Page 71 of Sins of Innocence

"It's easier for me to talk when I'm touching you."

He had been a lot more voluble earlier. "I thought it was because you were turned on."

He shrugs. "Either way works."

Which means what? That he's turned on right now?

"You're excited?" I dip my head to look down between us.

And sure enough, there's already an impressive bulge behind the placket of his cargo pants.

"We're in a bedroom, baby girl, that's a given."

Baby girl again.

I don't think I'm supposed to fall for my convenient husband in a marriage being forced on me by the mob. But he's making it hard to do anything else.

It's like he's been programmed to say all the right things and do exactly what we need him to, me and my girls.

Except… "You should have talked to me about Neeve and Joy not going to school today." We'll get to the Ellie thing in a minute.

"I meant to earlier." Those talented thumbs brush back and forth along my inner thighs. "We got sidetracked."

Ungh. What? Oh, yeah. Talking. "So, you meant to talk to me about the whole girls playing hooky and us going to Disneyland instead of Vegas thing?"

But he got distracted. By my breasts.

Why does that make me feel so proud? And pleased? Maybe because his preoccupation with my body came with two mind-altering orgasms.

"Yes." His gaze drops to my suddenly heaving chest. "And no."

Did I put on the wireless lift-and-entice bra Ellie talked me into buying last year in the after Christmas sales? Yes, I did. My cornflower blue, capped-sleeve knit top with the deep scoop neck that reveals an inch of my cleavage, hugs my enhanced curves before flaring just below my ribcage, the flirty hem hitting me midthigh.

After his reaction in the kitchen earlier, I thought he'd like it, but the predatory expression in his scalding espresso gaze says he's on the verge of getting sidetracked again. Want pulses in my core in sympathetic need.

"Show and tell time is over for today, big guy." Though I really, really wish it wasn't. "More words necessary," I force out, doing my best to ignore his Siren's call to my inner hussy.

Kieran's head snaps up and his gaze locks on mine, chagrin creasing the skin around his eyes. "I meant to tell you about the girls. Wanted Disneyland to be a surprise."

"Why don't you want the girls in school? I thought this whole arranged marriage thing was about protecting them."

"We're not married yet. I won't risk Kenneth using Neeve or Joy to bring you back in line."

I don't argue that Kenneth wouldn't try to do that very thing. He started blowing my phone up with texts after three calls from him went to voicemail while I was in the shower.

But use my daughters to do it?

"How would he? He's not on the list of people allowed to take them out of school." I realize how naïve my words sound even as I'm saying them.

The Kenneth Shaughnessys of this world don't abide by the rules and he is the one who pays my girls' tuition.

A sickening thought comes to me. "I bet people already think I'm having an affair with Kenneth. He's been paying my daughters' tuition for the last four years."

"That ends now." Kieran squeezes my thighs, like he's emphasizing his words.

But he's not going to get an argument from me.

"Agreed." I'd rather put my girls in public school then let that asshole keep paying their tuition. "He's already paid for this year though."