Unlike the last time I fell asleep beside him, when I woke up during the night, Nate was still there, still draped over me. Emotion surged through me, a mixture of relief, desire and devastation. I was upset with myself for wanting him, for feeling comfort in his arms, in his body. I should’ve been fighting against him, not finding reasons to like him. I was a prisoner, for fuck’s sake. Was I so desperate for love and attention that I was willing to go along with this instead of looking for an opportunity to escape? What was wrong with me? I was turning into Alesha.

Needing a moment to myself, I tried to move from beneath him but his grip tightened, possessive in his sleep.

“Where are you going?” His sleep-thick voice sounded too loud in the quiet room.

“I need to pee,” I whispered.

With a grunt, he lifted his arm, and I slid out from under him, picking my dress up off the floor and tugging it over my naked body.

“Don’t be long,” he told me as I padded across the plush carpet.

“It’ll take as long as it takes,” I snapped.

“Back to being pissed, huh?”

“Of course I’m fucking pissed!”

“What’s the point? It’s not going to change anything.”

“I know. I fucking know. But you can’t just feed me and fuck me and then expect everything to be fine. You dragged me into this. You had to know I’d find you again. But you took my shit again anyway, taunting me, luring me here while knowing your family would never let me go.”

He dropped his head against the bed and groaned. “That’s a huge leap, duchess. You’re giving me far too much credit here.”

“No I’m not. It makes sense. You orchestrated this whole fucking thing.”

“Holland,” he said, a slight warning in his tone. “Come back to bed.”

“You trapped me.”

His blue eyes met mine as silence enveloped the tension-filled air. “Not consciously.”

“So you admit it.”

He ran a hand through his bedraggled hair. “I don’t know what I thought was going to happen with you. But I think we need to accept that we were both playing a dangerous game. We both did things to make my world and your world merge.”

“This isn’t what I wanted.”

“Really?” He got out of bed and came towards me. I’d be lying if I said my eyes didn’t drink in his naked form. “Then what the fuck are you doing here?” He towered over me, his eyes flashing. “You could’ve called the cops and had them storm the storage facility and the house, but you chose to come here yourself. Tell me there wasn’t a tiny part of you that hoped my dick and your vagina could get down and dirty together. Tell me you didn’t want more from me.”

“I….” Had I hoped that? I’d been so focused on finding him that I hadn’t even considered my reasons. I’d thought it was to catch him and then call the cops, but I could’ve called them in the beginning as Alesha suggested. They could’ve followed the GPS card, and she and I could be sitting in her lounge room gorging ourselves on takeaway pizza while watching the latest Zac Efron movie. I didn’t need to come here at all.

“You wanted this,” he whispered, sliding his hand around my waist and flattening me against his chest. “Admit it.”

“I….” I shook my head, losing my mind a little as his closeness did magical things to my body.

“Admit it, duchess. You’re as crazy about me as I am about you.” Wait. He’s crazy about me? “You wanted me to catch you. Wanted me to fuck you again and again.” He punctuated his final words by thrusting his hips against me, his long, hard arousal pressing into my stomach.

I shook my head. “I’m not that shallow.”

“We’re all that shallow, duchess,” he murmured, lowering himself to his knees.

“What are you doing?”

He slid his hands beneath my dress and rested them on my hips, bunching the fabric beneath his thumbs so my sex was exposed. “We’re all slaves to our impulses and desires.” He leaned forwards and flicked his tongue between my legs. “There’s no shame in it, no shame in admitting that you wanted me.” He licked me again. “Just like I want you.” My body shook as he sucked back on my clit, burying his face between my legs. I could barely stand as the ecstasy his mouth provided surged through my body. Why was he able to do this to me? I could be angry and screaming, hurt and crying, but one erotic touch from him and I was a quivering mess, a slave to my own desire.

“Ohhh.” My hands went into his hair as his tongue brought me to the edge. Then stopped.

“Duchess.”

“Don’t stop,” I gasped. God, what was I saying? What was I thinking?

“Then admit you came here wanting me to fuck you.”

“Huh.” I wasn’t in a state to form words. I needed him to finish what he started.

“Say the words.”

“Words?” What are they again?

“Say ‘I want you to fuck me.’”

“I do,” I gasped, moving my hips.

“The words, duchess. I need the words.”

“I want you to fuck me,” I parroted, hating myself for being so ruled by my desire that I gave in. But he was right. I did want him to fuck me. I wanted him to fuck me over and over again in every position possible, and I didn’t want him to stop. He was all I thought about.

“That’s what I thought.”

When his mouth closed over my clit and his tongue dove into my depths, I whimpered. I may have also cried a little. How could I want him so much while hating myself for that very same fact? I was a good, law-abiding citizen. He was an unapologetic criminal. I was supposed to be smarter than this, to be more in control. Yet there I was, surrendering to him and moaning uncontrollably as he coaxed orgasm after orgasm from my body. It was seriously messed up.

