Twisted Together
Page 64Twerp jumped in. “Hey, don’t be mad at her. Look, maybe it was the wrong thing coming here, but I wanted to see Tess and make sure she was happy. I love her. I wanted to wish her all the best. And you too—if you stopped being such a jerk.”
Fuck, that’s it.
Thank god I wasn’t wearing a shirt because it would’ve ended up splattered with his blood.
Tess leapt in the middle of us. “Brax, stop it. Q, don’t judge him until you know him. He’s a good friend and you need—”
“I don’t need to do anything, esclave. He’s seen you naked. I’ll never be his friend. So don’t expect it to be all rugby games and f**king unicorns.”
Tess blew curls out of her eyes, exasperation rather than fear on her face. That just irritated me further. Did I look so banged up I was incapable of inflicting pain?
I can rectify that.
The girl dressed in yellow giggled. “I doubt you’ll see us again after today, but if it makes you feel any better, your wife has seen my fiancé naked, too, and I don’t want to beat her up.”
My eyes stretched wide. I couldn’t come up with a response. I hated the thought of Tess being anywhere near this boy. I hated to think of anyone owning her heart. I was beyond jealous. I was f**king possessive and the beast inside only made it worse.
I wanted to piss a circle around Tess, blatantly claiming she was off bounds to everyone but me.
Calm down, idiot.
My heart raced but Tess laughed. “I’m glad you don’t want to hurt me, Bianca. I’m just happy you and Brax are together. And please accept mine and Q’s congratulations.”
She had no right to offer anything of mine. I wanted them off this island, not to exchange pleasantries.
My rib twinged, letting a hug of pain fill my chest. God, I’m tired.
Fuckwit grinned. “I asked Bianca to marry me two weeks ago. I know it’s really fast—but sometimes you just know, yeah?”
Tess softened, glancing at me. My anger petered out, replaced with vengeful lust. My c**k sprang to attention dragging me under her control again. Damn woman and her magic. “I totally agree. Time means nothing when you know.”
I swallowed, trying so f**king hard to keep the sexual need from my eyes. Forgetting about Fuckwit—he was nothing to me—I murmured to Tess, “Sometimes all it takes is a look.”
Tess’s lips parted and the strain of the past few minutes didn’t mean a thing. The desire between us was all-consuming and I was done with this place.
Narrowing my gaze, I murmured, “Time to stop playing with the guests. You’re coming with me.”
Tess blushed. “That would be rude. We can’t just—”
“Yes. We. Can. Now, Tess. S'il vous plait.” She wasn’t being fair. I was the injured one. I was the one in need of TLC. These guests could f**king wait until I’d had my wife beneath me, on top of me, tied up, and ravished. “You don’t want me to ask again. You won’t like what I’ll do.”
Suzette broke the thick tension. “You can’t go. Not yet. I’ve got a small reception planned next door.”
I couldn’t think of anything worse.
I was married. I wanted all these people gone. I wanted to be alone with the one person who truly understood me. I wanted my wife.
“No. Suzette. Rearrange it. Tomorrow, I don’t care.”
“I’m sorry, Suzette.” Tess shrugged. “Q really should get some rest.”
I grumbled in my chest. I hated she thought I was hurt. I wanted a bed, yes, but I wasn’t planning on f**king moaning about my injuries and going to sleep.
Did she not sense everything I was transmitting to her? Did she not understand that I could suffer two broken legs and still need to be inside her?
Tess threw me a look while Fuckwit sucked in a gasp.
My eyes tightened, taking in his innocence—his pompous timidness. This boy had nothing on me. I could blow him f**king over and defeat him. What did Tess ever see in him?
Frederick suddenly threw an arm around my shoulders, eyeing up Brax. Shoving his traitorous hand out, he smiled. “Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Frederick Roux. Business partner to this sour groom.”
Fuckwit half-smiled, taking the offered handshake. “Nice to meet you. I’ve researched your company. Congrats on all your success.”
