Once Bitten - C.M. Steele Page 0,3
her waist and dragged her to me. “Yes, I should have fucked my baby into you instead of talking when I had the chance.” Her eyes lit up with excitement and then shifted to embarrassment.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” her father growled next to me. Shit—he came out of nowhere. Oops.
“I’m going to check on Mia,” Jamie said, running as quickly as she could. The thing was, I didn’t know if it was because she was afraid of me, or him.
“Devin, follow me.”
“Hey, remember no spilling blood,” Ian’s father reminded us.
“Nothing but words,” he promised. I didn’t want to fight the man, but not because I was afraid of him. Upsetting Jamie and Mia was the only reason I didn’t want to kick his ass. He would be my father-in-law one day; creating a rift would make our lives difficult.
As soon as Ian’s office door closed, he turned and asked, “What are your intentions with my daughter besides trying to fuck her? Is she just a quick lay for you?”
“Well, that’s crass. I’m in love with her, if you must know. She’s under the mistaken impression that I’d let our difference in lives change the fact that I’m crazy about her.”
“Why, because she hates the sea?”
“It’s the smell she finds intolerable. Well, now since Mia was attacked, I guess the danger’s under the water as well.”
“You have that correct. She’s got a keen sense of smell and when she doesn’t like the scent of something, it’s hard for her to bear. She hates the smell of seafood.”
“And I work on the sea.” That was a super significant impediment. I’d do whatever I could to make it easier on her, but I knew that we were in this forever.
“Yes, so you have a lot to work out before I become a grandfather. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He sighed, taking a drink of his own glass of whiskey. “From what I overheard, you obviously didn’t take advantage of an opportunity, which I respect.”
“Next time I won’t be so blind.” I left him with his jaw on the floor. I better hope that he doesn’t snap, but the thought of someone keeping me away from her was unacceptable.
When I walked out into the hall, Ian was there. “Hey, buddy. Ready to get married?”
“More than anything.” We’d been friends for as long as I could remember. We were both marine biologists, but he’d been the star, which I was grateful for. I enjoyed staying in the background while tagging sharks and working in his lab.
“Let’s do this.”
“So where were you?” I asked as we moved into position.
“There was an accident blocking my way. I lost my cell phone, but apparently my mom took it by accident.”
“Well, we’re all glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, because the sooner it’s over, the sooner you can get out of the tux.” I continued to fidget, rolling my head and tugging on the tie. It wasn’t the only reason I wanted out of the suit, but that was because I needed Jamie lying bare on my sheets when I did lose the stuffy clothes.
“It’s the tie, really.” We laughed, but then the music began and both of us got serious.
My beautiful and frustrating Jamie entered. Her long brown hair curved around her face and lay on her chest as she walked up the aisle. I groaned aloud as I watched the maid of honor’s hips sway with every step. “Hey, don’t tackle her until after the wedding’s over.”
“Fine, but I’m taking what’s mine before someone tries to make a move.” I’d lost my mind. I looked at all the single men around. There had to be at least twenty men from our crews who’d come for the wedding. I should whoop Ian’s ass for inviting them when I didn’t have my woman secured to me. Jamie and I hadn’t even gotten along over the past couple of weeks, but I didn’t give two fucks. She belonged with me, and I had no intention of letting any fucker get in the way.
I stared at Jamie Marshall, thinking of all the places I ached to kiss, and I would tonight. There was no way I’d be able to leave without claiming her as mine. I’d already been in contact with a friend to add security to her the second I stepped onto the boat. I warned his ass that I wanted a female only.
Our eyes met, and I saw the lust in them. It mirrored my own. She could deny it all she wanted, but we were meant