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“Lou! Youknowwhat I mean.”
He groans and I laugh again. “I saw you two dancing. So?”
“So what?”
“So how are things? She wouldn’t answer me when I asked if you two were here officially as dates.”
His only answer comes in the reddened tips of his ears. Our dance ends before I can force any more information out of him. Another song plays and everyone switches up again, pairing off or heading for drinks and food being served. I find Tasha at a table by herself, watching the festivities with a thoughtful expression. I bump her shoulder with mine as I sit down next to her.
“Thanks for flying out five thousand miles to be here.”
“Girl, for you? Anything. Any time. Look around. This isgorgeous.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a change, but I think it’ll be good.”
Tasha bumps my shoulder this time. “Knowing you two, you’ll be doing nothingbutenjoying each other on this little island. You’ll be popping out all the babies humanly possible.”
“What part of we’re not even trying don’t you get?” I laugh. “We’re not focusing on it. It feels better this way—there’s no pressure. We’re letting go of it.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Go get started on your new lives together. Your man isfiending.”
It’s true that Gio’s gone from sneaking glances at me from across the dance floor to flat out eying me in wolfish hunger. My cheeks warm as I rise out of my chair next to Tasha and walk toward him. The rest of the afterparty falls into the background as we reenter each other’s orbit and he holds out his hand for me to take.
“I missed you,” he says, kissing my cheek. “Yes, I’m being a territorial dumb fuck.Butit’s only because the sight of you so beautiful as you chat with everybody else makes me want you all to myself.”
“What else is new?”
He spoils me with more quick kisses on my face and neck, drawing me snugly against his chest. “You make me feel like a fucking caveman. I want to throw you over my shoulder and take you to my cave to do…things.”
I bite on my lip and then glance at the others. “I don’t think they’ll notice we’re gone.”
Gio readily takes my hint, grabbing my hand and leading me away.
His security stop us every so often as we make our escape. As we dash from the beach and toward the large estate looming over this end of the island, his men approach and ask if we’re in need of anything. Gio’s grip tightens on my hand and he fires off a chain of commands without even stopping.
“Continue on your posts. Let the others enjoy the festivities. We will be turning in for the night. Please give everyone our regards before they leave.”
We reach our new home and disappear inside. His men stationed through the large manor question us some more, but Gio barely bothers waving them off the closer we make it to our bedroom.
I’m happy and giggly as he pulls me along with him. Today’s big ceremony hasn’t left much time or appetite to sit down to a real meal, which means the champagne I drank has me slightly tipsier.
Yet I only giggle more when I think about us sneaking off. Though we’ll have plenty of time together as we embark on our new lives, it still feels like a treat leaving our party early. We haven’t spent much time alone over the past couple of days.
The instant the door closes, Gio’s kissing me. He’s wrenching me to him and capturing my lips in a deep kiss that has me surrendering with a gasp. I canfeelhis hunger. His sense of urgency. The raw, primal compulsion of his to devour me in every possible way.
It’s instinctive and overwhelming and all-consuming.
It makes me shudder as I come alive too. My body jolts awake and tunes itself to the moment. Every sensation no matter how quick or small draws a unique, visceral reaction out of me. His warm tongue flicking against mine prompts a moan and his hand sliding over my skin turns it hot to the touch.
I bump into a dresser as he brings me up against it. His mouth on mine, we stand pressed against this hunk of furniture kissing and touching each other as though too lost to move somewhere sensible like a bed. Gio’s fingers slip under the thin straps of my white gown and he shoves them down. He undresses me while kissing me, multitasking as he tugs and pulls at fabric.
Another small laugh leaves me as I free myself from his mouth and breathe. Flush and warm, my head’s already spinning and all we’ve done is kiss. I lean against the dresser and watch in amusement while Gio shimmies the gown past my hips and thighs.
When he catches the sight of me stripped down, his electric eyes flick to mine and he grunts his approval.
I’m wearing bridal lingerie he’s never seen before—a strapless bustier embroidered with floral lace detailing and the tiniest, laciest, sheerest thong imaginable.
“Surprise,” I say, my smile coy and sexy.
