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“I did not know.”
Phillip faced Elonne and glared down at him, unimpressed with this man now. “When we first met, I admired how you protected your sister, took care of your family. Not anymore. You have dared to lay a hand on her and have made her cry. Let me tell you something, Elonne Parker. Your sister is a fucking treasure and you should be thankful you have her in your life.”
“She is my sister.”
Phillip lifted an eyebrow. “I believe I just stated that. But while she is your sister, she is going to be my wife. And unlike you, I promise you I will protect my own. From whatever the danger, even if it comes from within her own family.”
“You cannot marry her. She is promised to Mr. Caulfield.”
Phillip snorted as he tried to control the raging fury the mere thought of that man touching Fyre created within him. “That man will die if he lays a hand on her. And you would do well to stop trying to sell her. I know when a man is in financial hardship, just like I know you expected your sister to take care of your issue. She paid off a large debt of yours. I put the money back in her account and paid off the rest of your IOUs, but if you get in trouble again, no one will save you.”
Elonne’s eyes widened. “Why would you do that?”
“I told you, your sister is going to be my wife, and I will do whatever is necessary to protect her.”
Elonne held his tongue for a moment and Phillip waited, sure he would be coming with something else. He wasn’t wrong.
“You cannot marry her. I will not allow it.”
“Mr. Parker, it is past time you realize your sister is a grown woman with her own thoughts and desires. You cannot tell her anything.”
“I do not know how things are in England, my lord—”
Was there a bit of a sneer on ‘my lord’? Phillip believed there was.
“I am sure you have a point to make.” His tone was cold and sharp.
“Here, on this island, family is everything. And Fyre will put family first, no matter how much money you dangle in front of her. My sister will never take your side over mine.”
Gah, it bothered the fuck out of him to think Elonne may be right about that. But Phillip hadn’t exactly inherited anything meek or cautious from his father.
Biting off his proprietary words when others joined them, all he could do was smile at Elonne. The prick grinned right back, clearly sure of his position.
Phillip shook his head. No, she wouldn’t turn her back on him and what they could have together. He had nothing to fear.
Did he?
* * * *
Her own bed wasn’t as comfortable as the one she’d enjoyed at the party. And it was lonely without her earl in it with her. She sighed heavily as she shifted to her side and snuggled down deeper beneath the blankets she didn’t truly need on a night like this.
Phillip had put out so much heat with his own body that she had been on a different level of warmth lying beside him. Now, alone, she shivered. Not that it was cold, but she was.
I am a mess.
After tossing and turning for a few more moments, she swung her feet over the edge and walked to the kitchen. Realizing she didn’t want anything that was in there, she huffed in frustration and went back to her bedroom.
“Missing something?”
She screamed and jumped at least a foot. He was there when she came down, strong arms wrapping around her, his scent filling her, bringing comfort and arousal all in the same breath.
“Phillip.” His name fell on a gasp from her lips.
He tunneled his fingers into her hair, tipped her head back and kissed her.
There was no holding back. When his tongue swiped along the seam of her mouth, she opened immediately, needing him back inside her. His growl of approval reverberated through her.
She chased his mouth when he pulled away, even though she couldn’t see him.
“You left me. Without a fucking word.”
His grip flexed in her hair, but there was no fear in her. As tight as his hold was on her, it didn’t hurt, and his fingertips massaged her scalp lightly even though he had no give on her hair.
“Why are you here?”
The rumble leaving his chest grew louder. “Are you sure that is the question you want to go with? Not telling me why you ran from my party without a word, sneaking away in the dead of night?”
“I was going to come back in the morning for the last day.” She’d realized her mistake the moment she’d gotten home and all day she’d been miserable.
He kissed her again, nibbling on her lower lip. “You never should have left.”
