“We’re leaving,” I snapped.

Tess’s eyes popped wide but slowly she nodded, tasting my need, echoing it back.

I’m married! I survived. And now I would claim my wife.

“Spoilsport,” Frederick muttered good-naturedly. He clasped my shoulder, crunching me into a painful hug. “Fair enough. We can have the reception tomorrow on the beach. I’m sure Suzette has a few days’ worth of events for us to enjoy.”

Franco rolled his eyes. “That woman is a nuisance. She’s too damn organised and when the hell did she become so freaking gorgeous?” His eyes trailed to Suzette who’d broken apart from our group, returning to Angelique.

“Since always,” Tess stated, crossing her arms.

Franco frowned. “You’re forgetting that I was the one who carried her into Q’s house. She weighed nothing more than a bag of feathers, her hair shorn, her skin covered in burns, and her fingers completely mangled.” His eyes tightened, looking at Suzette laughing with Angelique. “I’ve seen her at her worst. All I see is a broken girl who needed so much help.”

I agreed completely. That was my issue, too. “That’s how I see her as well. But maybe it’s time we looked at her with new eyes. She’s no longer that girl.”

I glanced at Suzette, truly seeing the strong woman she’d become. Pride filled me. Compared to the broken slave she’d been—it was incomparable.

Franco’s eyes widened as if truly seeing Suzette for the first time. He cleared his throat.

“You should talk to her, Franco, get to know her,” Tess pushed.

I threw Tess a look. That was enough. I hated tampering in people’s life, and Franco’s was his own. Tough shit if he couldn’t see past the past.

The celebrant placed the signed wedding agreement into a black folder, passing it to me. “Congratulations. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.”

Clutching the document I would treasure forever, I muttered, “More than just one lifetime. Thank you.”

Keeping Tess’s leash tight in my fist, I marched forward, fully expecting her to heel. What, like a f**king dog?

Goddammit, my thoughts were all over the place. I needed silence. Just us. Swiping a hand over my face, I tugged on the leather. “Tess—come on.”

She came forward, her lips playing with a scowl and a smile. “You’ve really got to rein in your temper.”

I bared my teeth. “Too late to try and change me, esclave. You married me—knowing full well who I was.”

And that made me the luckiest son of a bitch alive.

She laughed. “I would never want to change you.” Her eyes flittered over to Angelique and Suzette who stood talking to Fuckwit and Bianca. “I should go and say goodbye, though—I don’t want to be rude and abandon everyone.”

I shook my head. “No. You’re coming with me. This instant.”

I wouldn’t go back into the Bermuda f**king triangle of after wedding politics. We’d barely found freedom as it was, and it’d taken far too long.

Frederick brushed past, heading for his wife. “I’ll tell everyone, Tess. They’ll understand.”

Her cheeks pinked. “Okay, thank you. Guess we’ll see you tomorrow.”

No chance. I wasn’t leaving that bedroom for weeks.

“Only if you’re still able to walk,” I breathed in her ear.

Her body jolted, and I took the opportunity to wrap my arm around her, guiding her toward the exit. “If you so much as speak to another person leaving this f**king tent, I’ll put you over my knee in front of everyone.”

And I’ll love it. My stomach lurched at the thought of finally getting her alone.

Tess breathed hard, her br**sts rising and falling. “You shouldn’t get so wound up. Your heart needs a rest.”

I laughed darkly. “Let me worry about my heart—you worry about yours.” Slamming to a halt by the doorway, I whispered, “Because I’ll make it fly out of your chest with what I’m going to do to you.”

Tess wiggled in my grip, brushing against things that needed no other stimulation.

Surveying the black shrouded tent, I sighed with satisfaction. Everything had come true. Tess was no longer broken. I’d fought against the underworld and won. And now, now I intended to spend a few weeks on this island recuperating and making delicious sinful love to my wife.

Pressing Tess against my rock hard erection, I murmured, “I want to see you naked. I want you wearing only the collar and your high heels.” Pushing her out of the shadows and into the light, I growled, “Come on, esclave. Time to consummate.”

Tess stood before me, breathing hard.

I locked the sliding door, proceeding to draw every curtain so no one could see in. However, it didn’t go dark, thanks to the sun streaming in from the glass roof.

I couldn’t stop looking at the collar around her throat. I want you naked. I want to drive into you holding that leash.

My heart raced, burning off the remaining painkillers in my system. Every inch of me ached, but all I wanted was Tess. I didn’t care about the burning in my legs or the slight twinge whenever my heart beat too fast. The bullet wound in my leg didn’t stand a chance against the desire in my blood.

I could recoup later. Right now. I had husbandly duties to perform.

“Get in the bedroom, esclave.”

I planned one more game to end our crescent moon.

Tess was mine in every conceivable way. She was back to the strong and amazing woman I fell in love with and today, I would finish my claiming.

She’d given me permission.

She was ready.

I would finish what I started in Tenerife.

The stress of the wedding left my system, leaving me levelheaded and able to focus on nothing but her. The world was inconsequential now we were alone. I trusted the team of bodyguards bobbing around the atoll to keep us safe. I trusted my friends to stay far away from our villa until I was drained dry and Tess could barely walk.

And I trusted that tomorrow, I might be able to be nicer to Fuckwit, after reminding Tess just who she would spend the rest of her life with.

Tess hadn’t moved.

“I won’t ask again. Get in the bedroom.”

Tess bowed her head, watching me with lowered eyes. “Q?”

I inched toward her, suffering a rapidly building itch to chase—to hunt.