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“Didn’t realize we were on a time crunch, Your Highness.” He looks like he wants to growl at my nickname for him, but honestly, he can’t be mad. He calls me a peasant, so I’d say mine isn’t any worse.
“My time is important. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
Ahh, there he is. Almost thought I’d lost my dickhead husband there for a second. Instead of responding, I lean my head into the crook of his neck, just letting him carry me. He’s in rare form tonight so I’m not going to waste getting a chance to enjoy his hard body as mine presses against it.
We finally make our way inside, heading down a long hallway and into an office. He sets me back down, and my body already starts to miss his touch. I’d like to blame this irrational desire to be near him on alcohol, but I haven’t had a drop tonight.
Servers were bringing around flutes of champagne, but I refused it. Not even at my own wedding can I drink, because in the back of my mind, I’m afraid someone might’ve spiked it.
Fuck you, Zayan.
I look around the office, taking it in, until my attention lands back on Marnix. He’s staring at me with a burning gaze, and I shift under his scrutiny.
“So... you going to give me my present or make me wait all night? Wouldn’t want to waste any more of that precious time you go on about.” I chuckle, but it only makes him groan.
“That smart mouth of yours is going to get you punished one day.” He steps closer to me, bringing his hand to the side of my neck, running his thumb over my erratic pulse. His closeness makes me lose all my senses. It makes me want to do things I know I shouldn’t. Things that will blur the lines between us.
What the fuck is wrong with me? He says one nice thing and barely touches me, and yet I’m ready to forget how much of an asshole he is?
“Not now though?” I push my chest against his. His eyes narrow, but he seems to snap out of it, taking a step back to grab something off the desk.
He pushes it into my hand with a surprisingly eager look on his face. It’s a long black velvet box that has me nervous to see what’s inside. “Open it,” he says impatiently.
I pry open the lid and gasp. I look up at him, tilting my head to the side. “It’s... uh... wow.” I’m at a loss for words. This is... This is too much. Sitting in this box is a gorgeous necklace with a giant, round emerald pendant encircled by small, shiny diamonds. The chain is encrusted with diamonds, all the way to the clasp.
It looks like something straight out of the Queen of England’s royal jewelry collection. It’s incredible, but I can’t imagine how much he spent on it.
He averts his gaze to his shoes. “You hate it.” The cold tone of his voice sends a chill down my spine.
“No! No, I don’t hate it. It’s just…” It’s fucking stunning, but so expensive looking. Tears well up in my eyes, knowing this one necklace probably cost more than everything I own combined. “It’s beautiful, I just... I didn’t get you anything.” I can’t tell him how inadequate it makes me feel. It also confuses the fuck out of me; we’re not planning on staying married so I genuinely don’t know why he got this for me.
Seeming to read my facial expression, he steps closer to me. “Don’t overthink it, Tara.” The way my name rolls off his tongue makes my body light up. “I saw it and it made me think of you. The color matches your eyes.”
I look up at him, enjoying his closeness. Unshed tears threaten to escape me, but I hold back. It was a thoughtful gesture, even if I’m unsure of what it really means. “Thank you,” I croak out.
He leans in closer. I can smell the whiskey on his warm breath. It’s so enticing, I want to taste it from his tongue. Seeing Marnix like this—with his guard down—is intoxicating. I could get drunk on his presence alone, but I know it won’t last. I know in the morning he’ll be back to his usual broody, asshole self.
“You look stunning today. You deliberately defied me with that dress, but fucking hell, you’re gorgeous in it.” His eyes are swirling with lust, getting darker the longer I stare at him.
“Marnix,” I whisper, seeing his gaze dart from my eyes to my lips. I try to step back, but he suddenly brings his hand to my throat, pulling me close and slamming his lips down on mine. My body instinctively presses against his as my hands rest on his chest.
He squeezes my throat tighter as his tongue tangles with mine. His demanding kiss sends fireworks exploding through my body. This is the second time we’ve kissed today, but this one is different. This isn’t for show; this isn’t an act.
He’s genuinely fucking kissing me.
I shouldn’t get too excited—he’s drunk. He’s obviously had to drown himself in whiskey just to get through our wedding day.
Marnix drops his hand, and I whimper at the loss, but he quickly picks me up, placing me on the desk. His fingers tighten on my hips as I wrap my arms around his neck.
His hand skims the exposed skin under my top before it wraps around the back of it, pulling on the zipper, letting the top fall open. He steps back from me, breaking our kiss as I let the fabric crumple to the floor. I didn’t wear a bra today, so this is leaving me exposed. Leaving me fully naked from the waist up.
His breath hitches as his eyes take me in. “Fucking hell. So damn perfect.” He lunges at me, bringing his mouth to my nipple while he squeezes the other in his large palm, pinching tightly as I scream.
“Marnix!” He bites down on my sensitive nipple. My back arches into his touch, reveling in the sensations he’s pulling from me. My body wiggles, trying to get closer to him, trying to feel more of him on my body. He slowly kisses up the valley between my breasts, up to my neck, sucking on my sensitive skin there before his lips find mine again.
“You taste so good,” he murmurs, before tugging my hair back to expose my neck to him again. His kisses are brutal, savage, fighting me for dominance. Fighting to remind me he’s in charge. I’m panting, wanting to feel more of him. I need more of him.
I roam my hand down his shirt to pop open the buttons, and just as my palm connects with the exposed skin on his chest, something inside of him seems to snap. He steps back from me, and I see the stone cold expression on his face.
