I grabbed the leash from her collar, wrapping it around my fist. “Enough, esclave. He’ll figure it out. And if he doesn’t, there are plenty of other body parts that can be sliced off to make him understand.”

Franco spluttered. “Hey, what?” His green eyes landed on Suzette who turned bright red. She coughed, backing away, the tips of her ears flaming.

I didn’t have any time for other people’s lives. Mine was all I wanted and I was done being the centre of attention.

Tugging the leash, the collar slipped a little, glinting with an inscription: property of Q Mercer.

My eyes slammed closed. I was ruined. High on the need to claim.

My c**k twitched, clawing its way through my trousers to my wife.

Yep, I would never be removing that collar.

Screw the reception. Screw the guests. I was done.

“We’re leaving,” I snapped.

Tess’s eyes popped wide but slowly she nodded, tasting my need, echoing it back.

I’m married! I survived. And now I would claim my wife.

“Spoilsport,” Frederick muttered good-naturedly. He clasped my shoulder, crunching me into a painful hug. “Fair enough. We can have the reception tomorrow on the beach. I’m sure Suzette has a few days’ worth of events for us to enjoy.”

Franco rolled his eyes. “That woman is a nuisance. She’s too damn organised and when the hell did she become so freaking gorgeous?” His eyes trailed to Suzette who’d broken apart from our group, returning to Angelique.

“Since always,” Tess stated, crossing her arms.

Franco frowned. “You’re forgetting that I was the one who carried her into Q’s house. She weighed nothing more than a bag of feathers, her hair shorn, her skin covered in burns, and her fingers completely mangled.” His eyes tightened, looking at Suzette laughing with Angelique. “I’ve seen her at her worst. All I see is a broken girl who needed so much help.”

I agreed completely. That was my issue, too. “That’s how I see her as well. But maybe it’s time we looked at her with new eyes. She’s no longer that girl.”

I glanced at Suzette, truly seeing the strong woman she’d become. Pride filled me. Compared to the broken slave she’d been—it was incomparable.

Franco’s eyes widened as if truly seeing Suzette for the first time. He cleared his throat.

“You should talk to her, Franco, get to know her,” Tess pushed.

I threw Tess a look. That was enough. I hated tampering in people’s life, and Franco’s was his own. Tough shit if he couldn’t see past the past.

The celebrant placed the signed wedding agreement into a black folder, passing it to me. “Congratulations. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.”

Clutching the document I would treasure forever, I muttered, “More than just one lifetime. Thank you.”

Keeping Tess’s leash tight in my fist, I marched forward, fully expecting her to heel. What, like a f**king dog?

Goddammit, my thoughts were all over the place. I needed silence. Just us. Swiping a hand over my face, I tugged on the leather. “Tess—come on.”

She came forward, her lips playing with a scowl and a smile. “You’ve really got to rein in your temper.”

I bared my teeth. “Too late to try and change me, esclave. You married me—knowing full well who I was.”

And that made me the luckiest son of a bitch alive.

She laughed. “I would never want to change you.” Her eyes flittered over to Angelique and Suzette who stood talking to Fuckwit and Bianca. “I should go and say goodbye, though—I don’t want to be rude and abandon everyone.”

I shook my head. “No. You’re coming with me. This instant.”

I wouldn’t go back into the Bermuda f**king triangle of after wedding politics. We’d barely found freedom as it was, and it’d taken far too long.

Frederick brushed past, heading for his wife. “I’ll tell everyone, Tess. They’ll understand.”

Her cheeks pinked. “Okay, thank you. Guess we’ll see you tomorrow.”

No chance. I wasn’t leaving that bedroom for weeks.

“Only if you’re still able to walk,” I breathed in her ear.

Her body jolted, and I took the opportunity to wrap my arm around her, guiding her toward the exit. “If you so much as speak to another person leaving this f**king tent, I’ll put you over my knee in front of everyone.”

And I’ll love it. My stomach lurched at the thought of finally getting her alone.

