Текст книги "The Billionaire's Forgotten Fiancée"

Автор книги: Nadia Lee

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

Chapter Five

Hilary winced as Vanessa banged on the door to Dane’s penthouse. She’d texted Vanessa’s husband Justin for reinforcements, but his jet had just hit LAX. Normally she would have had complete trust in Vanessa’s ability to handle anything, but this was Dane. He never pulled any punches, and she didn’t want a bloodbath while Vanessa was pregnant.

“Dane, I know you’re in there!” Vanessa bellowed.

Hilary stared at her future sister-in-law in awe. Who knew a woman that small could be so loud?

The door finally opened. “As a lawyer, you’re aware of the laws regarding public disturbances?” Dane said. He was in nothing but a towel, which was currently wrapped around his hips. Hilary resisted the urge to squirm and looked at a spot behind him.

“Honey, who’s that?” came a woman’s voice from somewhere in the penthouse.

“Honey?” Vanessa said, blinking.

Dane shrugged. “She doesn’t know my name.” He turned to the living room, where a big-breasted blonde with puffy lips and a flushed face had appeared. She was wearing what could barely be considered a dress and had her head tilted to one side as she put an earring in.

“Hi! Are these the ones for that foursome you were talking about?”

Hilary and Vanessa exchanged a glance. Foursome?

“They’re really nice,” the blonde continued, “…although that one’s sort of fat.”

Hilary felt her jaw drop all the way to her chest. Would it be rude to punch her future brother-in-law’s bedmate?

Vanessa didn’t hesitate. “Don’t be disgusting. And get out, you skank. This is family business. For your information, her breasts are real, unlike your cheap plastic tits.”

The blonde pouted. “You can just say no if you don’t want to share.”

“Time to go,” Dane said. “I have guests.”

“Call me, honey!”

The woman slipped away, and Vanessa marched inside Dane’s place. Hilary followed her in and almost jumped when Dane slammed the door shut.

“What’s the problem?” he asked.

“What isn’t the problem? Is it true you sent Ginger to Thailand to be with Shane?” Vanessa said.

“Yes. How did you find out?”

“He called Mark.” Vanessa paced. “She’s dating somebody else.”

“After they broke up. She doesn’t have to live like a nun just because you’re stuck in the dark ages.”

“Don’t make this about me.”

“But it is about you, isn’t it? Your feelings. What do you want to do? Burn her?”

“For once, just shut up, Dane. Did Shane ask you to send her?”

He snorted. “No. He was furious according to my men.”

“See! That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Stop being hysterical. This isn’t like you, even if you are pregnant.”

Hilary winced. Wrong thing to say.

“My pregnancy has nothing to do with this! Shane doesn’t deserve to have you mess with his life,” Vanessa said, gesturing wildly with her hands. “Don’t you think he had a good reason to break it off with her?”

“I think he doesn’t have even one good reason.”

Vanessa brought her arms under control and crossed them, tapping her foot. “Right. Because you’re the love expert.”

“He doesn’t remember her.”

“What?”

“He has amnesia. He doesn’t remember anything. Not you, not me. And not Ginger.”

Hilary put a hand over her mouth. Vanessa collapsed onto a couch behind her.

“When is he coming home?” Hilary asked Dane.

“Whenever he’s ready.”

“Is she there to bring him back?” Vanessa asked.

“That and to ensure he doesn’t suffer further emotional damage. The doctor was very specific about him being around someone he likes and trusts.”

“So you sent her? I could’ve gone,” Vanessa said.

Dane cocked an eyebrow. “In your condition? You think Barron’s going to let you fly all the way out there with his great-great-nephew in your belly?”

“Somebody else then. Family!”

“The doctor was specific. Ginger’s the one he had a good relationship with the longest. Mark would also probably work, but he can’t go out there to babysit Shane.” Dane glanced toward Hilary “Busy getting married, don’t you know.”

“Did you send a specialist or someone along with her?” Vanessa said.

“No, and I don’t plan to. We can arrange for all that when he comes home. The doctor who saw him said he was physically fine. He thinks that a memory loss this long may be psychological.”

“He doesn’t want to remember?” Vanessa looked incredulous, but Hilary could sort of understand. If Shane had had a childhood like Mark’s, he might never want to remember. Although their mother had mellowed a bit after her decision to divorce, that was a recent change, something that happened after Shane had left the States.

“You shouldn’t be surprised,” Dane said. “Out of all of us, he was the one with the artistic temperament. I always thought it odd that he never tried to run away. But this… Well, it’s beyond what I expected.”

