucking clear last night that you’re mine, and I’m yours. That means this marriage is real. There won’t be a divorce in a year. You won’t walk out of my life.” My hand drags up from herbelly to tap against the heart that thunders in her chest. “This is mine. It beats for me now, as mine beats for you. I will protect you until I breathe my last breath, care for you always, stand loyal for you—withyou. You, Nevaeh Isabella Volkov, aremywife. Mine.” I hold her wide eyes with my own. “Do you understand me?”

“I—I—” A little wrinkle forms between her brows. “Kane?—”

“I’m in love with you, Sunshine. Head over fucking heels. For you.”

Her pupils dilate and her nostrils flare just enough to make me wholly aware that she’s processing big emotions. Then she wets her lips, shudders around a shallow breath and whispers, “Kane.”

“Do you understand that this, us, is real?”

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