Mr. Kelly’s eyes move to mine, and his already stiff body somehow stiffens more. “Step aside. This has nothing to do with you.”

  I don’t move. I don’t breathe. I refuse to let this man speak to her or me in any way other than respectful. “This has everything to do with me.”

  “Respectfully…”

  I shake my head, moving a little closer so there’s no room left between us. “You’re speaking to my wife. It has everything to do with me and my business. If you can’t speak nicely, you need to go, or I’ll make you go. Either way, you’re leaving.”

  His gaze travels around my face as his eyes narrow. The redness in his cheeks deepens, and I know full well I’m risking my life. But I can’t sit by and listen to him speak ill of Ana or her dead mother.

  “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

  I nod. “A man who isn’t respecting my wife in her home. A man who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air and share the same room as a woman as kind and caring as Ana. A man who doesn’t realize how wonderful and loving she is and would rather use his position as her father to tear her down instead of build her up.” I glare at him, wanting nothing more than to punch him square in his jaw. “A man who uses veiled threats and intimidation to make the world move around him instead of understanding and caring for those who love him. You, sir, aren’t worthy of such a wonderful woman for a daughter. I’m asking you kindly to leave, which is better than how you spoke to her. But my patience is wearing thin, along with my temper.”

  His green eyes flash with so much emotion, I’m virtually kissing my ass goodbye. I wanted to move out of his crosshairs and save my own hide, but now, I’ve positioned myself as the biggest target in his line of sight. He holds my gaze for a few seconds with his nostrils flaring, possibly planning the many ways he could have me killed.

  Without saying another awful word, Mr. Kelly turns his back to me and stalks toward the door. I don’t move, and based on the lack of sound in the room, Ana doesn’t either. She doesn’t call out after him. She doesn’t beg him to stay and offer him any chance of forgiveness for his harsh words about her and her late mother.

  When the door closes, I finally allow myself to relax, sucking in a deep, long inhale. Fuck. That was tense, and I have a feeling it isn’t the last I’ll see of Mr. Kelly, my father-in-law, even though I wish it were.

  Ana sniffles, and I turn, finding her sliding onto a stool around her kitchen island. Tears are streaming down her beautiful face, catching the light from the sunshine flooding through the windows. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers, wiping at her cheeks as she looks down. “I just can’t…”

  I rush to her, lifting her face to mine. “Don’t,” I say softly.

  She blinks, her lips parted, looking every bit as beautiful as she did on the beach when we said our vows. “But I…”

  I shake my head, swiping my thumb across her chin. “Don’t apologize for your father. I’m sorry you had to listen to him. I should’ve thrown him out the moment he arrived.”

  “It wasn’t your fight, Trace,” she replies, placing her warm, soft hand on my arm.

  “It is my fight, Ana. It’s our fight. We are a we now, and no one gets to talk to you the way he did. Not him. Not me. Not your brother. No one. Understand me?”

  She stares up at me with a look I can’t quite place. “You put yourself in danger with the way you spoke to him,” she whispers, squeezing my arm gently.

  “He’s gone far too long with no one speaking the truth to him. Just because he’s your father doesn’t mean he has the right to talk to you with disrespect, Ana. It wouldn’t be allowed in my parents’ house, and it sure as hell won’t be allowed in yours. You’re my wife, and call me fucking crazy, but that means something to me. Your safety and well-being are the most important things to me. I will do everything in my power to protect you in all ways.”

  She stands from the stool and lifts her gaze to mine, soft and sweet. I hold my breath as she leans forward, placing her warm, damp lips against mine. The kiss is feather-soft but sends a wave of electricity through me. “Thank you,” she says against my lips as she slides an arm around my neck. “No one has ever come to my rescue before.”

  “You have me now, Ana.” I stare down at her blue eyes, getting lost in the sea of emotion that’s flowing through them. “You’re not alone anymore,” I say before leaning forward, pressing my lips to hers with more firmness and determination than the way she kissed me.