“It’s not something to admire!” Vanessa shouted again.

Dane gave her a flat look. “I wasn’t. And stop shouting. For your information, I have no intention of letting him and Ginger stay together once they’re back. She’s just a means to an end, got it?”

Hilary shivered at the iciness in his eyes. She’d always known he could be blunt and cold, but using Shane’s ex like that seemed beyond low.

“Now if you ladies don’t mind, can you all get out so I can get ready for my evening?”

“Are you going out to continue with that woman?” Vanessa asked, wrinkling her nose.

“There are plenty of women in my phone. Now out. And Hilary, don’t let my sister do anything you wouldn’t do.” He pushed both women out and shut the door behind them. The lock engaged with a metallic click.

“Can you believe his gall?” Vanessa said, staring at Hilary.

“I think he cares about Shane.” Which was somewhat unexpected given the way he generally was.

“That’s like saying sharks are caring. No. Ugh. I have to do something,” Vanessa said as they stepped into the elevator.

“Like what?”

“Bring him home. I don’t think his problem is psychological, and even if it is, dealing with Dane would make anyone want to run the other way, not come home for medical treatment.”

“Do they not get along?”

Vanessa snorted. “Who gets along with Dane?” Her mouth firmed. “If Dane gave a damn, he wouldn’t have sent Ginger, no matter what.”

“I thought she and Shane were together since high school.”

“Yes, but she did something to make him break it off. And she’s dating somebody else! I saw it with my own eyes.” Vanessa huffed. “For her to go to Shane just because Dane asked her… It’s pretty messed up. She doesn’t even like Dane, and if she is really through with Shane like she said she was, she would’ve said no just to spite him. I feel like…” She swallowed. “I feel like she’s trying to weigh her options to figure out which is more lucrative. Shane or that guy she’s dating. And of course Shane’s going to come out ahead.”

Hilary cleared her throat. “Would that be so terrible? Maybe she’s realized that Shane’s the one she really wants after all.”

Vanessa looked at her. “Do you know what he fears the most?”

Hilary shook her head.

“Becoming like our parents. He’s nothing like Salazar, but Ginger… There’s no guarantee she’s not going to be like Mom, is there?” Vanessa’s throat worked, and she wiped away sudden tears impatiently, smudging her eyeliner. “We try so hard to block it all out, but we aren’t blind to their flaws and mistakes. I just…I just can’t let Ginger hurt Shane.”

Chapter Six

Ginger hid from Shane for the rest of the day and the next morning. She didn’t know how to deal with him. No, that wasn’t quite right. If all it had been was Shane wanting to sleep with her, or to go back to the way things were, she could have handled it. But she couldn’t control her reaction to him.

Logic didn’t work. Reminding herself of the pain of loss didn’t work. Her stupid, unteachable heart wanted Shane. It didn’t understand why she didn’t want to accept his proposal and pretend the past twelve months had never happened.

Don’t try to believe that you’re going to find another man who can somehow make you forget Shane forever. Didn’t work with Robert. Won’t work with anyone else.

She pushed the thought aside. She didn’t want to brood about Shane. She wanted to take photos.

The late afternoon sun was still bright and hot, the air too humid for anything but a simple sundress. Her huge white beach hat provided some cover as she walked along the beach and snapped pictures.

The camera never lied. It captured all the shadows and colors perfectly. When she looked at them later, they’d show her all the things her mind had forgotten or missed. Like that little lizard on a black rock she’d almost overlooked. The palm overhead gave it some relief from the direct sunlight. Its dark green and brown tail was long and straight, tapering to a sharp point. The way its head was up made it look alert, but its eyes were lazy slits.

Something splashed not too far from her, and she turned around and saw a man and Lou the elephant. His mahout yelled something when Lou splashed him with sea water again.

Lou had been found on the beach years ago. When none of the families who owned properties along the private strip could find where he’d come from, they decided to adopt him and hired a mahout to care for him.

“Hello, Klahan,” she called out, walking toward them.

“Good afternoon, madam,” he said, dragging out dam in that lilting way of his. His grin was extra bright against his darkly tanned skin. “I heard from Peeraya that you were back.”

“Yeah.” She smiled without elaborating. “He’s so big.”

“He’s a big boy,” the mahout agreed.

Lou looked at her with sparkling black eyes. The hair all over his body was a few inches long and stood up like wires. She patted him. “Do you remember me?”

