Page 73 of When He Plays

“I had plenty of time to get the private doc option in place while I was dedicatedly staying by your hospital bed. When Dr. Jacobson—he’s the private doc who will be attending to you at our suite—when he gives me the all clear that you’re good to go, then we can consummate our marriage.”

He was still talking about marriage?

“It will be a very thorough consummation, so an annulment will never, ever be possible.” His fingers slid along her spine. “I suppose you can still get a quickie divorce, if that’s what you want. But we will fuck so it will need to be a divorce and not an annulment.”

“You seem…caught up on fucking.”

“I’m definitely caught up on it. I want to fuck you more than I want to take my next breath.” He released her chin. Hit a button near him. The privacy screen lowered. “Barney, we’re going to the chapel.”

“Sir?”

“Take the right up ahead. The drive-thru chapel is open twenty-four hours, isn’t it?”

“Sir?” Barney seemed to be choking.

“Take the right.” Logan hit the button again, and the screen rose soundlessly to its previous position.

Charlotte realized her mouth was hanging open.

“What?” His eyes were on her. “You didn’t say no, so I thought you were all in.”

“You can’t be serious.”

A long sigh. “Got to be honest with you, I’m pretty exhausted right now. It’s been a hellish twenty-four hours. I’m fighting rage and fear, and I want you protected. I can say that you’re my lover, and sure, my guards and staff at the hotel will watch over you. But if I say that you’re my wife, then everyone in my world will know that your protection is top priority. No, correction, the priority. You will come first.”

“I…” Charlotte didn’t know what to say. “Why would you do this for me? It’s way over the top.”

“Haven’t you noticed? I’m over the top. That’s pretty much my whole thing. I’m as outrageous and as wild as I want to be. And right now? What I want most? It’s for you to be my bride.”

She felt the limo slow down. Then turn right. Through the window, she saw the bright lights of an actual drive-thru wedding chapel.

“Speak now,” Logan murmured. “Or forever hold your peace.”

Her head whipped toward him. “I don’t think that line was meant for the intended bride.”

“No? Sorry. My first wedding. Don’t know all the rules yet.”

It was her first wedding, too. Was she seriously doing this? The limo was getting closer and closer to the drive-thru chapel, and, Logan was right. It would be a phenomenal cover and…

And…

Are you doing this because you don’t want things to be pretend? Because she wanted to fuck Logan? Because she wanted to be with him? “I…kinda feel like you kidnapped me from the hospital and now you’re whisking me away for a wedding, doing it fast before I can think too clearly.”

“What? Who? Me? Would I do something like that?” He took her hand and brought it toward his lips. “Would it be so bad, being married to me? And, don’t forget, it can only be for a little while.”

Interesting word choice. Not it will only be for a little while. But it can only be for a little while.

His lips brushed over her knuckles. His gaze sort of smoldered at her. The warm lighting in the back of the limo gave the whole scene a romantic, sensual air. Honestly, it was almost dream-like.

Only it wasn’t a dream. Logan was taking her to a wedding chapel. If she was going to say no to the man, she needed to do it. But…

Was this all some big, crazy dare? Was he trying to see how far he could push her? Because he was right. He was outrageous. Over the top.

He was also playing with the wrong woman. She leaned closer to him. Not hard considering she was still on his lap. His very aroused lap. She’d been conscious of that telling bulge during the whole ride.

Especially when he’d done all the talk about fucking.

Maybe he thought that he’d scare her away. That he’d get her to give up this mission. That he’d push her so far that she threw up her hands, surrendered, and ran out of his life.