  My heart hammers in my chest as I slide my hands to her back before I flatten my palms in the curve above her ass. She fits perfectly in my embrace, better than anyone else has before. It’s as if she was made to be in my arms. Made to be in my life.

  But I push that thought away, getting lost in the feel of her body against me more than the emotion of the moment. I’ve spent my entire life guarding myself against romantic entanglements, not wanting to take the same path as my parents. Life was too short to settle down.

  Married or not, I promised myself not to fall. But now, I’m tumbling downhill, unable to stop the pull of gravity from sending me spiraling toward the inevitable.

  Ana threads her fingers into my hair, bringing me straight back to the moment and out of my own thoughts. My body takes over, wanting to taste her, to feel her everywhere.

  Our tongues tangle together, hands and fingers roaming over the other’s body, experiencing each other for the very first time. The only sound in her loft is our fast, short breaths like we’re melting into each other.

  I pull back, staring down at her. “You’re mine,” I say, but my voice isn’t forceful, and it comes out more like a question than a statement.

  “I’m yours,” she whispers. “Only yours.”

  Her words break something in me. The tenderness of the kiss slips away and is replaced by an almost feral need to claim her and leave my imprint on her so she never forgets this moment.

  I slide a hand up her back, twisting her hair around my fist as I take her mouth, swallowing her moans. Pulling her head back, I blaze a trail of kisses down her neck to her throat, feeling the rapid pounding of her heart underneath my lips. She leans back, pushing her chest toward me and giving me full, unfettered access to her delicate neck.

  Right or wrong doesn’t matter. We may only have a short time together, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to make the most of it…the most of us.

  Holding her in one arm, I take my time exploring her soft, exposed skin with my tongue and lips. She melts into me, clearly wanting this as much as I do.

  My cock is rock hard, pushing against the rough material of my jeans. But as much as I want to, I can’t. Not now. Not like this.

  I pull away, gasping for air. “We can’t.”

  Ana’s eyes widen as her breathing almost stops. “What? Why?”

  I shift her to an upright position, remembering everything we’ve been through in just a few short days. The memories of the panic I felt when she was in pain and we weren’t sure if the baby was okay. “Not until you see a doctor.”

  Ana sighs. “I’m fine. The baby’s fine. Please,” she begs.

  I shake my head, ignoring the repeated appeals of my dick to be satisfied, baby be damned. The way her voice wavered when she begged almost sent me over the edge. “Soon,” I promise her as I let my grip on her go. “Let’s get your things and get out of here. I want to take you home.”

  She doesn’t blink when I say home. “I only need some clothes. There’s nothing else for me here.”

  “Our life isn’t here.”

  She smiles. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Of what?”

  “Our life,” she answers with a small smile. “But are you sure about this? About me? I can stay…”

  “No, Ana.”

  Her smile disappears in an instant. “No?”

  “You’re not staying here. I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. You’re mine, remember?”

  The corner of her lips turns up. “I can’t forget.”

  “Good girl. Now, go pack,” I tell her, ticking my chin toward the other end of her loft.

  She pops up on her toes, planting a quick, chaste kiss on my lips. “You’re the best husband I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m the only husband you’ve ever had.”

  “True,” she says with a giggle. “But I can’t imagine anyone better.”

  God, I’m fucking insane. The entire situation is ridiculous. Is she still pretending? Are we playing a game? To me, the fakeness of our relationship vanished within a few hours. We are no longer playing our part in a ruse for her father but falling deeper and harder for each other than we ever could have thought possible.

  12

  ANA

  He looks so peaceful.

  Trace has been sleeping for an hour, stretched out on the couch in the living room, wanting to give me some space.

  Part of the day was ruined by my father. No shocker there. The man has a knack for killing any sort of joy in most people’s lives, and I’m no exception to that rule.

