And I fuck her the way I need.

Pounding into her hard and fast and without restraint.

Her eyes keep fluttering closed as her mouth opens wider.

And I press my forehead to hers as she comes for me.

I go faster with her legs tightening around me, her perfect thighs nearly locking me in place. I can’t pull out and don’t want to. Not when she feels so good, so wet, so tight, and so damn perfect.

Emerald bucks against me and screams as she comes again and gushes all over my cock.

I groan with her as I come. And as her eyes open, I kiss her savagely.

She’s beautiful like this—her hair tousled, face flushed, lips parted. There’s no way I could ever walk away from this.

I lean forward and kiss between her breasts, up her neck, then finally her mouth, swallowing every moan.

And pulling out, I bundle her in my arms and carry her into the shower.

After we wash, Emerald gets out and throws on her robe, and I immediately mourn the loss of her body next to mine.

“I’m surprised you even let me in,” I say as I grab a towel. “And I certainly didn’t expect that reception.”

“Well, a girl’s got needs.”

“What about your boyfriend, McKinley?”

She shakes her head. “I haven’t been seeing anyone while I’ve been here.”

And I don’t know why, but that statement makes me happy. Very happy. “I’m taking you back to New York, Emerald.”

“No, you’re not. It’s safer here.”

I pull my boxers on. “You’re wrong about that. I’ve managed to find you, so it’s only a matter of time before Carmine tracks you down as well.”

“It’s way too dangerous for the kids to be around me.” She shakes her head, and I can see the pure terror in her eyes. “I can’t risk anything happening to them.”

“I’ll protect you all. You have nothing to worry about.”

She raises an eyebrow. “And how will I be any safer in New York?”

“Because you’ll be my fake fiancée.” Suggesting that she should actually be my wife or even just my real fiancée might be rushing it a bit, so I’ll settle for fake fiancée for now. Because I’m suddenly having doubts over whether I can ever give her what she truly needs. I’m ice cold, emotionless, and without a heart, and I know she deserves a hell of a lot more than that...

Her mouth drops open. “Your what?”

“He won’t dare touch you if he knows you belong to me.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t want tobelongto you or any other man. If I wanted the protection that marriage could give me, I would have married Piero.”

“He’s too old for you,” I say dismissively.

“He’s onlyforty-four,” she snaps, clearly forgetting her previous objection to Christian that the guy must be at least eighty-five.

“Christian agrees with my plan. He’s the one that’s tasked me with your protection and ensuring you stay safe. So, you’re going to be my fake fiancée until this shit with Carmine is over, whether you like it or not.”

The look she gives me could probably kill a man.

“This is serious, Emerald.”