Unexpected Vows

by Paige, Victoria

  Romanov’s eyes flashed with an unnamed emotion. It wasn’t anger, not quite hurt, but something in between. Much like Colt, his feelings for Kate were complicated.

  It was easy to get pissed at this, but Colt had to remember he got the girl.

  “Are we done here?” he clipped. “Because my wife and I have guests to return to.”

  Romanov didn’t miss his deliberate reference to Kate as his wife and this time he didn’t hide his hatred for Colt, but decided to preserve his dignity by leaving first. He headed to the door and pulled it open. “I’ll not bother you before we leave. Have a good evening.”

  “I’d watch my back with that one,” Trent muttered. “Want me to put a deputy on him?”

  “Just have a patrol near Matt’s loft,” Colt said.

  “Alex will be fine.” She hugged him around the torso. “Now, my caveman, shall we return to the party? All this tension has me starving.”

  “Let’s get you fed, babe.” He smiled indulgently.

  26

  Colt

  True to his word, Romanov remained out of sight. He was still around because Colt could see the Escalade, Lucas, and Cam. But like the spy he was, the Russian managed to blend. But Colt didn’t care. He was surrounded by his family and friends and his security certainly had eyes on Romanov. So after a half an hour or so, he shook off that unpleasant encounter and got back into his earlier mood.

  After dinner there was dancing, toasting, and more drinking. Colt avoided Mac’s moonshine and stuck to beer and a shot of whiskey. No way was he getting piss drunk on his wedding night. Kate had a couple of shots with Frances who seemed to have drawn the interest of the stoic Cam.

  After the toasts, guests began to leave. Those who wanted to continue drinking moved to the bunkhouse. Matt took Grace home early. They were heading to Atlanta the next day to see an agency specialist who would determine if she needed to be induced. Lucas disappeared with Cam and, presumably, Romanov.

  Millie’s staff started cleaning up and packing the van. Trent and Cassie were getting ready to leave. They were keeping the twins for the weekend.

  “You two behave, okay?” Kate told the kids. “Spit in the sink when you brush your teeth, not at the faucet or the mirror.”

  Olivia giggled.

  “Can we call you Mom and Dad now?” Josh asked.

  “You can call us whatever you want,” Colt said, bending at the waist to hug him. “See you guys later.” He straightened and ruffled the boy’s hair.

  “I call him Papa. Can I call you Dad?” Josh grinned sheepishly and Colt felt warmth spread in his chest.

  He nodded. “Fine with me. Love it, kid. Be good for your aunt Cassie and uncle Trent and watch over your sister.”

  “I’ll watch over Josh, too,” Olivia quipped. Hugging Kate’s mini-me wasn’t enough. Not when she held out her arms to be carried, so Colt lifted her and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Good night, princess,” he murmured.

  She beamed at him. God, he loved these kids. “Bye, Superman.”

  “Superman?”

  “You said we can call you whatever,” she said. “Right now, you’re Superman and you’re going to protect Mama no matter what.”

  There was something in her words, and the way she said them alarmed him, but before he could react, she wiggled out of his arms to hug her mother.

  “Bye, Mama,” Olivia said. “Superman’s going to take care of you.”

  “Sure, sweetie,” Kate laughed.

  Then it was time for them to really leave. There was some guilt in watching the twins get into Trent and Cassie’s vehicle, but deep inside, Colt was already anticipating their wedding night.

  * * *

  If it didn’t sound too comical, Colt would say his wife was nervous. They sauntered hand in hand up the porch steps and paused at the front door.

  “Let’s do this,” he said.

  “Wedding night sex?”

  He chuckled. “No, babe. Carry you over the threshold.”

  Her eyes danced with mirth, the smile he loved so much in full force on her face. He pushed open the door, and then swept her up in his arms and stepped over the threshold. As he kicked the door closed with his foot, hooting and cat calls echoed in the distance.

  Kate laughed into his dress shirt before peeking up at him. “It’s kinda embarrassing how everyone knows what we’re about to do.”

