Page 37 of Brutal Mercy

“Don’t lie to me.”

“Are you a mind reader?” I ask because I am a little sore down there. But I mean, he’s got this ginormous cock, and it was my first time.

“No, I just happen to understand people. Did I?”

“A little,” I admit, lightly tracing patterns on his back. He scowls. And I can’t help but smile. “But I’m sure I will be fine in short order.”

“I should have waited.”

“Nonsense. I’ll be fine. In fact, I want to know when we can do that again.”

A sexy smirk plays over his lips. “Is that right?”

“It is.”

“Well, this isn’t what I expected to do this afternoon. But I must say,” he runs his fingers through my hair, “it’s the best afternoon I’ve spent in a while.”

Hades leans in and kisses me tenderly. For such a big, dangerous man, his gentleness touches me. And makes it that much more profound.

When he ends the kiss, he finally withdraws and shifts off me. But he doesn’t let me close my legs. “Fuck, that’s a sight. Seeing my cum drip out of your pussy. Seeing it mixed with your virgin blood does something to me. It makes you mine in truth. And I fucking love that no other man has felt the tight clasp of your cunt gripping them.”

His words make my toes curl. No one has ever talked to me this way. Treating me like an equal—one that he cherishes. My sister loves me. My parents loved me too when they were alive.

I know it’s too soon for love. But maybe we have a chance at love. And I know I should be fighting his pull. I realize this was a marriage of convenience with ulterior motives riding it.

But when it comes to this, to us, I’m not going to fight it. Not when everything inside me tells me that our connection is unique and doesn’t come along often.

“Do you have to go back to work right away?”

“No. I can stay for a little while.”

“Good. Cause I’m not ready for you to leave.” And I snuggle up against his side as he wraps an arm around my waist.

With a contented sigh, I close my eyes when he presses his lips against my forehead. Not all knights wear armor. Some wear suits.

Chapter ten

Hades

Thefollowingmorning,we’reseated in my office. My beautiful bride sits across from me.

All I did was hold her last night. As much as I wanted her, I knew I’d taken her roughly and didn’t want to wind up hurting her. She’s precious in ways a man like me never expected. Because I can’t get enough of her shy blushes or how easily she is assimilating to life with me.

And god, I know it’s fast, but I could fall for her.

She makes me feel twenty years younger. I want to watch her blossom. This ballsy woman half my age has me wrapped around her fucking pinky, eager for her blushes and her smiles and the way she’s simply accepted me and my life with ease. It’s got me off kilter, but in the best of ways. And I’m furious that I have to deal with the cartel when all I want is to spend hours, days really, weeks even, doing nothing but making love to my wife.

I promise myself I’ll make it happen. Once I bury the cartel, I’m taking her away for a month, where we will do nothing but that.

Sipping coffee, I study the press release Athena brought us that started hitting the airwaves yesterday.

There won’t be any doubt that we’re hot for each other. Which will only make the story that much more believable when I contact Marco. Fucker is about to have his ass handed to him.

“You did well photoshopping the bruises out. I don’t spy a trace of them.” The work my sister does on the computer is truly remarkable. I had my doubts when she wanted to go to school to learn computer design and marketing, but it’s been a great asset. And Athena is talented. She could be working at a top marketing firm in Manhattan. But she puts her skills to work for Massimo Enterprises, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Athena sighs and rubs the back of her neck. “It was painstaking, given the discoloration, but worth it. Because the image is already lighting up Denver society. I’ve checked all the social media sites with the news story. People are gushing over how in love you two look. So it’ll be a double whammy in sending a message to our enemies. Because it makes it appear like you guys have been a couple for a while now instead of knowing each other for a few days.”

“And you think this will make Diego turn my sister over?” Luna gracefully sits in the chair next to Athena. She’s in another one of my sister’s outfits, a simple mauve cashmere sweater and tan leggings with that ankle still bandaged.

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