Page 66 of Hook

She glances at me. “Why aren’t you watching the dolphins?”

“I’ve seen them a million times before. I find you far more fascinating.”

Her cheeks flush red and she shakes her head. “That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s ridiculously attractive how unaware of your beauty you are.”

She glances away from me, clearly unsure what to say.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to tell you how goddamn beautiful you are every day for the rest of our lives.”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “I hope that isn’t long.”

“Are you saying you’d rather be dead than married to me?” Her words have the power to wound me because I’m hooked on this woman. She has me in a chokehold, even if she doesn’t know it yet. I would fall at her fucking feet and give her the world—the only thing I won’t give her is her freedom.

A crease forms between her brows as she looks at me oddly. “Surely you don’t intend for this to go on forever.”

“This? Meaning you and I?”

She nods.

“I don’t believe in divorce. And I’ve told you already, you’re mine.”

Her expression hardens. “When I think you aren’t so bad, you go an ruin it all by being unreasonable. You’re acting like a monster.”

I chuckle, but can’t deny that her words cut me. “A monster? I think you’re a bad judge of character, considering the man you wanted to marry is the monster.”

“What exactly did Piero do to you?”

I feel a steel wall shutter around my heart at the question. Kiera’s death is something I never talk about. I don’t care what he did to Da, because he deserved everything he got, but Kira didn’t. She was sweet and innocent and untouched by the darkness that she’d been raised around. And that bastard took her from me. The things him and her men put her through are unspeakable before they ended her.

“Cillian?” Gwen’s voice cuts through the violence stirring like a storm in my mind.

“It’s not important,” I say, clenching both of my fists. “He’s not the man you think he is.”

I notice the glimmer of intrigue in her eyes. There’s no way I can tell her what he did, not right now—I’m not ready. I want my princess to choose me because she wants me, not because she knows what kind of man Piero is.

I rarely regret my actions, but my skin crawls with the memories of how I forced her to the altar and into my bed. It was unavoidable. Ever since the moment I set eyes on Gwendolyne Tesoro, something inside me shifted. I knew I had to have her. She became my obsession, consuming every waking thought.

Even so, I’m not a fool to think it was probably the worst way to win her heart, but I will win it in the end, one way or another.

23

GWENDOLYNE

The sun dips in the sky, casting a beautiful golden hue across Santa Catalina. Cillian was right. This place is beautiful. I wish I had my camera as the wildlife here is phenomenal.

However, this trip has only mixed my feelings up. It’s made me view him as a human being rather than the ruthless and cold kidnapper that stole me from my fiancé.

There’s a comfortable silence between us as we stroll along the beach.

“What do you think of this place?” Cillian asks, glancing toward me.

I smile, unable to help myself. “It’s stunning. Do you bring the boat here often?”

He shakes his head. “I rarely have time. And for over three months, Poison has been out of action.” His lips purse together. “This was the first time I’ve taken her out since.”

“You seem attached to your boat.”

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