He patted her back with his trunk. When it brushed by her side, she giggled. “That tickles, Lou.”

“He’s trying to see if you’re hiding food,” Klahan said.

“Sorry boy, I don’t have anything,” she said, rubbing Lou’s trunk.

“Here.” Klahan reached into a sack slung across his shoulder and brought out a bag of chopped rose apples.

She flushed. “You don’t have to.”

He made a sort of offering gesture. “It’s all right. I was going to feed him later.”

“Well…okay. Thanks.” She took the plastic bag from him. Lou tracked her movements with anticipation shining in his eyes.

She pulled out each chunk and gave it to him. Lou scooped the fruit into his pale pink mouth with ease. She smiled at the way the moist tip of his trunk tickled her palm. He was absolutely one of the most adorable animals ever.

When she was all out of treats, he nudged her with his forehead. “Hey, no more, buddy,” she said, showing him the plastic bag.

The trunk snaked into the bag and nosed around for a moment. Then Lou lumbered over to the water. Klahan yelled something in Thai. Before she realized what was happening, Lou was splashing her with water and sand.

She spun around quickly, her back to the elephant to keep her camera dry. Klahan scolded Lou harshly, then turned to Ginger. “Are you all right, madam?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Don’t be too hard on him.”

“He wants to play, but he’s too big now. He can’t do what he did before,” Klahan said, slapping the elephant’s side. “I’m trying to teach him, but he doesn’t want to listen.”

“He was just being playful after getting fed. I wasn’t hurt or anything,” she reassured the mahout.

“Maybe he’s still hungry,” came Shane’s voice from behind her.

She turned to look at him. A day’s growth of beard covered his square jaw. His thin white shirt was unbuttoned all the way to mid-stomach, revealing lean, tight abs. He’d rolled up his blue summer trousers, and he was mouth-wateringly spectacular, standing there with bare feet. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough.” He handed her a bunch of the small Thai bananas, each one yielding no more than two or three bites. “Want to keep feeding him? I’ll hold your camera.”

* * *

Shane waited, wondering what Ginger would say. She’d been avoiding him, and he was getting tired of it. So when he’d spotted her with Lou, he’d come out, carrying bananas for the elephant.

“Thanks,” she said finally, giving him a small smile. She reached for the fruit while handing him her precious equipment. Her movements were slightly over-precise, betraying an inner tension.

He brushed his skin over hers—on purpose—and watched the pulse in her neck leap. Satisfaction mingled with mild exasperation. Why was she putting them through this bullshit? If they’d never slept together before—if they’d been complete strangers, he would understand how she wouldn’t want to get intimate so fast. Women were peculiar about stuff like that. But Ginger had no excuse.

She cleared her throat and turned to Lou, feeding him again. Did she know she had the gentlest smile when she played with the animal? She looked like an angel. And she’d been quite patient and forgiving with Lou when he splashed her. Not all women would’ve been so understanding.

Would she want to have children? Shane hadn’t given it much thought, but he suddenly realized that he wanted them with Ginger. A girl just like her and a boy just like him. Or maybe a mixture of the two of them. He didn’t care. He bet Ginger would make a great mother.

Apparently getting tired of moving his trunk, Lou just opened his mouth wide so Ginger could deposit bananas directly inside. She laughed and mock-scolded him for being lazy. Her eyes shone with delight, and pleasure flushed her cheeks.

And just like that a giant tsunami of emotions slammed into Shane. His heart expanded. Just looking at her was enough to share in her joy and pleasure. Was this a new feeling or had he felt it before? This was more than just him wanting to bury himself inside her. It was a sensation of pure possessiveness and protectiveness. Even though he didn’t remember her, she was important to him. He knew it.

He raised the camera and hit the button. The camera made clicking sounds as it took in the moment. He wanted to capture this moment forever and savor it until he died.

When she ran out of bananas, Klahan signaled for Lou to bow in thanks, and they walked away together. They grew smaller and smaller with each step, then Lou started running. Klahan yelled something and ran after him, but the elephant was faster.

Ginger turned to Shane. “My camera, please.”

The sea breeze tossed her hair, and he reached over and tucked it behind her ears. “Give me a minute. I’m not going to run off with it.”

She gave him a look that said she wasn’t sure what to do or say next.

If I remember everything and revert to the man I used to be, will she be more at ease around me? “How did we meet?” he asked.

She raised her eyebrows. “What?”

“The first time we met. You know, don’t you?”