Frederick laughed, letting go to nudge me. My teeth clamped together at being manhandled, especially because it highlighted just how much I did need to lie down. Fuck, I hurt.
“Nope, not my company. All this guy’s. He’s the mastermind.” Slapping me on the back—making me groan—he added, “Congrats, Mercer, Tess. So happy for you both.”
Tess beamed, running fingers through her hair. “Thank you for everything you did for us, Frederick. Rome, and Lynx…well you know—”
My stomach lurched, thinking how close I’d come to losing her. My fingers found the tracker under my skin. It would have to be removed. The Taser Lynx used had short-circuited it, but at least it’d done what I needed.
I’d held on and proved the point I set out to make. It cost a lot more than money but it brought shitloads of protection.
Fuckwit watched us, his forehead furrowed. “Did something happen?” His eyes narrowed. “Is that what happened the past few days? You look like you’ve been in a pretty serious fight.” His gaze flickered to Tess. “You’re not in any danger again—are you, Tessie?”
I coughed.
A swirling tornado of anger ripped me apart.
“Tessie?” My voice was whip-thin and blade-sharp. My body was still sore, the pain eroding no end of painkillers, but all I wanted was a fight. I wanted to hurtle this ass**le away from Seychelles. Away from my wife. Away from any claim he thought he had on my woman.
“Never call her that.”
Tess pressed her warm form against mine. “Q—don’t. Brax calls me Tessie. It’s a nickname that’s completely innocent.” Turning to Brax, she finished, “And no, I’m not in any danger. Not anymore. Thanks to Q.”
“But you will be if you call her that again,” I snapped.
My fists ached to ram into his jaw.
The celebrant arrived, smiling—completely oblivious to the standoff between us. “I have the paperwork that requires signing. Please choose your two witnesses and come with me.”
“Perfect timing,” Roux mumbled, throwing me a look. “Come on, Mercer. I’ll witness another one of your documents.” He followed the celebrant.
Tess let me go, grabbing onto Suzette. “Would you do the honour? Please.”
Suzette’s eyes watered. She looked from me to Tess, holding her heart. “I’d love to.”
Great. Fucking fantastic. Yet more time stopping me from getting my wife naked. The second this was over. I was gone. With or without Tess. Who was I kidding? I would never leave her—especially with Fuckwit here.
The three of us trailed after Frederick, leaving Twerp and his little girlfriend. The celebrant had set up a station with a small table, leather binder, and pens. A crisp piece of paper rested on top.
I sighed.
This whole mingling after the wedding bullshit was fraying my nerves. I didn’t know if it was the pain making me cranky or the fact Tess’s past was trespassing on my future. I just wanted to leave.
Soon. Sign then I was free.
The top of the paper held an intricate flourish with the words:
“You sign here, Mr. Mercer.” The celebrant pointed to a column stated ‘groom’.
Taking the pen, I printed my name, then signed. The simple act of holding the pen aggravated the muscles in my arm from Lynx’s bad batting skills.
I needed more drugs—especially if I planned on delivering my threats to Tess.
Beneath my signature, it changed from groom to husband.
Shit.
Husband.
It hit me for the second time.
I’m Tess’s husband.
This time it was a battering ram compared to the tiny realization. I was hers. Forever.
Tess’s body heat seared into mine, reaching over to steal the pen. Planting a chaste kiss on my cheek, she printed her name…then paused.
My heart stuttered as the pen hovered over the signature of ‘wife’.
“Do I sign with my old name or…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes meeting the celebrant.
The man smiled. “Your new one, of course. If you’re taking your husband’s name, sign it as Tess Mercer.
She froze.
Every instinct and bestial sense sprang to high alert. I tried to see past her outer shell, searching for the real reason why she didn’t want to sign the f**king form.
Swallowing back my temper, I said as soft as I could manage, “Tu vas bien?” You okay?
