Page 116 of The Vow

No empire was built in a single day. Not Rome nor Damon Remington. Yet it only took a single choice to begin their destruction.

I’d vowed to protect my wife, and I would never not do everything in my power to keep her safe. Even if it meant annihilating my own world a second time.

I handed the guard back his phone, his gaze slightly narrowed, wondering what I’d just signaled. It wouldn’t matter. They would never fathom what I’d just done because they’d never known love.

Only love had the power to make one risk everything and yet sacrifice nothing.

“What did he want?” Robyn’s question fired out as soon as the door closed behind me.

She’d been sitting in the chair by the window and rose when I entered, wearing only one of my dress shirts with less than half the buttons done. The fabric dipped open at her sternum and creased against her nipples as they pebbled.

What I wouldn’t give for this sight every day for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, there was a price to pay for my years of sins committed in the name of keeping her safe.

“Robber,” I groaned and breathed deep when she got close.

Gripping the shirt in my hands, it only took a single hard tug to send the buttons flying.

“Damon.” She grabbed my wrists, preventing me from completely stripping her. Glittering indomitable eyes bored into mine. “What did he want?”

My jaw pumped. “You,” I growled. “He wanted you.”

Overpowering her, I forced the fabric from her shoulders, wondering if it was my admission or the chill in the room that made her skin pebble.

“What?”

“They wanted one last show of loyalty. For me to let Uzair have a single night…” I couldn’t even finish, the words ate through my tongue like acid.

Her nostrils flared. “Let him try.”

I couldn’t help but smile. My warrior.My wife.

Locking my hands on her waist, I pulled her to me and lowered my head.

“As much as I’d love to see what you’d do to the man,Robber, you know I’d never let him near you,” I murmured and sealed my mouth to hers.

Heaven would never compare to the warmth and sweetness of my wife. I kissed her deeply. To soothe where anger had charred my veins. And satiate where possession had scorched my lungs.

“Damon.” She pushed back, panting, “What did you say? You didn’t say no, did you?” Her eyes searched mine, knowing if I had said no, I wouldn’t be here right now.

Dragging my mouth to her ear, I murmured, “I told him I needed the day to think about it.”

“To come up with a plan.” Her exhale warmed my cheek as my lips sank lower to the side of her neck and then to her collarbone.

“Fuck, I need you, Robber,” I said into the velvet valley of her sternum, dropping to one knee as I skated my mouth toward her breast.

I groaned when she grabbed my hair and forced my head back to meet her gaze.

“You already have a plan.”

I breathed deeply. Painfully. “I do,” I said, but she didn’t need to know it—couldn’t know all of it. I hated to keep something else from her, but it was nothing compared to what I’d feel were I to put her in danger.

“What is—” She broke off with a gasp when I cupped between her legs, stroking through the slickness that gathered and then pushing two fingers inside her.

“Pat is handling it. He just needs time.” I coaxed her with my words and fingers. Feasted on her breasts until her body dripped desire into my palm.

“God, Damon,” she moaned, her body rolling and shifting into me with restless desire.

“I want this every day, Robber. Every damn day.” I lavedover her nipple and then curled my fingers into her front wall, her harsh spasm causing my own shudder.

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