When it was over, I placed my hands over my face in shame as he stood over me, panting and out of breath.

“Don’t cry now, duchess. If you’re honest—really honest—with yourself, you’ll find that you wanted me to keep you too.”

Lowering my hands, I felt the cool air wash over my wet cheeks as I looked up at him and frowned. I also want the fairy tale. I want love. “I might want you, Nate, but I didn’t want you like this. Not when there’s no free will. I could never love you after this.”

A half-smile pulled up his lips. “Who said anything about love? Lust is what got us here.”

With hot tears clouding my vision, I lifted my hand and slapped him, my palm stinging as I turned and fled into the adjoining bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet, I placed my face in my hands and let my tears flow. I felt on edge, like a wild animal caught in a cage. There was this thrumming underneath my skin, an insistence that whispered one word over and over: run.

But where? How? They had Alesha, and if Jasmine was to be believed, they’d go after Aunt Maya too. This was my punishment for being wanton. I should’ve had a three-date rule like other women. Then I wouldn’t be in this mess.

Finishing my business, I headed to the basin to wash my hands and splash water over my face. My eyes were puffy from crying. I looked awful.

“I don’t want you to hate me,” Nate whispered, appearing behind me and moving my hair over my shoulder, pressing his lips to the back of my neck. Instantly, my skin felt alive and my breathing quickened. Traitorous body.

“Then don’t force me to marry you.”

“What would you have me do instead? You’re aware of the ultimatum I was given.”

“I know the options, Nate. Marry or die. It’s so fucking ominous and stupid at the same time. Can’t you just, I don’t know… threaten my life so I don’t talk and then send me on my way?”

His breath washed over my back as he let out a sigh. “You don’t think I suggested that?” He slid his hands around my middle and pulled me to him, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “I suggested about ten different scenarios before this became an option. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s the best I’ve got.”

“Making me a member of the family that wants me dead is the best you have?” I actually laughed.

“Well it worked in Outlander.”

My heart jolted a little and I met his eyes in the mirror. “You watch that show?”

“I read the books.”

He watches Pitch Perfect. He reads romance. He’s marrying me to save my life.

That little voice in my head was at it again.

Not to mention he’s amazing in bed. Maybe I could learn to love him in time.

Turning in his arms, I studied his face: merry blue eyes, strong straight nose, full lips and solid jaw. I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful man if I tried. And as luck would have it, this man was willing to offer his hand in order to save me.

Perhaps there really is honour among thieves.

“You really suggested the whole marriage thing to keep me safe?”

He clenched his jaw, then nodded and lowered his forehead until it touched against mine.

“What happens if it doesn’t work out? What happens when you don’t want me anymore?”

“Then we go to a fucking marriage counsellor and work our shit out like everyone else. You are my duchess—my queen. I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.”

Grabbing my hands, he took a knee, his eyes on mine. “I know this isn’t anything like either of us imagined, but I’d still like to do it right.” He held up a ring, an emerald-cut diamond of at least a carat, surrounded by smaller brilliant-cut diamonds set in a rose gold band. It was beautiful—and probably stolen. “Will you marry me, duchess?”

I didn’t have any real choice in the matter, but the sentiment touched my heart nonetheless. On his knees before me, with a serious look in his eyes, I couldn’t deny him. He was beautiful. And he wanted me.

“Yes, Nate, I’ll marry you,” I whispered, emotion overwhelming me as he slid the ring on my left hand and smiled up at me.

Placing my hands on either side of his face, I ran my thumbs against the stubble on his jaw, then lowered mine to his. For the first time in our short courtship, I kissed him. Sweet, soft, and sensual.

“I do need to know one thing though,” I whispered as our lips parted but our noses still touched.

“What’s that?”

I moved back until his features came into focus. “Where the hell were you hiding that ring just now? You’re completely naked.”

With that boyish grin that had been the reason I was drawn to him in the first place, he winked at me, then stood and lifted me off the ground. “Sleight of hand, duchess. I’ll teach you sometime, but first, let me show you how we play hide the salami.”

The next morning brought with it a flurry of packing before our journey to the Cook Islands commenced that evening. Alesha was the happiest I’d seen her in years, and when I managed to get a moment with her alone, she assured me that she was fine. “It’s kind of like an arranged marriage. Statistically they work out way better than love matches do, you know.” Was it possible that the stress of the situation had broken her mind? I knew Alesha was a romantic at heart, but how could she possibly be OK with marrying into a family of thieves? I was so confused by her happy acceptance. The nervous and cautious woman I knew seemed to have slid off her body like a mask that didn’t belong. It didn’t make sense.

Everyone in the Cartwright family was joining us on our trip. All except for Toby, who was staying behind to watch the dog and ‘keep an eye on things’—whatever that meant. I just thought he was so angry about not getting to kill us that he couldn’t stand to bear witness to our impromptu nuptials. His death stares across the room were enough to make me sure that I was right. His cold eyes as he looked between Nate and me sent shivers down my spine.

