Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy #3)

His dark eyes flash. “You’re making rules now?”

I lift my chin. “Yes. I married the king. I feel like that gives me certain freedoms.”

He grips me tighter against his chest. “I still can’t believe you said yes.”

I untangle an arm from his grip and reach up to rub a thumb along his freshly shaven cheek. “Of course I did. I’m in love with you.”

Emotions fly across his face in wild succession, each one more vivid and intense than the last. “You can’t mean that.”

I meet the dark, burning stare that used to put the fear of God into me while stealing control of my body. Now, it infuses me with certainty. “You think I would’ve pledged until death do us part if I didn’t?”

“You got my protection—”

I tap my thumb to his lips, interrupting him. “I got you. That’s all I wanted. And if I have to spend the rest of my life proving to you that I mean every damned word, I will.”

“I’m never letting you go. Ever.”

His vow holds the same conviction as mine, and I know we’re going to be fine.

“Good. Glad we agree on that. Now, take me back to bed. We have a wedding night to make up for.”





Mount





Words have never held as much power as actions in my life. At least, not until this moment and this woman.

“I’m in love with you.”

The fierce possessive instincts fueling the fire in my blood increase every time I repeat her words in my head.

I don’t deserve to be loved. Not by her. Not by anyone. But that doesn’t mean I won’t take it. Keep it. Keep her. Protect her. Cherish her.

I’ve lied, cheated, stolen, and killed, and I will do it all again, especially if that’s what it takes to uphold the vows I made in front of a man of God and a judge.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

When I step toward the bed, I lower her down like the precious gift she is, but this softness won’t last. The adrenaline from the last few days isn’t something I can force out of my system.

I need to f*ck my woman. Own her. Bury myself inside her until we both scream.

Somehow, some way, she knows this.

Keira’s voice is strong and pure when she speaks. “I can take anything you have to give. So, you better give me everything you have.”

A growl rumbles up from my throat and I rip my suit coat off my body, flinging it away. Keira attacks me with the same fervor. Buttons fly as she tears open my shirt, and my hands go to my pants, stripping them away until I stand naked before her, ready to shred her clothes like she did mine.

But Keira holds up a single finger, pointing at me. “If all you had in the world is what you’re wearing right now, I would want you just as badly. Love you just as much.”

I don’t know how to say the words, because I never have in my life, but for her, I’ll learn.

Soon.

“I need you. Now.”





Keira





Lachlan turns into an animal, tearing my silk nightgown off my body. As his mouth ravages mine, my fingernails dig into his shoulders like they did that first night on the dining room table.

The feelings are just as intense this morning, but stem from a completely different emotion. He uncurls my hands from his shoulders and presses me back against the bed to kiss a path down my body, careful of my healing injury. He still sports a bandage, but he makes no indication that he feels any pain.

He drops to his knees before he pushes my thighs apart. “Already wet for me.”

I open my mouth to reply, but what comes out is a moan instead as his lips close around my piercing. Such an unfair advantage, and one I’ll never complain about.

Lachlan makes me scream over and over until my fingers are buried in his hair, tugging him up to my face. When his lips meet mine again, they taste like me, and I love it.

“My turn.”

He shakes his head. “f*ck no. Can’t wait.”

He grips my hips, positioning his thick cock at my entrance with a fierce, possessive expression on his face. He doesn’t hesitate, and I don’t want him to.

One stroke. That’s all it takes for him to fill me. He powers inside me over and over until his face contorts with pleasure and my inner muscles clamp down on him.

“I love you, Lachlan Mount!”





Mount





I’ve lost track of how many orgasms Keira’s had, but when she passes out limp beside me, I pull her body against mine and cover us both. We might not have gotten to have our wedding night, but I’ll make it up to her.

I’m still stuck on what she said. Hell, what she screamed.

“I love you.”

I’ve never known what the f*ck the word love means. When you’re raised without it, never feeling it, it’s not something that makes any logical sense.

I already knew I would take a bullet for her. Die for her. Live for her.

If that’s love, then maybe I’m finally starting to figure it out. There’s no doubt I understand at least one part of it—I never want to lose this. Lose her.

I sure as hell never want to see her blood on my hands again. Ever.

She curls closer into me and I press a kiss to her temple, holding her tighter.

“They’ll never touch you again.”

My eyes finally slide shut. But instead of enjoying a dreamless sleep, I battle a nightmare in which someone tries to take her from me.



I don’t know how much time has passed when I jerk awake, but Keira’s eyes flicker open at the same time as I bolt up in bed.

“What? What’s wrong?” She’s instantly on alert, reaching for the side of the nightstand where a loaded gun is holstered.

This woman is perfect for me.

“Nothing.” I grab her hand, pulling it back before she can snag the revolver. “Everything’s fine.”

She blows out a lungful of air. “Could we try waking up without the heart attack next time? That’d be great.”

A sound grates from my throat, and I realize it’s laughter. Or an attempt at it. “I’ll work on that.”

“Good.”

“In the meantime, pack your bag. It’s time to get the f*ck out of town.”

Keira’s green eyes widen. “Why? I thought it was safe.”

“It is. But I want you all to myself. Away from here. No distractions.”

“Like a honeymoon?”

“Call it whatever you want, but it’s time to go. I’ll have the jet fueled and waiting in an hour.”

Keira bites down on her lip. “I know this is going to sound bad, but please, understand where I’m coming from.”

I brace myself, wondering what the hell could possibly put that uncertain expression on my hellion’s face. “What?”

“I can’t leave right now. I’ve been locked down for days, trying to run my company—that’s rapidly changing—from inside these walls. And before that, I was out of the country for nearly a week without planning to be gone. And then the award, and a million orders . . . it’s basically insanity at the distillery. I really, really need to go to work.”

My first instinct is to override her protests and tell her that’s ridiculous. She doesn’t need to work. Not ever again. I have more than enough money to provide us the most lavish lifestyle forever. But I check my gut reaction.