She looked into my eyes, tears making the blue shine like the sea. I almost crashed to my knees with the sheer unconditional love in her depths. “I’m no longer Tess Snow.”
My stomach twisted thinking about the girl who I’d watched transform into a woman. Ever since I woke up to her whispering in my ear at Lynx’s house, I’d known she’d turned an irrevocable corner. She left Tess Snow behind the moment she smeared her cheek with the blood of her victim. She spread her wings and soared, putting her past where it belonged and embracing everything I’d always hoped she would.
Every time I looked at her I sensed it, sensed the depth and sweet depravity of my woman. I’d never meant to change her—but she’d changed herself. She’d become more—just more in every way.
I cupped her cheek, bringing her nose to mine. Tracing her throat, I caressed the top of the brand—the only part visible above her collar. She shivered, biting her lip.
“You walked away from that name, esclave. It no longer defines you.”
“What does define me?” she whispered.
“Your invincibility. Your conviction. Me.”
“You?”
My fingers drifted over her collar, tugging on the leash. “Yes. You wear my name now. You wear my fortune.”
“I’m Tess Mercer.” Her soft voice turned to a pant, flushing my body with want. My c**k twitched in my trousers, ready to take her. Ready to finish this.
“You’re so much more than that.”
“Tu es à moi.” You’re mine.
“Yours,” she breathed, swaying she pressed her lips against mine. The instant her soft mouth touched me, my vision shattered into colourless light. The countdown to taking her increased its incessant tick.
I wouldn’t last much longer. I couldn’t last much longer.
Her lips kissed along my cheekbone, ending on the shell of my ear. “I was going to deny you, husband. I didn’t think you were strong enough to take me. But you haven’t stopped making love to me since the moment I entered this marquee. I believe you’re strong enough. And I want you to take me away. Take me completely.”
She pulled back, permission blazing in her eyes. “I’m all yours. Every inch.” Gone was the fear about letting me inside the final part of her. Gone was the hesitation at exploring the unexplored.
My muscles locked into place, fighting a full body shudder. My c**k punched the buckle of my belt, demanding to have her now.
Tess left me standing like a fool, sealing the marriage contract with a flick of her wrist. Tess Mercer.
My Tess.
My esclave.
Frederick grabbed the pen with a wink. “You’re looking at her like you’re about to eat her. You guys better leave before you end up saying screw the guests and giving us a show.”
I let him finish signing before punching him in the shoulder. “We’re only here because we’re Suzette’s prisoners.”
Suzette giggled, taking the pen. “Fine, I know a man in pain when I see one. Go. I’ll rearrange the reception for tomorrow.”
A thick arm wedged between us, scrawling illegibly on the paper beneath all four signatures.
What the—
I looked over my shoulder. Franco.
He shrugged. “Hey, couldn’t let you get hitched without the top quality authority of your favourite bodyguard. I just made that thing legit.”
I rolled my eyes. “Trust you to ruin everything.”
Franco chuckled, giving Tess a one armed hug. He’d discarded his grey blazer, revealing the white shirt beneath. His sling matched the fabric, hiding the fact he was injured. Sort of. The bandage around his hand had been changed, and the minute I could breathe without needing to sink into Tess, I would source a world class doctor to replace his thumb.
He would also receive a huge bonus.
Pulling away from Tess, Franco said, “You look incredible. I’m very happy for you both. I’ll always have your back, Tess. You’ve earned my deepest respect.” Tess dropped her eyes, unconsciously tugging the collar around her throat. Her cle**age was deep and f**king enticing.
“I’ll forever be in your debt for helping me get him back. I think you deserve a long holiday and someone to pamper you.” Her eyes darted to Suzette—not at all subtle and way too insinuating.
Ah, for f**k’s sake what was with weddings and hook-ups?
She added, “Don’t be an idiot, Franco.”
His mouth fell open; eyes just as wide.