“You’re welcome,” I say, biting back my smile. “I hate keeping stuff from you, too.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. That phone call I got earlier was from the PI. He discovered that Bryce has been embezzling funds from clients’ accounts. That’s what all those anonymous donations were. I had to go into the office to give him everything I had on Bryce. He’s done. I fucking got him.”
I feel a lightness take over my body, like the biggest weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “He’s getting arrested?”
He nods. “He’s looking at twenty-five years.” He presses himself against me again, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. The PI told us we couldn’t say anything to anybody. It fucking killed me to keep that from you, but I needed this to work. I needed to do something that would keep him away from you permanently, and killing him wasn’t an option.”
“Thank you for what you did.”
He brings our foreheads together. “I will always protect you, Dylan. We might not be married yet, but I said my vows to you a long time ago.”
I reach around and slide the tie out of his hand, holding it between us. “And I will always trust you. With everything. Including what you’re about to do to me.”
He takes the tie from me as all the softness fades from his features. I see the transformation happen immediately, like a switch has been flipped inside him. The predatory shift in his eyes. The way his nostrils flare and his jaw twitches just below his temple. This is dominant Reese. This is the man who takes what he wants and right now, I’m his target.
“Close your eyes.”
I obey instantly. There is zero thought involved. Nor is there any part of me that wants to fight him. I want this; I want everything from his man. He’s never taken away my senses before, leaving me vulnerable, but I trust him completely. He could do anything to me right now and I wouldn’t object.
The silk material of the tie slides over my eyes. I turn my head and press my lips to his arm as he secures it behind me with a knot. I feel his hands on my waist as he lifts me off the ground and plants me on the edge of the worktop.
“Lie back. I want you to keep your hands flat on the table, and I don’t want you to remove them. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I answer, lying back on the wood. I flatten my palms out next to me and wait for my next instruction. I feel his body settle between my legs as his hands slide up my thighs, teasing the bottom of my dress.
“Do you know the exact moment I knew I loved you?”
I gasp softly, not expecting him to go there right now. Not at all anticipating him using my question to him on me. My body and mind are prepared for sex, completely primed and ready, even if it is in a way I’ve never experienced before. But this? His words I cherish more than anything he could possibly give me? I’m not at all prepared for this admission.
I don’t answer; I’m not sure I can right now. Every muscle in my body is taut and I keep finding myself holding my breath, not wanting my suddenly erratic breathing to muffle what he’s about to tell me. This might very well top the vows we’re going to be saying to each other in two days. And we picked out some pretty emotional ones. I cry every time I read through them.
“You’re nervous,” he states. “Is this something you don’t want to know?”
I smile, releasing my bottom lip from between my teeth. “No, I do. Of course I do. I just wasn’t expecting you to get all sweet on me right now.”
“It’ll be brief,” he replies. “You told me when you knew, so it’s only fair you know how long it’s been for me.” His hands move up my body on top of my dress, skimming over my breasts. The weight of his touch feels different now that I can’t watch him. All my energy is focused on his hands and where they might go. One palm flattens on my chest, resting there.
“What are you doing?” I ask when he doesn’t move his hand.
“I want to feel you react to what I’m about to tell you.”