I apologise for the rush, but it seems this hankering to make her mine won’t fade. However, you’re a married man, so I’m sure you understand.
Keep in touch, old friend.
Stay well.
Sullivan.
I pressed send just as an email appeared into my account.
Him.
With gritted teeth and hate coursing in hot waves through my chest, I opened Q’s reply.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Bonjour
Mr. Sinclair,
I have taken the liberty of looking up the girls whose names are on file.
It seems you are telling the truth.
Eleanor Grace seems to have bewitched you as well as the man who kidnapped her. The very man whose heart I ripped from his chest—while he was still breathing I might add.
He hurt what is mine and that is never tolerated. And it seems he was biding his time to hurt what is yours. He was intrigued by her so...you’re welcome.
Understand, I will not just take your word for your mutual affection. I will require evidence that she is as in love with you as you claim to be with her. However, the details you have already shared check out.
Therefore, I will merely watch you instead of extend a visit.
If you are who you say you are, you are not my enemy.
But if you are lying, we will meet, and you will die, and the girl you claim to love will be free.
Be in touch with evidence at your earliest convenience.
Merci,
Q
Fuck him and his French arrogance.
The urge to look him up made me open a dark web search page and type in Q, France, vigilante.
“Sully? You’re still working?”
I twisted in the chair, stiffer than usual and suddenly feeling the fatigue of sitting in a chair and typing when my body was still shedding the effects of six weeks of unbroken sleep.
I’d need Arbi and Joe to carry me back to bed soon, seeing as I was still unable to walk.
I closed the lid of my laptop and held out my hand for Eleanor.
Skittles fluttered around her, flying to attack Pika as he met her in the sky. Eleanor rolled her eyes as the two caiques squabbled like children. Her hair was loose and sun-kissed. Bronze interspersed with rich chocolate, and soft waves from island heat made me desperate to fist the strands and sink inside her.
“I missed you,” I murmured, pulling her down for a kiss.
She bent and pressed her lips to mine.
Unlike our sweet kiss from the other day, I drove this one straight into sin. I opened wide, I punctured her lips, I kissed her all while surviving the need to keep her away from a threatening fucking Frenchman who dared care about her safety.
Her safety was my job.
If anyone else tried to hurt her, they would be shark food and then shit on the ocean floor—by my hand, no one else’s. Her protection wasn’t his duty or honour. It’s mine.
I bit her bottom lip, making her gasp and fold deeper over me.
I grew hard, as always, and the unbearable roadblock she’d put between us made me pull away before I climbed on feeble legs and tried to fuck her against the wall.
Breathing hard, she stumbled a little as I let her go.
I smirked. “Still think you can last until our wedding night?”
“Truthfully?” She blew hair out of her eyes. “I don’t stand a chance, not if your kiss can almost make me come.”
I dragged my eyes over her body, drinking in the shape of her, the golden skin beneath the untied cream kimono and the colour contrast of her turquoise bikini. I was jealous as well as turned-on. “Been swimming without me?”
“No.” She scooped up her hair, securing it into a messy ponytail. “It’s so hot today, I was tempted and went prepared, but...just like I’m waiting to sleep with you, I’m waiting to swim until you can join me.”
“So considerate.”
She grinned. “I aim to please.” Backing toward the bathroom, she promised, “I’ll just shower, and then I’ll cook us a simple meal. Jess says hi, by the way. Veggie puff pastry pizzas sound okay?”
“More than okay.”
“Great.” Blowing me a kiss, she dashed into the bathroom. I waited until the sound of the shower splashing overshadowed Nirvana’s constant roar before opening my laptop again.
Jethro had replied, but I clicked on Q’s email first and prepared to respond.
From [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Bonjour
We are getting married in a few weeks.
I will send you the evidence you require.
Until then, stay the fuck away from me and my islands.
Sinclair
Cricking my neck and doing my best to eradicate the strain of dealing with a wannabe hero, I opened Jethro’s email.
From [email protected]
Subject: Re: A favour
Hello, old friend.
Consider the ring done.
I will personally oversee the creation and priority mail it as soon as it is finished.
In answer to your question, yes, my lovely wife is doing well. If you could bottle what she gives me, Sullivan, you would have yet another ground-breaking cure on your hands.
I’ve never been so fulfilled or so...calm inside.
As for your own affliction, welcome to the club. The club where you thought you were all-powerful, all-important, and all-invincible and figure out that you’re none of those things.
She is.
You are nothing without her and will spend the rest of your life happily accepting just how second-rate you are compared to her perfection.
Don’t worry, though...it’s natural to feel like a bastard who doesn’t deserve her. You might never stop feeling that way, but if she loves you, then you did something right.
And yes, a catch-up is definitely in order.
Jet
The shower turned off.
Eleanor appeared naked and dripping, wrapping a towel around her gorgeous figure.
Closing the laptop, I followed her with my eyes as she gave me a sexy smile and disappeared into my walk-in wardrobe.
Our walk-in wardrobe.
Our lives had begun blending together.
Her clothes hanging with mine.
Her toothbrush next to mine.
Her side of the bed reserved only for her.
We were entwining ourselves,
