Page 177 of Sins of Innocence

"But we both have work to do during the day." Though I guess if last night is anything to go by, he's working plenty at night.

His big hand cupping my nape, he pulls me toward him. "Nothing as important as this."

"When you say stuff like that, it makes me feel all squishy inside." I start unbuttoning his dress shirt.

His eyes reflect the same hunger I feel and something else. Something I can't read. "Does it?"

"Yes. I mean I guess it’s just sex—"

"No. Just sex wouldn’t be this necessary."

He’s right. This is way too powerful to be just anything. Even mind blowing, out of this world sex. But the feelings I have are all about love.

What are his feelings for me?

I don’t ask.

I just let him guide me toward the bedroom, noticing on the way that once again there’s a platter of food under a dome on the table and bottles of juice chilling in an ice bucket beside it. "You’re always taking care of me."

"That’s my job."

"I’m not sure all forced husbands would say the same thing."

"No one forced me to marry you."

"No?" I lean forward and kiss him in the center of his chest tattoo.

His thumb brushes my neck, sending pleasure skating along my nerve endings. "The marriage was my idea. Mick approved it and—"

"Then he forced me to follow through." Sometimes, I forget that Kieran's the one that made the outrageous claim that I was his to protect when we'd only just met.

Mick was all for it though.

Because he didn't care how an arranged marriage might affect me? Or because his friend took one look at me and thought, I must keep this woman and protect her?

I thought I knew, but now I wonder.

"Does that matter so much?" Kieran asks me as he pulls me through the doorway of the bedroom.

Honestly? I’m not sure that it does. It's too fast. I know it is.

But my feelings for this man are too big to ignore. "Maybe it doesn't. Maybe where we are is all that really matters."

And where we are is together. I cannot regret marrying Kieran Veseli.

He makes a growly sound low in his throat and then he kisses me silly. I'm panting and little dizzy when he pulls away.

Chapter thirty-seven

Pretty Silver Chains

ÁINE

My gaze takes in the room, the same as the day before, except the top sheet and duvet aren't on the bed today. They're folded up neatly and resting on the ottoman at the end of the bed.

The black leather, fur-lined cuffs from our honeymoon stand out dark against the white sheet in the center of the bed. Next to them is a shiny black bullet vibrator shaped like the head of lipstick and a delicate silver chain.

Oh man. He’s got plans.