  I haven’t known a moment of true peace since the day my mother passed away. She sheltered me from much of my father’s wrath, taking it all upon herself. While I’m thankful, the amount of sorrow I feel for her is immense. The last half of her life, which was mostly devoted to my father, had to be grueling and more challenging than I could ever have imagined. We brought her joy, Sean and I. We were the shining light in her sea of darkness.

  I’ve felt the same heaviness. Experienced the emotional roller coaster my father’s business and associates brought into my world. But since the day I said I do and got in the car with Trace to leave Miami, the weight has been lifted. It’s not completely gone—I will always be his daughter and carry the memories of the past with me—but I no longer feel like a black cloud is over my head.

  And that brings me back to this moment, staring at my husband as he sleeps and thinking about the way he kissed me. The way he held me in his arms, claiming my mouth in my loft earlier today. I’d never felt such a sense of security. The unspoken knowledge that someone was there to protect me without expecting anything in return.

  I’m not sure how long this will last. I want it to be forever, but I know the reality. We made promises, ones I won’t break. But that doesn’t mean I can let myself believe, even if I am lying to myself, that we are, in fact, the happy couple with a long future ahead of us. We are more than two people; we are the start of a family with a baby on the way.

  My hand moves to my stomach without much thought, something that’s been happening more lately. I’ve finally started coming to terms with the reality that I’m pregnant. It is something I was running from, trying to escape since the minute the pregnancy test popped positive.

  I stare at Trace, watching as his chest moves up and down, his hair messy but somehow still perfect. Today, he put himself between my father and me, something no one has ever done before. He stepped in front of a freight train, not caring an ounce for his personal safety but putting me before himself.

  Scooting to the edge of the coffee table where I’ve been perched, I brush away a few strands of hair that have fallen over his eyes. He stirs but doesn’t wake from my gentle movement.

  Suddenly, guilt crashes over me. No matter what, I’m playing a part in stealing the serenity he has in his life. I push myself up, wanting nothing more than to crawl in bed and forget the turmoil I’ve caused and wade through daily.

  But before I can take two steps, a warm, firm hand grabs my wrist, stopping me from leaving the room.

  “Hey,” he says in a gravelly, sleepy voice. “What’s wrong?”

  I turn only my head, keeping my body pointed toward the bedroom. “Nothing,” I reply softly. “Go back to sleep.”

  He tugs me back, making me fall sideways into the couch and on top of him. “Liar,” he whispers.

  “Really,” I lie, trying to muster a smile instead of tears. “I’m good. I just wanted a glass of water.”

  His eyes move beyond me. “Kitchen’s over there, Ace.”

  I squirm, liking the nickname and the feel of his hard body against me. The memory of our earlier kiss is burned onto my lips, and I try like hell to ignore the pull to do it again. “I know. I wanted to check on you too.”

  He smashes his body into the back of the couch and pulls me down next to him. “What’s really wrong?”

  I try to get comfortable. Try to ignore the call of my body to his. “Nothing.”

  He raises an eyebrow, like he can see right through my bullshit. He lifts a hand and brushes his fingertips down the side of my face to my cheek. “What’s really going on?”

  I swallow, staring into his green eyes. “I’m thankful for you—and sorry too.”

  “Sorry? Why are you sorry?”

  I let my body relax, pushing my head into the pillow we’re sharing in the relative darkness. “You have a good life. Had a good life before I stole it from you.”

  His face softens as he stares at me like nothing else around us matters. “You didn’t steal anything from me.”

  “I did though, Trace. I stole more from you than you may ever fully realize.”

  “Like what?”

  “Your safety.”

  He curls his hand around my chin, digging his fingers into the skin at the back of my neck. It’s gentle yet forceful, sending a shiver down my body. “Safety is an illusion, baby. As long as we’re breathing, no one’s safe.”

  “I don’t agree with that,” I whisper.

  “Whether you agree with it or not doesn’t make it any less true.”

  “Standing up to my father the way you did…”

  He traces the edge of my jaw with his thumb, making goose bumps pop out along my flesh. “Was necessary.”

