* * *

Unfucking real! I gritted my teeth and held onto my anger and the rail as I looked out over the water as it rushed by below.

Behind me I could hear the din of the others’ voices before they were carried away by the wind. I knew it meant something that I could separate her soft murmurs from all the others with my eyes closed.

I knew without my brothers trying to beat it into me that I felt more for her than I was ready to admit or accept.

What I don’t know is what the hell I’m supposed to do about it. I took a deep breath and inhaled the sea air as I let myself calm down and relax.

In my mind I could still see the sensuous undulations of her body as she danced. It wasn’t her dancing that made me see red, but the roomful of men enjoying the show.

I don’t want anyone else seeing her like that, ever. Shit, the shit made me hard so I can only imagine what it did to the other men in the room. I should go back there and beat the hell out of all of them.

No Devon, better not go there again. You’re out here to calm down remember? I took a couple more deep breaths and tried to clear my head.

The one bright spot of the evening was my brothers’ and our friends’ reactions when their women took to the floor.

The same damn men who’d only just got through telling me I was over reacting had lost their collective shit. I would’ve laughed had I not known exactly how they were feeling.

I felt her presence behind me and tensed up, as she got closer. I’m not so thick that I don’t know why she did it, or why my sisters had put her up to it.

Knowing the way they talk from having overheard way too many of their raunchy conversations when they thought we weren’t around, I could only imagine. But the bottom line is it meant she was interested.

It was easier to fight my own feelings when it was just me but if she wants me too… “Go back inside baby it’s chilly out here.” And you’re not wearing nearly enough.

I hadn’t said anything earlier because I didn’t want to start an all out war, but just who the fuck had given her the little number she was wearing?

I knew the short flouncy skirt with the camisole top wasn’t hers. Probably Susie’s. One that Cord hadn’t destroyed yet. I’ll be sure to help him burn the shit as soon as we get back.

Instead of following my order and returning to the others, she came and stood beside me, looking out over the moonlit water.

“Devon, are you mad at me?”

“No baby I’m not mad at you, I just….” Send her away Devon, it’s for her own good.

Instead of following my mind I turned to her, looking down at her amazing face. There was so much feeling in her eyes, such vulnerability.

I moved in closer and lifted my hand to her sassy ponytail and her hands came up to rest on my chest. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” Shit, there I go again.

Her eyes widened and that hint of innocence is the only thing that kept me from pulling her into my arms and just taking her lips. But I couldn’t resist trailing my fingers down her cheek. So soft!

As usual, her nearness was having an affect on me and my need for her grew stronger. I tightened my hold on her hair to keep myself from touching her the way I wanted to.

I knew now would be the perfect time to put an end to this once and for all. To crush whatever that was that was growing in her eyes.

But Quinn’s words came back to haunt me, and the only thing I could think of, was what would the rest of my life be without her in it.

How would I live knowing that some other man was holding her, loving her…fuck!

“Baby, you don’t know what you’re asking me to do here.”

“But I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to, your eyes say it all.” I didn’t mention her pebbled nipples that pushed against the soft silk of her top, or the way the pulse beat wildly in her throat.

She didn’t answer me, just flicked her eyes up and down before looking back at me with that same intense look and the innocence she was trying so hard to hide.

“Did they tell you what this shit would mean Ariel?”

She bit her lip but still said nothing. “I know they’ve been filling your head but did they tell you what belonging to me would mean? You just left one prison baby you don’t want to exchange it for another.”

“You don’t have to say these things Devon, I know you don’t want me.”

“Really, you know that? Well you know wrong. I want you so fucking bad I can’t think straight, but this isn’t right, I’m not right.”

She didn’t blink, didn’t look away. Just stared at me with that look that burnt a hole in my gut with need. “I’m trying to protect you here baby, can’t you see?”

She bit her lip and I saw the hurt come into her eyes just then and knew that I was only fooling myself. It was too late the second I met her.

That niggling voice in the back of my head warned me that it was too dangerous and once again I found myself battling my need.

“Oh fuck this!” I dragged her against my chest and covered her mouth with mine, holding her head back by her ponytail with one hand while cupping her ass with the other so I could dive into her.

She was soft and sweet and so fucking perfect in my arms. I ate at her lips as she accepted my tongue, her innocence awakening something in me that I’d thought long dead.

I pulled our lips apart when it became hard to breathe, but didn’t relax my hold on her.

“I want to have babies with you, lots and lots of babies.”

Oh for fuck sake! I only meant to give her room to breathe before going back for more but those words slipped out before I could reel them back in.

I didn’t give her a chance to answer, just took her lips again giving my hunger free rein. My heart beat out of time as I held her closer, so close I could feel the hard points of her nipples as they brushed against my chest.

I loved the way she clung to me, like she would be lost if I let her go. “What’re you doing to be Ariel?” There were so many reasons why we shouldn’t be doing this, most of all the fact that she doesn’t even know who she is.

What if she wants that life when the truth comes out? Something inside me revolted at the idea and it was then I realized the truth of what I’d been doing since I brought her back with me.