  “That’s how old-fashioned customs are,” Colt said as he lowered her to her feet. “Next thing you know, they’ll be expecting me to fly the bedsheet with your virgin blood.”

  She giggled and then ended with a cute snort.

  His breath caught at the way the light from the living room lamp illuminated the waves of her hair and cast her features partly in the shadows, a silhouette of perfect proportions. His humor faded and was replaced with an ever-present wonder of the woman before him. A pressing need to explore her manifested as a tremor in the center of his chest and a gallop of his heart as he finally exhaled.

  “You’re so beautiful, Kate.” He raised his hand, the back of his fingers brushed her cheek.

  She stilled, her pink tongue peeking out and sweeping at that full bottom lip.

  “So are you,” she whispered. “My handsome cowboy.”

  He stepped closer, until his sternum brushed the tips of her breasts. He moved them as one, until he could see all of her fully. Their eyes locked as electricity crackled between them. “I want to make slow love to you.”

  “What happened to fast and hard?”

  “Not tonight, milady.” He grinned.

  Her eyes sparkled. “You nearly ruined my makeup with that song.”

  The muscles of his jaw fought hard to control his grin. “I thought it was appropriate.”

  “It was perfect,” she whispered throatily as her hands slid to his ass and squeezed. “You made me all hot for you.”

  “Kate,” Colt groaned. “You’re going to ruin all my good intentions.” He pressed his rock-hard erection against her to make a point before abruptly pulling away. She smiled in a she-devil kind of way—always the little vixen, but he didn’t expect anything less. There was time for hard fucking, but this was not it.

  Before he could lose control right in the middle of the living room, he pulled her down the hallway to their bedroom. He slowed down before they reached the door and tried to replay the game plan in his head—his head that had turned to mush when he remembered their sweaty sex in the gym.

  That was primal, almost feral.

  He opened the door and led her to the center of the room.

  “Do not move,” he ordered. Colt left her to light the candles. He conscripted one of Millie’s employees to help him plan the candle placement because he knew nothing about ambience. It cast the room in a warm, sexy glow. Kate looked like an angel with her blond hair and white dress—one that he would relish taking off.

  Kate looked around. “You did good. How about mood music?”

  He scowled at her. “You make me sound like a damned Lothario. Sorry, babe. Not my style.”

  “Awww,” she pouted.

  He was instantly upon her, snatching a quick kiss. “I owe you a honeymoon,” he murmured. “When the twins are settled and we get rid of this Russian problem, I’m taking you away. Just you and me. Destination of your choice.”

  “Colt.” A brief shadow passed her eyes. She was thinking about that damned brain spindle. He hadn’t even thought about it that day and now the thought of losing her hit him full force.

  “Don’t think about it,” he growled and kissed her again. He was hungry for her, molding her body against his. It started out rough and claiming, as if to erase the desperation of the past few seconds, then he slowed the pace. Their tongues tangled in a seductive dance, he kissed her long and tender as if they had all the time in the world. He slid her dress up from the sides, his hands skimming under her ass when the fabric reached her hips. Breaking the kiss, he murmured in her ear to lift her arms and he lifted
the dress over her head and cast it aside.

  He stepped back and took her in.

  A beaded white strapless contraption pushed up her magnificent tits, molding her torso in some type of corset interlocked with lace and satin. The garter straps hung at the end, their clips holding up her stockings. She transformed from angel to a fucking temptress.

  His mouth went dry.

  Kate looked pleased with herself.

  “You’re killing me,” he muttered as he took a step closer. “Take off my shirt.”

  Their eyes never left each other as her fingers flew through his buttons. She peeled the shirt over his shoulders; he shrugged it off and let it fall to the floor. She worked to unbuckle his belt, slipping it off. Their breathing was a warm channel between them, keeping them connected. When she unbuttoned the top of his trousers, he stopped her.

  “My turn,” he whispered. Colt’s eyes furrowed as he searched for the fastenings of the damned underwear. “What the hell are you wearing?”