“Well, of course I know. We met in high school. Our freshman year. Biology class.”

“What were we like?” It seemed so strange to think that at some point in his life he’d been a kid. His memory didn’t extend that far. The only thing he remembered was being a fully-grown adult.

“You were popular. Most of your friends from junior high school were in our class, and even back then you were good-looking. So there were always lots of girls around. But you never seemed to notice.”

When she didn’t continue, he said, “You?”

“Me?” She laughed softly, the sound tremulous. “I was a nobody. The school was private, exclusive and expensive. I was able to go because my parents taught there. My dad was a math teacher, and my mom was a Latin teacher. And I was good enough—academically speaking, that is—to get in.”

“And there were always lots of boys around,” he said. She must’ve been gorgeous, a classic golden beauty.

“It wasn’t like that. Some of the kids didn’t care much for me. I was, you know, ‘weird’, and I didn’t have the kind of moneyed background that everyone else had. There weren’t that many social activities I could join.”

“What kind of things did we do?”

She closed her eyes briefly. “Oh…sailing. Polo lessons. Trips to exclusive resorts and stuff. You were always invited, and you often went.” She tilted her head. “Don’t you remember anything? Not even a little bit?”

Letting out a frustrated breath, he raked his hair. “No. Nothing. I—”

Suddenly a vision came to him. He was in a classroom. Taking some notes. Subject…Well, it wasn’t important. The notes were just blurs anyway.

Ginger was sitting next to him in the class. Her clothes were inexpensive but nice enough. She looked so young, the lines of her face softer and even more delicate than now. She had a camera on her desk. Shane sneered at it. The dork and her camera. How stupid.

Shane blinked at the unkind thought, the crude superiority behind it. Had he been such a shallow little shit?

Before he could process it further, the rest of it came in a quick wave.

“What do you think you’re doing, dorkface?” he said to Ginger, expecting her to ignore him again. She always ignored him like she was some kind of royal princess. Whatever. Everyone knew she didn’t belong there. The only reason why she was there was because of her parents. Couldn’t tell a jib from a mainsail or a Maserati from a Ferrari. She’d probably never even had decent liquor before.

She gave him a look. “What do you think? I’m studying.”

He scowled. He hated the way she talked back to him. She was supposed to just…be there. Silently. “Like what? How to be a dorkface?”

She wrinkled her nose and turned back to her notes. “Not worth my time.”

That dismissal, delivered with a careless shrug, punched him in the gut. His heart rate spiked, blood rushing through him with a furious roar. Snotty bitch. Nobody dismissed him like that. Nobody!

“For god’s sake. Shane, can’t you have Al take care of that? I have other obligations,” came his father’s annoyed voice. “Or if you must, ask your mother.” Then he added under his breath, “She’s the one who wanted all these children, not me.”

Shane wasn’t sure if his father meant for him to hear the last comment. He never gave a shit about anything or anybody. It was obvious he hated every minute he had to waste on Shane.

He lunged to his feet and slammed his fists against her desk so hard it rattled. The camera shook, then toppled over the edge, smashing against the hard floor. The outer casing cracked. Ginger cried out and picked it up, but it was too late. Something inside rattled as she turned it in her hands.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nobody ignores me. I’m not some accident nobody wants!”

“I never said you were. For god’s sake!” Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she wiped them away. “You’re such a jerk, you know that? You think you’re something special because you have money, but you’re an asshat. You wouldn’t like yourself if you could just see what you’re like.”

“Handsome and rich and got everything in the world?”

She shoved her camera into her backpack and looped the straps around her shoulders, her motions jerky. She hadn’t even zipped her bag right, and some stuff fell out. Before he could tell her, she spun on her heel and left.

He clenched his jaw. Maybe he shouldn’t have reacted so violently and damaged her camera. But whatever. She was the one who’d said he wasn’t “worth it.”

Glancing down at the papers she’d dropped, he realized they were pictures. Jeez. Who the hell printed photos anymore?

He reached down and picked up the pictures on the floor. As he was about to dump them into the trashcan, he blinked, stopping. He pulled them closer, studying his face.

His eyes were bright in the photo, but not with smug satisfaction. They were full of anger and derision. His lips were twisted into an ugly, cynical line. Maybe it was because he was having a crappy day when she’d taken the picture. Then he realized that wasn’t the case. The picture had been taken when he’d been hanging out with his friends after school.

His insides going cold, he flipped to the next one. It was the same. He wasn’t even close to “handsome, rich and got everything in the world.” He looked like an angry, pissed off brat with an attitude problem…just like his oldest brother Dane always said.