I’ve been running from myself. Putting up roadblocks and finding excuses. Fear, it was fear plain and simple.

Fear of losing again, something so precious. The last time had almost destroyed me. When I lost my parents and endured all that had followed, I’d made a vow to myself that I would never open myself to that kind of hurt again.

But so much has happened in my life since then. And I know without a doubt that there’s none of my uncle in me. I could never look at her little face and take a fist to it.

Tonight when I’d been so mad at her for dancing in a roomful of strangers it never entered my mind to harm her.

I lifted that face to mine now and took her lips again. This time I let my hand trail gently along her shoulder and down her arm.

She shivered and got closer and I crushed her body to mine, letting my fingers find their way to her nipple.

Something inside me shifted when she moaned into my mouth and I knew that I would never let her go, not now not ever and not for any reason.

“Are you sure you want this Ariel? There’s still a lot that you don’t know…” She put her fingers over my lips and looked into my eyes.

“I feel you here.” She took my hand and placed it over her heart, which beat wildly under my hand. “Well fuck!”

This time when I covered her lips with mine I didn’t hold back but let myself go. I’ll protect her heart come what may.

As I fed on her tongue I let myself believe for the first time that this could be real, that I could really have this. Her tongue shyly played with mine only deepening the hole that I’d fallen into.

How could someone so soft, so innocently sweet be mine? If the others are right and this love shit was fate, then how could I deserve her?

I didn’t know but I no longer cared. I let myself fall into her, let myself believe that I could have her, for the rest of my life.

“We’ve got to stop baby.” My dick was too hard and I was just at the point of no return. Wrong fucking place and time.

“Just one more Devon please.” She kissed like someone who’d never done it before and her naivety just drew me in even more.

But the strange thing was, as much as I wanted her, I wanted to take my time with her. I want to show her all the ways I can love her.

The idea gave me such a rush. Days spent teaching her all about lovemaking, holding hands as we walked on the beach.

And when we get back home, my home, which she’d never seen, we’d spend all our nights together, wrapped in each other’s arms.

I was weaving dreams in my head like one of Tyler’s bitch made skells but didn’t care. From the very first time I saw her I knew need and want.

She was the first woman to ever make me want more with her and somehow I knew she would be the last.

The fact that she was willing to give herself to me only heightened my senses and I put all other thoughts out of my head as I gave myself over to the rising lust.

I heard footsteps coming and moaned into her mouth, hating to release her. Taking one last nibble of her soft lips I released my hold on her before taking a step back.

Please don’t look down baby. If she did she would see the python straining against the tab of my zipper to get at her and I was sure she wasn’t ready for that no matter what my sisters had put in her head.

Her lips were swollen and red and her eyes bright as she looked up at me. I didn’t turn to see who was standing there, but instead shielded her body from view. I didn’t want anyone else seeing her swollen nipples.

“We’ll be there in five Devon.” I looked over sharply at Mancini’s words. There was something in his voice and the slight shake of his head was all the answer I needed to know that something was up.

“Okay, come on baby let’s get you back inside.” I shielded her body with mine and led her back inside without letting on that there was anything wrong.

I sat her with the women who weren’t even subtle about the fact that they were about to stick their nose in my shit and moved across the room to join the guys.

“What is it?” I kept my voice low so it didn’t carry, but I could tell from the looks on my brothers’ faces that something was wrong.

“Khalil is on the move.” My head whipped around to her and my body went into fight and protect mode. “Where is he?”

“We don’t know. My people were lucky enough to catch his movements once he left his place in the hills. All we know for sure is that he’s not in the states as yet if this is even where he’s heading.”

“Oh he’s coming here alright, the sick fuck. If he comes anywhere near her…”

“He’s not Dev. Not in this fucking lifetime.” Quinn’s hand on my shoulder helped to calm me but not by much.

This shit can’t be happening. I wanted it over, but now that I’d made up my mind to keep her I wanted more time with her. Time to show her and me, what we could be together.

I want to take her out on the cliffs and sit with her doing nothing but holding hands and sharing a few kisses while we look at the sea. Take long walks on the beach; build more castles.

All the things that would make Ty’s ass rabid and send him into a frenzy because he thinks I’m getting soft like the others, bitch made as he puts it.

I could see us, she’s always smiling and happy and I’m never too far. I could see a baby, my baby in her arms, feeding.

I saw my body covering hers and my dick sprung into action from just that little glimpse of the future and my heart damn near beat me to death.

Oh shit, I’m in love with her. Like really deeply forever and a day kinda shit. “I’m in love with her.”

“Uh yeah we know. Wipe the drool off your damn chin McClueless we got shit to do.”

“Fuck you Tyler. Did I just say that shit out loud?” The last was directed at Quinn who just grinned and nodded his head.

This little development had proven one thing to me at least. Whatever doubts and hang-ups I had before were now gone. No one else is going to have her, not ever. I’ll find a way to get around the king, but she’s mine.