Page 46 of Temporary Wife Temptation

When Grandmother made her way back to her guests, Natalie stared at her husband to memorize every detail about him. With their days numbered, she couldn’t hold back. Her hunger and longing saturated her soul and she longed to reach out to him. As though heeding her silent call, Garrett turned to her from across the room, an answering fire flaring in his eyes. She didn’t know if it was her nerves playing tricks on her, but he seemed more restless and edgy than he’d been before the contract was signed. She watched him rush through his rounds, tilting back the flutes of champagne offered to him. Despite her insistence that he should go and celebrate, she was desperate to have him by her side and all to herself.

After spending the shortest acceptable time with his guests, Garrett abandoned them and strode toward her with long, impatient strides. “Miss me?” He raised a hand to cup her face.

“Desperately.” She placed a lingering kiss on his palm and a tremor ran through him. Good, because I’m trembling, too.

“We’re leaving,” he rasped in her ear, his hot breath caressing her skin.

A thrill of anticipation slid down her spine and gathered mass at its base, where Garrett rested his hand. They stepped out into the night, but instead of heading to his car, he led them toward the garden at the far end of the property.

“Garrett, where are we going?”

“Somewhere private.” His voice was low and dangerous.

She quickened her steps to keep up with him, frantic to touch him. To possess him. To mark him as hers.

Soon they were sprinting through a topiary maze with sharp turns and narrow passageways. The maze stood at least two stories tall and the half moon hardly pierced its depth. She’d never be able to find her way out, but Garrett seemed to know it even in near darkness. He stopped at what had to be the heart of the maze, where there was a beautiful but aging pagoda.

“What is this place?” Natalie whispered, not wanting to disturb its eerie peace.

“It used to be my sanctuary.” Garrett’s voice sounded far away. “No one knew how to find it but me.”

“What would you do out here?” She leaned her cheek against his chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

“Nothing exciting. I would just read a book or stare at the clouds.” His hand made idle circles on her back. “It’s not what I did that made this place special.”

“Then what was it?”

“As a kid, you don’t have much that you could truly call your own, but this place was mine. It existed only for me.”

“I didn’t know you could be so possessive,” she teased.

“Oh, yes. When I have something rare and special, I want it all to myself.” His hands became bolder, dropping to her backside.

“And now? What do you want all to yourself?” She wanted to hear him say it. Even if it wasn’t love, she wanted him to claim her as something rare and special, and only his.

“You.” His answer didn’t sound like a word but a primitive growl. “You’re mine and I want you.”

Right then, Natalie became a flame, burning wildly for him. She kissed him wherever her lips landed, tearing ineffectively at his clothes. With a suddenness that shocked her into momentary stillness, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs of the pagoda. When he set her on the ground, she slid down his powerful body and felt his unmistakable hardness.

“I need you,” he said before crushing her mouth with his. His kiss was erratic and wild; there wasn’t a hint of his damn control in sight. He groaned, pushing her against a wooden pillar. “Natalie.”

His hand moved under the hem of her dress to her panties. Reaching her center, he growled in satisfaction. “You want this. You want me.”

“Yes, Garrett. I want you.”

He spun her around to face the pillar and pulled her hips back, bending her at the waist. Her arousal was blinding and she didn’t know how long she could wait. She heard Garrett unzip his trousers and tear open a condom packet.

Natalie was frantic when he pushed inside her with a moan. His fingers bit into her hips as he withdrew from her and plunged back in, deeper than before. She knew he was trying to slow things down for her but his maddening pace was going to kill her, so she tipped up her rear and pushed against him, setting a pace more to her liking. She felt his control break and she laughed in triumph.

“Natalie.”

Too far gone for finesse, he worked frantically to bring them to their climax, his shout coarse and wild in the night.

Garrett made a conscious effort not to grip Natalie’s arm too tight as he led her out of the maze. She darted uncertain glances his way, but he didn’t trust himself to look back at her. He’d ravished her like a madman in his childhood hideout, but the thought encroaching on his triumph had rattled him to the core. He had no excuses left to hold on to Natalie. She’d held up her part of the bargain, and Sophie’s fall had rattled the Davises enough to withdraw their opposition to the adoption. Once the adoption papers were approved by the court, there would be nothing left to prevent Natalie and Sophie from walking out of his life.

But she loves me.

“Garrett—”

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