And he hated it. He hated that he was exactly as Dane had described. Entitled. Foolish. Not worth the hassle. His gut twisted, and he curled his nose as bile rose up his throat.

“Shane?”

He blinked. Ginger was looking up at him, a frown creasing her forehead. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” He shook his head. “Hey…you remember the camera I broke?”

“What camera?”

“You know, the one in high school.”

She inhaled sharply. “You remember?”

“Did I replace it?” He wrapped his hand around her upper arm, suddenly needing the touch. Say yes.

“Yeah. The next day. Actually you bought me one that was a lot better than the one I had.” A wistful smile ghosted over her lips. “It was…unexpected.”

“Why? Was I that bad?”

She laughed softly. “It’s not that. I was pretty abrupt with you when the camera fell on the floor. I mean you nudged it over when you hit my desk, but I shouldn’t have put it so close to the edge either.”

He didn’t know how she could laugh about that when he felt like a total dickhead for what he’d done. What kind of an idiot had he been? “Did I apologize?”

“When you gave me the new camera, yeah. You were sort of stiff.” She peered up at him. “So. Your turn. How much do you remember?”

He shrugged, rolling on the balls of his feet. “Just…that. Nothing much.”

“I see. Well, still, it’s good that you remember a little bit. Even if it’s unpleasant, your past has made you who you are today.” She put a hand on his arm. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. The camera was old anyway. It was about time I got a new one.”

He didn’t think so. There hadn’t been any reason for her to buy another. It did something funny to his insides to hear her say things to make him feel better when he didn’t deserve it. And what kind of insensitive clod was he that he hadn’t noticed her sweetness…hadn’t even tried? When he’d seen her at the hotel, he’d thought she was a damn fine woman. He thought she’d look great naked in his bed.

How shallow he’d been.

As he gazed into her eyes, he saw her beauty wasn’t just on the surface. She glowed from within her soul.

And he wanted to hold onto her, be surrounded by her light. He cupped her cheeks. The contact seemed to warm even the coldest corner of his heart. “Ginger…”

Her eyes drifted shut, the long, dark eyelashes resting on her cheeks like butterflies. He kissed her. She tasted as sweet as the ripest strawberries of the season. He deepened the kiss, flickering his tongue against hers in a sensual invitation to pleasure each other.

She moaned softly, her body relaxing like heated wax. She pressed into him, and he let her in. Her hands tunneled into his wind-mussed hair and tightened around his scalp.

Desire surged fast, his cock going rigid. The previous encounter had left him sexually frustrated, and kissing her like this under the sun only intensified his need for her.

He pulled her closer until she could feel his cock against her. “You have no idea how beautiful you are, how much I want you.”

Rose colored her cheeks, and she looked away.

“Don’t. You’re perfect. I wish I could show you what I see when I look at you.”

“There’s the camera,” she rasped.

“I can’t capture it.”

“Sure you can.” She licked the column of his throat. “You’re one of the best photographers I know.”

He dropped to his knees and buried his face in her navel, his mouth against her hot skin. “It can never properly record the way you radiate with light. Or your gentle soul.” And how much he wanted to possess and protect her. He groaned. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“Neither do you,” she said shakily. “I know we shouldn’t, but I can’t think straight whenever you’re around.”

“Don’t pull back.” He tightened his arms around her legs. “If you want me to grovel for the shitty things I said to you in South Africa, I will. If you want me to promise to call you every day, I’ll do that too.”

“Oh, Shane.” She fell to her knees and looked into his eyes. “I don’t want you to do any of that. The situation’s just—we’re just—too complicated.”

“Why? We’re engaged. We’re sexually compatible—I don’t have to have sex with you to know that, since I can’t imagine us staying together that long if we weren’t—and we obviously care for each other. You can’t even say that money’s the problem in our relationship because I have more than plenty. What more does a relationship need?” he said.

There it was—those hints of uncertainty and apprehension crossing her face as fast as lightning before a storm. He wanted to erase them. And he knew the best way to do that.

He took her mouth, this time with an almost brutal intensity. He wanted her to forget everything and just enjoy herself and know that he’d take care of her. He used his teeth and tongue, nibbling and licking her closed lips and coaxing them for an entrance. His hands roamed over her back and sweetly curved ass and squeezed. She moaned, softening her mouth. He took advantage of the lapse and thrust his tongue inside.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he assaulted her mouth. She kissed him back hotly. She didn’t use just her tongue or lips or teeth. She used her entire body, pressing against him and rocking, her throat vibrating as she moaned her budding pleasure.