  “I put you in danger just by marrying you.”

  “You saved my life, Ana. I don’t care what Sean claims, he was going to have me killed whether your father was a party to it or not. You took that option away from him.”

  “I…”

  “My safety was stripped away from me before you ever walked into that room and rescued me. You didn’t take anything from me. You gave it back to me.”

  “I… Uh…” I’m at a loss. This man should be verbally lashing me for everything that’s happened, but he isn’t. He refuses. He sees me as his savior instead of the person who’s condemned him to a path he neither chose nor wanted.

  “Kiss me,” he whispers to me, never moving his hand away from my face. “Kiss me like you mean it and want it.”

  God, I want it. I want him. I want this life. The pretend life we’re living that’ll someday end. I want all of it. I want the feeling of safety and security he’s brought to my world. I want the peace and calm he somehow wraps around me, sheltering me in a dream.

  Without hesitation, I lift my head up and press my lips against his. His mouth is soft, warm, and inviting. Sparks shoot down my body, bringing everything in me to life like it’s never been before. He slides his hands to my back, holding my body against his. I’m wearing a silk nightgown, a step up from his old tank top and T-shirts, and he’s in nothing but a thin pair of shorts. There’s little between us. Less than there’s ever been before.

  I moan when he nips at my bottom lip with his teeth, sending the goose bumps into overdrive along with my sex drive. It’s been a long time since someone has touched me while I was sober. The night I got knocked up, I was too drunk to fully enjoy anything at all. It went by in a blur, and no matter how hard I try to remember the small details, I see only darkness.

  I push away the tepid thoughts of that evening, concentrating only on the here and now. Thinking only about how my husband is touching me. The way he kisses me. I moan into his mouth, loving the way he tastes as he pulls me closer, leaving no room between our almost-naked bodies.

  He’s tender yet firm. A mix of sensations along with feelings, sending my body and mind into a complete and absolute tailspin. I’m dizzy with lust and needy with passion for a man I’ve known less than a week. He’s like no one I’ve ever met before but always dreamed I’d have in my life.

  “Do you want me?” he murmurs against my lips as his fingertips trace the line of my spine. “Do you want this?”

  “Yes,” I breathe, melting into him, wanting every inch of him to touch every inch of me. “I want you. I want this.”

  He pulls his face back, staring down at me with those blazing green eyes. “I’ve never wanted anyone more. You’re doing something to me, Ace, and I’m not entirely sure I like everything you’re stirring.”

  I want to yell out “Same,” and tell him he isn’t alone in the struggle of feelings and needs, but I don’t. Instead, I reach up, pulling his mouth back to mine, swallowing all his thoughts and fears, along with burying my own.

  Now isn’t the time to think or talk. Now’s the time to feel, let go of the worry and the past, and step into something new.

  He kisses me back, his lips commanding my full attention as he slides me underneath him and settles between my legs, covering my body with his. My nipples instantly pebble as his chest brushes against the silk of my nightie. I arch my back, wanting more, needing more.

  Trace plunges his tongue between my lips, tangling with mine, giving me a full taste of all that he is. And I love it. I love the way he kisses me, commanding the moment, taking over everything without my having to think. It’s refreshing and freeing not to worry about anything more than being in the moment.

  I slide my hands to his back, flattening my palms on the firm, warm skin, holding him to me. He presses into my middle, giving me an impression of his hard, wide length. When he shifts his hips, the head of his cock presses against my clit, sending a ripple of shock waves from my core to the rest of my body. I gasp, unable to stop the noise from leaving my lips.

  “You sure?” he asks again between kisses.

  “Yes,” I moan, never being surer about anything before.

  His mouth breaks away from mine, and for a moment, I think I’ve lost him. But the thought quickly evaporates as his lips land on my neck, blazing a trail down to my collarbone. My legs fall to the sides, allowing him to press harder and deeper against my center as he peppers my skin with kisses.