I’m second place to a fecking candy bar?
“That does it.” I throw Luna over my shoulder, heading for the stairs.
“What are youdoing?”She indignantly smacks my back.
My uncomfortably hard cock is spared a direct hit from her flailing feet as I slap her arse, hard, and pull off her heels. “I’m thinking ya dinna remember the night clearly,” I say, heading for my-ourbedroom. “Time for a refresher.”
Her kicking feet stop, and I feel the tension in her little body. Sliding her off my shoulder and taking some time to rub her against the length of me on the way down, I study her expression.
“This is our bedroom,” I say firmly. “I would like ya to be in our bed. Not just for sex. Though I do want to fuck ya into submission at this particular moment.”
“I appreciate your openness and transparency,” she says dryly.
“What do ya say?”
She’s still unsure, examining my expression, and the thought hits me.Ya should tell her about her grandfather now. Get it out of the way. Ya should tell her that you’ve called him.When she goes up on tiptoe to kiss me, I shove that thought away.
I’ll tell her in a couple of days.
I wake up to an empty bed, shoving aside my disappointment. Did Luna lose her nerve after another round in my bed and a third in the shower? I recall the vision of soap suds slipping down her breasts and taut stomach, and I’m instantly hard. Again.
Muttering in the master bath sends me in that direction after I pull on some sweats to cover up my obvious erection. Luna’s bent over the tiled counter, carefully dabbing at her dress from last night.
“Morning, my bride.”
“Morning,” she echoes, gaze darting away from my crotch. “I dripped some grease on my dress last night! I think I’ve almost got it out, though.”
“We can send it to the launderers to be dry cleaned, dinna worry.”
“Well, I’m not going to be the one to ruin such a gorgeous dress,” she continues, eyeing another stain before starting in on it. “I’m sure it cost some outrageous amount.”
“Fifteen thousand pounds,” I shrug. “If it’s ruined, I’ll get ya another one.” It’s as if I’d suggested setting her hair on fire. The look of horror is… there’s that word again. Adorable.
“What? You can buy acarfor fifteen thousand!” Despite her outrage, she carefully hangs up the dress before descending on me. “I’m glad I didn’t know how much this dress cost last night. I couldn’t have worn it. I would have been too stressed out about ruining it. Why would you spend that kind of money on a dress?”
I frown, confused by her outrage. “Because I knew you’d look beautiful in it.”
This does not seem to help. “Do you have time to go out with me today?” she asks.
Checking my watch, “I have a quick meeting with Uncle Cormac and Da, then I’m yours the rest of the day.”
Her grin is large and slightly unsettling. “Excellent.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
In which Kai is treated to a lesson in fiscal responsibility and Luna has some serious competition.
Luna…
Fifteen thousand pounds.Fifteen.That’s even more appalling because it’s not in dollars; it’s in pounds, which is even more money.
Who lives like this? The MacTavishes, apparently. And he said it so casually, like fifteen thousand pounds is nothing. I’m not going to let him waste money on me like that. At least, for as long as this marriage lasts.
I’m running on the treadmill in the gym, and the huge windows in front of me look out over a little pocket park across the street. An exhausted mom lets her three toddlers loose, slumping against the park bench with a sigh of relief that I swear I can hear across the street and through Kai’s bulletproofed windows.
Kids. I’ve alternately longed for them and then convinced myself that my lackluster upbringing after losing my parents didn’t equip me with the necessary skills. I’ve never dated a man I considered having children with, so it’s been a moot point.
While offspring have nothing to do with the agreement I have with Kai, I hope that one day I’ll be part of a close family. I can’t supply it, so I’m hoping my (far in the future) husband’s familywill be loving and welcoming. I will not bring kids into this world without the support of aunties, uncles, and cousins. And grandparents. I’ve watched my friends with their grandparents, and it was like they could do no wrong.