He slipped a hand between their torsos and weighed her plump breast. She had the most gorgeous breasts he’d ever seen—round, soft and incredibly responsive. She trembled as he massaged her breast and played with the nipple, pinching and pulling it. The sundress she wore was thin, but he didn’t want even that between them.

Before he could move, she pushed the skinny straps down. His cock twitched at the sight of her naked chest, fully revealed to him. During the storm he hadn’t been able to see her very well, not with the darkness and pelting rain. God, she was absolutely beautiful.

And she was his.

He pressed his head in her cleavage and inhaled. She smelled amazing, all orchids and butter cream. She cupped a breast in an offering. He smiled, but didn’t take the nipple into his mouth. He wanted something else instead.

He ran his callused hands over her breasts. She shivered, her white teeth sinking into her rosy lip. “Lie on your back, Ginger.”

She obeyed instantly. The bodice was bunched around her waist; the sand under her hot from the sun, but she didn’t complain. Instead she stared up at him with anticipation in her dark eyes.

He kissed along her torso. Her stomach jittered as his five o’clock shadow scraped the delicate white skin. He was certain she hadn’t put any sun block on her belly, and he didn’t want her to burn. He’d linger later—in the comfort of his bedroom.

Getting rid of her panties and pushing her skirt aside, he reached down and ran his forefinger along her folds. They were slick, and in the daylight he could see them glisten with her juices. She put a hand over his wrist. “Shane—”

“Shh…” He blew over her clit and smiled when she bucked against him. His cock was so damn hard he felt like he could use it to crack coconuts, but right now what he wanted was her against his mouth.

He traced each juicy lip, lapping her up. Groaning, she arched her back. She was dripping with need, and he sucked her clit, devoured her, making sure he got every drop of her sweetness.

Her cries pierced the air. “Please…please…”

She was so damn close. He thrust two fingers inside her as he increased the suction over her clit.

“Oh god, yes…” she panted. He plunged his digits in and out of her almost violently, sensing she wanted something fast and furious. It didn’t take much time. She writhed one last time and screamed out her orgasm.

Unable to wait any longer, he stripped. His shirt and shorts and underwear landed somewhere on the beach. He didn’t give a damn where.

Ginger grasped his dick. She could barely wrap her hand around the shaft. Mouth dry, he watched her as she gave him a cocky grin and licked the precum beading at the head.

Hot damn. He closed his eyes. Her tongue felt incredible. She was a fucking goddess as she swirled her tongue over his cockhead as though it were a lollipop and pulled him into her mouth, her cheeks hollowing.

His heart accelerated like he was sprinting. She looked so gorgeous on her knees with her lips around his cock. He dug a hand into her hair—her hat was long gone. His pelvis moved on its own volition, fucking her mouth. He could barely think, just feel as a massive wave of searing pleasure gathered itself, ready to barrel into him.

“Touch yourself. Fondle your tits,” he grated. “Come again as you suck me off.”

Ginger did exactly as she was told, her hands moving over her gorgeous breasts before one of them disappeared into the dark V between her thighs. Her breathing grew rougher, and he knew she was still primed for another peak.

Holding back while he was deep in her mouth was damn difficult, but it was worth it. His cock muffled her second scream of pleasure, and that hot little vibration was enough to push him over the edge.

He pulled out at the last minute and spurted onto her as an orgasm crashed through him. The white seed hit her chest, and the sight of her being marked as his consumed him, filling him with a monstrous satisfaction. She might not be wearing his ring, but she was his. Nobody better come sniffing around her unless they wanted their nose broken.

His legs felt like overcooked pasta, and he dropped to his knees.

She looked at him, her lips curved in bemusement. “Well. Now I gotta wash up.”

“There’s the ocean,” he said lazily, then kissed her deeply. She tasted like her and him. This is how it should be.

Reluctantly, he used his shirt to wipe her down, then pulled the dress back into place and smoothed the skirt. When she raised an eyebrow, he said, “Sunburn.”

“Oh.” She flushed. “I didn’t even think about that.”

“Probably just stunned with post-sex euphoria. It’ll wear off in a few hours.”

Laughing, she punched him lightly on the arm. “Where did my hat go?”

“Forget it. I’ll buy you a new one.”

As they walked back to the house, Shane felt like everything was right with the world for the first time since he’d lost his memory.