I stiffen immediately and clear my throat.
She giggles. Fuckinggigglesas she bats her eyelashes at me.
“And that’s our cue to leave,” Uncle Mal says, clapping his hands.
Sterling chuckles and stands, and the rest of the men follow him, leaving the two of us sitting at the table alone.
“I’m working,” I grit as her fingers walk up my tie.
“Uh-huh,” she muses.
I glare at her, but it only encourages her. She flicks her finger over my lower lip until it makes a burbling sound.
“Stop it,” I huff.
“I love you,” she murmurs, doing it again.
My hand slides to her thigh, and I grab a handful of it with a tight grip. “I said,stop it, Princess.”
“You know I find you sexy when you’re mad,” she breathes, replacing her finger with her lips and kissing me.
My fingers dig into her flesh, and I groan as I kiss her back briefly, unable to resist.
“You’re so fucking spoiled,” I tease, making her gasp. I take the opportunity to nip her lower lip between my teeth and then haul her out of my lap, setting her on her feet as I stand. “You know when I’m working, you can’t do that.”
She pouts, and I can’t help myself. I grasp her face and give her cheeks a little squeeze, making her lips purse further.
“Make it up to me later?” I growl.
Her eyes light up and she nods happily inside my grasp.
I shake my head with a smirk. I know her. She pushes my buttons on purpose, because she likes to pretend that she’s ‘making it up’ to me when she’s on her knees sucking down on my dick like it’s tastier than those damn favorite smoothies of hers.
I should buy shares in that truck. I’m there every day, either with her, or picking one up for her. But it’s like I told her, I’m going to look after her. And she’s already looking healthier since I practically moved into her place with her.
Close protection at its most personal level.
Because now I do watch her in the shower every day like she asked if I would.
Or I join her.
I slide a hand down and curl it around her hip.
“I love you, Princess,” I whisper, pressing a light kiss to her lips, knowing no one is looking anymore.
She rises on her toes and looks into my eyes, a beautiful serenity in her green gaze.
“You okay?” I ask softly.
She smiles. “I am now.”
Then she presses her lips against mine.
“I love you too, Brute. So much.”
47
EPILOGUE – THE WEDDING