Laughter erupted as Kristian and Abbot burst into the living area, half wrestling, half racing to do God only knew what. Their mannerisms, voice and expressions were exactly the same; Abbot’s cropped hair and Kristian’s golden locks were the only things keeping me from mixing them up.

“Take it outside,” Jasmine yelled, shooing them away as she shook her head, then gave Nate a meaningful look. “We’re leaving in thirty minutes. Toby, there’s food in the fridge. Don’t order in every night.” You could be forgiven for thinking this was any other family preparing to go overseas. There was crazy commotion, suitcases lined up at the door and instructions being yelled.

The illusion was quickly realigned when Nate moved to stand in front of me, holding out my phone. “Call your aunt,” he said. It was the last thing I had to do. We’d already emailed our employers telling them we were taking extended leave. That had been easy, now we needed to inform our families. The Cartwrights wanted to make sure no one would come looking for us.

Glancing between the phone and Nate, I swallowed hard. He was wearing a pair of worn-looking jeans and a T-shirt that hugged his chest like a lover. We’d had sex half a dozen times the night before, but I was jealous of that T-shirt. I’d much rather be hugging his chest than contemplating the call I was about to make.

“She’ll know I’m lying,” I told him honestly, taking the phone.

“Then you’d better use your acting abilities to convince her it’s the truth.”

“You know full well there’s a very good reason why I’m a high school drama teacher and not a highly paid actress.”

He grinned, then leaned down and bit the end of my nose playfully. I laughed with surprise, then rubbed were his teeth had been. “Then tell her the truth. Tell her you’ve met the man of your dreams, and you’re going to run away and marry him.”

“Man of my dreams?”

“You telling me you haven’t been dreaming about me since that first night?”

The blush in my cheeks answered for me.

“Me too, duchess. Every fucking night.” He reached down and adjusted his cock.

I licked my lips, wondering if it was possible to fit that thing in my mouth. I was planning on finding out soon.

“I’ll tell her you’re whisking me away. But I can’t tell her about the wedding or she’ll want to come. And she’ll be hurt when I say no.”

“Whatever works.”

Unlocking my screen, I pulled up Aunt Maya’s number, then waited for the call to connect. When I put the phone against my ear, Nate looked at me and shook his head. A quick glance around the room told me I had an audience, so I put it on speaker so they didn’t think I was sending some secret code.

“What are you doing in Torquay?” Aunt Maya asked by way of greeting.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Tracking my whereabouts, Aunty?”

“I haven’t heard from you in days. Of course I’m checking up on you. What are you doing down there?”

“Last-minute getaway. It’s kind of what I called to talk to you about.”

“Oh yeah? Want your aunt to come and join you? I still look pretty good in a bikini, I might say.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it, but no, that’s not what I was calling about. Alesha and I, we’ve met some, uh, brothers down here.”

“I’m interested. Keep talking.”

“Well, they’re really nice….”

“Are they hot? Good in bed?”

I met Nate’s eyes. He was smiling.

“You taught me not to kiss and tell, Aunty.”

“To others, not me.”

I chuckled. “Yes to everything.”

“Ohhh, I want details.”

“Another time. Perhaps when I get back.”

“Come for dinner tomorrow night. I’ll make chicken provençale.”

“I can’t tomorrow, Aunty. I… I’m going away for like a whole week?” I frowned because I had no idea how long I should tell her or how long it would be before I would see her again.

“You are away.”

“I know, and this is the crazy part. We’ve all decided to fly to the Cook Islands to bask in the sunshine and drink too many cocktails.”

“Are you high?” She tittered like an old lady pulling uncomfortably on her pearls.

“No.” I laughed. “I’m just doing something crazy before I get too old to do it.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my niece?”

Jasmine and Nate shifted on their feet. Toby had his hands on his hips and shook his head. Nate turned his finger in the air, signalling for me to wrap it up.

I laughed her comment off. “I’m just finally taking your advice, Aunty. I thought you’d be happy.”

“Oh, sweetheart, of course I’m happy. Go, have fun. Oh, and have lots of sex. Don’t forget your birth control.”

Tears sprang to my eyes as my love for this woman and the sadness I felt from misleading her descended on my shoulders. “I will, I promise. I’ll call you when I get back, OK?” My voice cracked.

“I can’t wait for all the juicy details. Have a wonderful time, my love.”

“I will,” I whispered. “Love you, Aunty.”

“Love you too.”

Jasmine reached out and disconnected the call, removing the phone from my grip. I hadn’t even noticed her move so close. I squeezed my eyes shut and wiped at them, looking around the room to find wary faces on the brothers but a smile from my friend. Alesha gave me a thumbs up, and I nodded my thanks.

“It’s your turn now,” Jasmine said, directing Alesha into the next room. The brothers followed, as did that evil little dog.

“You did good, duchess,” Nate said when they left, wrapping an arm around my neck and pulling me against him. “Oscar-winning performance.”

It didn’t feel good. It felt like lying.

I hated lying.