  “It’s called a bustier,” she laughed softly.

  Colt puffed a breath when a better idea hit him. He backed her against the bed and made her sit. Then he knelt in front of her and spread her thighs, exposing the damp spot on her panties.

  He reached out and massaged the spot through the silk.

  “Colt,” Kate whimpered, squirming.

  “Don’t come yet,” he warned as his thumb circled the area faster and he could feel her wet soak through. “You’re so fucking turned on that I can smell you.” His finger slipped behind her panties and dipped through her folds and came away soaking. “Can’t wait to taste you. Lie back.”

  She did as she was told.

  “You’re such a good girl. You deserve a reward.” He slid fingers inside and groaned when her slick walls convulsed around him. “Such a greedy pussy, too.”

  More whimpering came from the bed; her fingers gripped the bedsheets.

  Unclipping her garters, he kissed down the inside of her legs as he rolled the stockings away. Sexy as they were, he preferred to feel bare skin. Her panties came next. Her hips undulated in impatience, and when he plunged his finger back inside, her back came off the bed.

  “Ah, ah,” he chided, pressing down on her pelvis. “Stay down.”

  “Colt …” she whined.

  He lifted her legs over his shoulders and put his mouth on her. His tongue flattened at her opening and he stroked up and swirled over her clit.

  “Colt! Oh, God!” Her knees bracketed his head and feet dug into his back as he held her open as he devoured her sensitive folds. The taste of her gushed on his tongue, his tongue speared inside, and he consumed every drop, seeking more. He ignored the mixed signals from her fingers that alternately pulled his face into her pussy and pulled his hair to get him away. He knew she was close when her flesh swelled, her knees began to shake then she came on a gasp. “I can’t … too much!”

  He pressed down on the tip of her pubis and sucked on her clit hard. She screamed something unintelligible—a curse word may have mixed with his name and God’s—but he didn’t relent until he knew he had squeezed out every last bit of her orgasm. When her legs slackened, he let them drop to the sides. He stood and chucked off his trousers and boxer briefs. His shaft stood erect, the bead of precum letting him know he was primed to take her. Crawling up her body, he kissed her with the taste of her in his mouth. Colt figured out the corset, pulling her up to sit, and loosened the lacing in the back. He slipped it over her head, exposing her gorgeous tits. The pink of her nipples puckered into dusky peaks.

  “Christ, everything about you is beautiful,” he muttered in awe as he laid her back down. Taking her mouth in a slow kiss, he palmed a breast, its softness combined with the feel of her tight nipple felt so right in his hand. He blazed a trail of kisses down her neck to her tits, stopping there to taste and suck each peak.

  “Colt, I need you,” Kate moaned as she jerked her hips up trying to find some friction.

  “Greedy girl,” he muttered and kissed her again. And as her legs clung to his thighs, he pushed into her. His eyes rolled back at the exquisite tightness of her pussy. The warm glove and suction as he pulled out nearly made him come. She was working her inner muscles.

  “Dammit, woman,” he growled when he saw the siren gleam in her eyes. “You’re gonna make me come too soon.” He thrust hard, pushing her up the mattress. He drove deep, swallowing her moans. He pounded her in a slow, rhythmic pace.

  “Colt.” She tore her lips away before she squeezed her eyes and cried out her release. Her fingers raked down his back as she shook her head from side to side.

  He went faster, stroking deep, withdrawing to the tip, slamming back inside. Her whimpers kept coming as she took his pounding. His balls grew heavy as his own release built and, after another tight squeeze of her inner muscles, he gave in. He grunted, planting himself to the hilt, then his hips bucked as he poured into her. His thrusting turned jerky until he slowed to shallow thrusts, eyes blinded by the sheer force of his climax. When he opened them it was into blue irises—sated, happy, full-of-love blue irises.

  “I love you, Kate.”

  “I think I’m in love with you,” she stated simply. Her right hand reached up and traced the lines of his face in wonder. “So, this is what it’s like.”

  Keeping their bodies flush, Colt rolled, dragging her on top of him. “Tell me.”