Tess breathed hard, her br**sts rising and falling. “You shouldn’t get so wound up. Your heart needs a rest.”

I laughed darkly. “Let me worry about my heart—you worry about yours.” Slamming to a halt by the doorway, I whispered, “Because I’ll make it fly out of your chest with what I’m going to do to you.”

Tess wiggled in my grip, brushing against things that needed no other stimulation.

Surveying the black shrouded tent, I sighed with satisfaction. Everything had come true. Tess was no longer broken. I’d fought against the underworld and won. And now, now I intended to spend a few weeks on this island recuperating and making delicious sinful love to my wife.

Pressing Tess against my rock hard erection, I murmured, “I want to see you naked. I want you wearing only the collar and your high heels.” Pushing her out of the shadows and into the light, I growled, “Come on, esclave. Time to consummate.”

Tess stood before me, breathing hard.

I locked the sliding door, proceeding to draw every curtain so no one could see in. However, it didn’t go dark, thanks to the sun streaming in from the glass roof.

I couldn’t stop looking at the collar around her throat. I want you naked. I want to drive into you holding that leash.

My heart raced, burning off the remaining painkillers in my system. Every inch of me ached, but all I wanted was Tess. I didn’t care about the burning in my legs or the slight twinge whenever my heart beat too fast. The bullet wound in my leg didn’t stand a chance against the desire in my blood.

I could recoup later. Right now. I had husbandly duties to perform.

“Get in the bedroom, esclave.”

I planned one more game to end our crescent moon.

Tess was mine in every conceivable way. She was back to the strong and amazing woman I fell in love with and today, I would finish my claiming.

She’d given me permission.

She was ready.

I would finish what I started in Tenerife.

The stress of the wedding left my system, leaving me levelheaded and able to focus on nothing but her. The world was inconsequential now we were alone. I trusted the team of bodyguards bobbing around the atoll to keep us safe. I trusted my friends to stay far away from our villa until I was drained dry and Tess could barely walk.

And I trusted that tomorrow, I might be able to be nicer to Fuckwit, after reminding Tess just who she would spend the rest of her life with.

Tess hadn’t moved.

“I won’t ask again. Get in the bedroom.”

Tess bowed her head, watching me with lowered eyes. “Q?”

I inched toward her, suffering a rapidly building itch to chase—to hunt.

I’m going to consume you, wife.

“Yes, esclave?” I dropped my eyes down her front; my mouth watered to slice the dress from her. I wanted to drink in her gorgeous body—to drool at the tempting f**king corset.

I wanted to stare—now that no one else was watching.

Tess inched backward, activating the beast inside by submitting to me. “I’m giving you the last part of me—but I have one request.”

My legs locked to the floor. What request? She doesn’t want pain? She doesn’t want rough? My eyes searched hers, but her secrets were hidden.

I cocked my head. “One request…”

Her gaze glowed with love. “I ask that you look after yourself. Let me do the work if you need to. I don’t want you bursting your stitches or having a heart attack. Let me be the one to take you.”

I threw my head back, a loud laugh escaping. “Vous pensez que je suis fragile putain?” You think I’m that f**king frail? Humour danced in my voice. “I’ll show you who’s frail, Tess. You should know me by now pain turns me on. I don’t care I’m beaten black and blue. I don’t care that I have holes and cuts for f**king miles. All I care about is your pu**y.”

Her cheeks pinked. Never taking her eyes from mine, she inched toward the corridor, walking backward, swaying her delicious tempting hips, her red heels clicking on the tiles.

“I’m fixated on touching you, tasting you, f**king you. Nothing else matters but that. Do you understand?”

I moved forward with her, hiding my limp, cursing the pain in my thigh.

Her breath was shallow, pinpricks of colour smudging her chest. “I understand. You’re suffering the same illness as me.” She kept backing up. Every step made my c**k harder.

“What illness is that?” I whispered, my fists opening and closing in anticipation. Her skin was flawless again. No wax burns or bite marks. I needed to rectify that. After all, this was the consummation of our marriage.

