“It feels as though you have something up your sleeve, Mr. Goodall,” she stated flatly.
I grinned. “That’s for me to know, and my bride to find out.” I winked.
“Fine. I shall expect your appearance within the next five minutes,” she said in a haughty manner I’d come to expect with these razzle and dazzle types. She sauntered into the room and closed the door behind her.
I waited a solid eight minutes before entering with my hat on and head down. I went straight to the table without so much as a glance at the two women. I picked up the pen lying there, noted her signature scrawled over the section labeled ‘Candidate,’ and added mine to the space indicated for the Bidder. Then I picked up the document, folded it, and finally looked up as I handed it to Madam Alana.
She took it and coolly stared at the two of us as though waiting for something to happen.
A few beats went by, then she gracefully announced, “I’ll just leave you two to get acquainted,” and took her leave.
Dakota’s gaze was like warm pools of melted chocolate as she took me in. I didn’t say a word as I removed my Stetson and set it on the table, letting her look her fill.
“Hello, wife,” I murmured, appreciating every inch of her lengthy form. The purple dress hugged her athletic curves perfectly, highlighting an already beautiful woman the way black velvet showcased diamond rings. And, in this dress, she definitely sparkled like a rare gem.
In a matter of seconds, a myriad of her feelings presented themselves in a wild display of physical expressions. Her mouth dropped open in pure shock before what I assumed was fear made her skin pale. Then as I watched in stunning magnification, her eyes blazed while her cheeks turned pink and a pretty, rosy color appeared across her chest and crawled up her neck.
Fury.
Anger.
Hatred.
All three of those things spread across her exceptional features until her arm arched back suddenly and her fist shot out, clocking me in the jaw so hard I stumbled back.
“How dare you!” she roared as I rubbed at the burning fire searing my jaw. The woman had a mighty right hook. Mike Tyson would have been proud.
I held up my hands. “Dakota…darlin’…”
“Don’t you darlin’ me, you bastard!” she sneered and shoved me with both hands.
Once again, I took a few steps back, but she continued to approach until I was up against a wall.
Her righteous anger was nothing short of a raging inferno contained inside an unbreachable steel box.
She was magnificent.
Her soul on fire.
And I had a front row seat.
It was breathtaking.
I basked in her beauty for a second before I captured both her wrists in one hand, her waist in the other. I twisted, using the leverage of my much larger size until I planted her back against the wall and used my chest to keep her there. I lifted her arms and held tight .
She snarled and snapped her teeth like a raging animal. But I was used to taming wild things and bringing them to heel.
“You’re going to regret this,” she spat.
I nuzzled her neck and inhaled her amazing scent. Wildflowers with a hint of country hay. I took in a lungful before sliding my jaw along hers until my lips were next to her ear.
“The only regret I have is not making you mine sooner.” I nipped at her ear, and she jerked away.
Her pupils were dilated, lips pink and glistening, while her chest heaved with the exertion of trying and failing to get away.
“I loathe you,” she growled.
I grinned.
“You won’t forever,” I whispered, bringing my lips to hover over hers, just barely touching. I could taste her minty breath on my tongue. It made my already hard cock tighten further behind my zipper.
“Try me,” she grated between her teeth.
I smirked. “Oh, I will, wife. In every position possible.” I ground against her so she could feel what she did to me.
Her nostrils flared. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into,” she warned, her tone icy and filled with grit.
“No, maybe not. But I’m looking forward to every second of getting into you and making you mine.”
Episode 16
Savannah’s Contract
ERIK
I sat there, stunned stupid, as the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen left the stage. I watched her hips sway provocatively, even though I knew instinctively she wasn’t doing it on purpose. The rosy blush at her cheeks and the way she pressed her hand to her heart when the bids rose proved how very innocent Ms. Savannah McAllister was.
The connection between us the second her gaze met mine was instantaneous and powerful. A gut punch to the solar plexus. Sure, I’d come here to find a wife. Someone who needed me for a change. But I genuinely didn’t believe I’d look into the gaze of a woman and see myself through her eyes.