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“What are you doing, my lord?”
“Giving you my ring.” He pulled off his silver signet ring with its gray stone and slid it on the chain as he stepped around to her back. Reaching around her, he placed the heavy ring at her neck and moved the chain to her nape so he could hook it. “Feel okay?”
She didn’t speak while she lifted the ring in her hand and looked at it. He found himself holding his breath. Then she tipped her head back and his heart caught in his throat. Phillip was fully captivated by her brown eyes sparkling in the sun.
“I am never giving this back,” she murmured, nibbling on her lower lip.
“Not even when I give you a wedding ring you can wear on your finger?”
A soft smile filled her face. “Nope, not even then. This is mine.”
Leaning close, he kissed her again, not giving a damn about the people around them.
He spoke low, keeping the words between them. “Like I am, Fyre. Only yours. Always yours.”
* * * *
Her life had changed in so many ways since Phillip had made his public claim on her earlier in the week. Actually, she was close to having survived a full week after his announcement. Fyre still lived in the small cottage she rented and still worked for the few people she did. Phillip was not on board with that, he wanted her in his house and protected.
She wasn’t ready to give everything up.
“Fyre?”
She blinked and looked over to find that very man lounging in the doorway to his office. Her heart skipped a few beats as she watched him.
“My lord.” She began to rise from her seat but he waved her back as he strolled into the room, kicking the door closed behind him without slowing.
“I do not get any time with you, Fyre. I am not a fan of this arrangement.” His gray eyes remained pinned to her as he crossed the floor to where she sat in his chair.
Her heart kicked in her chest and she curved her fingers around the arms of his seat.
“We have the same amount of time as we had, my lord.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you laughing at me?”
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing aloud at the mock affront in his tone. Summoning her most serious tone, she shook her head and replied, “Of course not, my lord. That would be ill-mannered of me to do so.”
Phillip bracketed her, one hand on the back of her chair and the other on his desk, and lowered his face to hers.
“Seems like you are.”
She shook her head again, then popped close to kiss him and sat back. “Never, my lord.”
“Not good enough,” he rumbled, bringing her close once more and pressing their lips together.
She had to agree. Kissing this man was incredible. He flicked his tongue along her lips and she opened beneath him, welcoming him in. Wetness slicked her as she shifted on the seat, needing more. Unable to get enough.
Growling low in her throat when he pulled away, she found his gaze on her, lit with happiness.
“We have to talk.”
The somber tone to his words churned her gut.
He tapped the end of her nose. “Nothing about us, baby. The other thing.”
“Let me put the books away.”
She did and he just sat on the desk and watched her. The amount of hunger in his gaze threw her, but he didn’t make a move other than to stand when she walked toward him. Unease filled her.
Fyre wasn’t confident in her ability to keep a man like Phillip satisfied. He had far more experience than she did, and even though his ring hung around her neck, losing him was still a viable fear for her.
For her to see him move away when he used to pull her close didn’t ease any of her fears.
“I have a carriage ready, thought we would take a ride since it is so nice outside.”
“If you wish.”
He clenched his jaw and nodded. “I wish.”
Outside, Phillip helped her into the seat of the open carriage then popped up beside her. With a snap of the reins they were off. No footmen, no maids, just him and her.
Fyre tipped her face up to the sun and smiled as the warmth beat down upon her skin. She loved it here.
“What are you thinking about?”
She didn’t open her eyes, just continued with her head back, embracing the heat. “How much I love this place.”
“Would you ever consider moving?”
That got her to look at him. He moved his gaze from the road to her and back again.
“Moving where?”
“Nowhere specific, just would you consider ever leaving the island?”
“I have not given it any thought, but I suppose so. Going to other places is intriguing to me. I think I would like to experience snow. I heard about that once and to be able to look around at a land covered in pristine white”—she shrugged and gave him a small smile—“that would be an experience I think I would like.”