“I can’t stop thinking about your fingers inside me, or your tongue licking. And, maître…”

Tess dragged delicate fingers along the wall, following the curve to the bedroom.

My ears burned for the rest of her sentence. I entered the space, crowding her to stand in the centre. “Go on…what were you going to say?”

Tell me. Fucking tell me before I explode.

The moment she stood still, her breathing quickened, sending the innocent room swimming with heady need and want. Her chest rose. “I love your cock, husband. Your fine, long, scrumptious, thick cock. I want to suck it. I want to bite it. And when you’re soaking wet from my mouth I want…”

Fucking hell. My stomach tore itself to pieces.

I stormed toward her, grabbing a fistful of hair. “What, esclave. What. Tell me.” My c**k throbbed. It f**king whimpered for the blowjob she’d so eloquently described.

Her eyes locked onto mine. “When you’re wet, I want you to take me. Take my virginity. Fill me. Claim me. Because everything about me is yours.”

I couldn’t do it.

I smashed my lips on hers, groaning deep into her mouth. Her tongue battled mine as if she’d waited for one hint at violence to unravel. Her moan echoed in my heart as we devoured each other in a fierce fast kiss.

Breaking apart, our eyes locked. The life I lived ceased to exist. I stood on the edge as my past was sucked away, leaving my soul humming with finality. It was as if a new chapter began. A fresh page, unsullied with badness or sickness or pain. Completely new, completely pure, utterly ready for our new life together.

I couldn’t describe the freedom whistling inside me. The knowledge I could hurt this woman and she would love it, but I didn’t have to hurt her. The drive, the incessant beast and monster, finally learned how to be…soft. My temper faded, leaving me gentle—truly gentle for the first time in my life.

“Tess—” I cupped her cheek, so madly f**king in love with her. My eyes fell to her collar, then to her dress. The beast clawed a little, teasing me with the overwhelming urge to shred the clothing and throw her on the bed.

But the softer, gentler side was stronger for once. I would take Tess—the last piece of her, but I would do it in a way I’d never done before. A way I never thought I would be able to do.

A way I never thought possible.

Sweet. Loving. Tame.

There would be no need for bondage, spanking, or blood play. For that one wondrous moment, I wanted soft. I wanted to feel her breath on my skin and not her nails. I wanted to shudder beneath her lips and not her teeth. I wanted lovemaking not f**king.

I didn’t want to fight.

“You’re beautiful,” I murmured, drugging myself on her. My aches and pains faded, losing power over me the longer I stood in her arms.

Her face turned up, a smile on her lips. “You’re beautiful. Beyond beautiful.” Her hands landed on my chest, her fingertips pressing ever so lightly on my tattoo. “May I, maître?”

My eyes grew heavy but not with domination. With love. She completely bewitched me, leaving me scattered in this new playground where caresses and kisses were more welcome than bites and screams.

I nodded, sucking in a breath as her fingers crept down my chest, heading around my waist. Taking a delicate step, she fitted her body against mine in the sweetest embrace.

I couldn’t breathe. I could barely keep the emotion from bubbling through my twisted soul and spewing out of my pu**y f**king eyes.

My chin rested on her head, gathering her to me, squeezing her in an endless hug.

“We’re each other’s, Q.” Tess pressed a kiss on the healing brand over my heart. “I never want to be apart. I know we’ll fight and argue and force each other to distraction but I will never stop loving you.”

My arms banded tighter. My c**k grew impossibly harder. My chest felt too small to contain the triple-quadruple sized love growing inside.

Pulling away, I said, “We will never be apart. Even when I’m angry you’ll still be able to melt me with one word. Even if I’m being an augmentative jackass, I’ll still bow to you and only you.” Dropping my head, I whispered against her mouth, “You own me, Tess.”

The second her lips touched mine the unsullied page of our future splashed with life. A future I had the privilege to live unfolded before my eyes: images of Tess barefoot and laughing. Colours of birds and wings and happiness. Each ideal came and went in a wash of ink, dispersing with unknown memories.