  “It’s just different. I feel connected to you here.” Her hand touched the center of his chest. “It wasn’t just fucking.”

  He cut his head to the side once and then returned center.

  “You made love to me.”

  He sure did.

  “Made love, worshipped, adored,” he murmured, running fingers through her hair and letting it sift through them.

  “I like being in love,” she told him.

  His lips twitched; he was enjoying her discovery. “I’m glad, but you better get ready for round two in about twenty minutes.”

  A delicate brow raised. “Round two?”

  “Yes. Round two will be fucking.”

  27

  Kate

  I awoke in the darkness deliciously sated. I glanced at the clock. Two a.m. The scent of candles still lingered hours after Colt snuffed them out then crawled into bed with me. He was sprawled on his belly with an arm slung possessively over my waist. Sleeping with a man would take some getting used to, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be much hardship with Colt, even if I was feeling a tad warm. This man’s body was like a furnace.

  I tried to lift his arm, but his grip tightened and he mumbled in his sleep. Rolling my eyes, I made an effort to slip out of bed. When my feet hit the floor, I heard a rustle of sheets.

  “Where’re you going?” he asked sleepily.

  “Water.”

  I didn’t wait for him to respond and left the room, heading to the kitchen. I figured he fell back to sleep.

  I smiled inwardly. That second round was fucking hot. Although I loved the way he took me slow and sweet, hard sex was definitely more our speed. I loved the desperation we had for each other, like we couldn’t get inside each other fast enough.

  Taking out a glass, I filled it from the filtration system and took a sip. A tingling at the base of my skull sent goose bumps all over my body.

  As I turned around, everything familiar with the house vanished and was replaced by gray walls. I was back in an empty gray room; this time with no chair or window. A faint smoky spotlight filtered from an unknown source and I felt a presence in the room.

  A vague figure took shape, moving forward.

  It was me.

  And yet not me.

  My doppelgänger from the escalator, who I thought was Mya, moved to the center of the spotlight. She was wearing the same off-the-shoulder white dress, so short that it barely hit mid-thigh. I recognized that dress. That was the one I wore to have dinner with a mafia boss. I seduced him, had him all hard and panting for me, and then I gutted him.

&
nbsp; “Who are you?” I whispered.

  “I’m you,” fake-me answered.

  “Your tricks won’t work.”

  “No tricks, Kate,” she said sadly. “Unfortunately, you have been living a lie.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why did you marry the man who killed Piper?”

  “Colt didn’t kill Piper. Lee Monroe did.”

  “That’s what your mind wanted you to see,” she said in a gentle, almost pitying voice. “Search your mind and your heart. You know he did it.”

  “No,” I whispered. The scene replayed in my head. The first shot came from Crowder’s General Store. I couldn’t even remember what I thought happened. “It was Lee.”

  “It was Colt. He wanted to save Cassie. Why should he care about Piper? Or you?”

  The walls in the room started crowding in on me. “You’re lying.” I couldn’t breathe. My pulse roared in my head and my brain felt like a boulder had taken up residence.

  “Montgomery fed you all that bullshit that he cared for you from the start, but he left you in Chrysalis to burn and die. He took Cassie and Lucas and abandoned you and Piper. He lost his brother because of you. How could he love you? He hates you, Kate. He’s biding his time to take his revenge on you.”

  “You’re not making sense.”

  “You need to search it within yourself. You know this is true.”

  “No …”

  “You need to get rid of Colt.”

  I can’t. “I love him.”

  The sympathetic expression that was on my doppelgänger’s face morphed into one of scornful anger.

  “You cannot love him. He deserves to die. Now is the time to do it.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t.”

  “Then let me do it.”

  Images of Piper missing half of her head flashed through my mind, taken out by Colt’s sniper rifle. “How?”

  “You need to open up to me, Kate.”

  I shook my head from side to side. “Go away!”

  “Let me do this. It is the only way.”

  “Go away!” I screamed and hurled the glass of water at my double.