I want Charlotte, the shy artist who blurts things out without thinking and is so loyal to her family that she will do whatever she has to to give them what they need.
But what if she doesn’t want me back?
“I do want you.” Her words are trembly. “But you’re not mine.”
My heart thumps so hard it might burst as understanding soaks into me. “I am yours. Only yours, Charlotte.”
Her eyes widen when she hears her name. “You know?”
I cup her head with my hands, touching her hair and her cheeks. I want to touch her everywhere. “Since the church garden.”
“And you’re OK? What about Eloise?”
“It will be nice to meet mysister-in-laweventually.” I press a kiss to her neck. “But right now I am desperate to consummate my marriage with my wife.”
I thrust my hips against her, loving her sudden gasp and little whimper.
“But… the marriage certificate says Eloise.”
“Technicalities.”
I lean back and peel her panties off to see her lips slick with arousal for me.
Her eyes roam down my body as I peel off my pants, widening when she sees how hard I am.
“I’m a virgin.” She squeaks, then slaps a hand over her mouth. “Forget I said that.”
Arousal swells deep in my balls, and the desire to claim her surges through me. “Why would I want to forget that no one has or ever will have you like I will?”
She waves her hands in the air, looking as flustered as the first time we met. “You’re a guy with lots of experience, I’m shy and I eat too many cookies and I clearly have a problem with rambling around you.”
I press a kiss to her knee. “I love your rambling.”
I press another kiss to the soft curves of her stomach. “’ll always give you the last cookie.”
I settle myself over her body again, my cock resting against her entrance. “And before doesn’t matter, only now. Only you.”
I slide into her in one slow thrust, push past her innocence and claim her as my own.
“You’re now officially Mrs. Phillips.”
She lets out a soft murmured laugh. “Not on the paperwork.”
“Technicalities,” I whisper and kiss my wife.
CHAPTER TEN
CHARLOTTE
Ilie in a sun chair on the beach, the warmth of the sun soaking into my aching body.
It’s my favorite kind of ache—full of first whimpers and sighs and whispered promises I want to keep forever.
No more secrets, Owen knows everything and he wants to be mine.
My phone buzzes. I reach into my bag and grin when I see Eloise’s name, but my elation quickly turns to panic. I know Eloise only agreed to marry Owen as part of a business deal, but would she see this as a betrayal?
I let out a steadying breath and answer the video call. “Hey.”
