wants no matter what that entails. We’re playing with very dangerous people.”
“Which is why you need to protect the O’Briens. Is everything prepared as I requested?” I asked, taking long strides closer to the shop.
“I know some people. I think you’ll be happy. Enjoy your time off.”
I hissed as he ended the call. We were playing with dangerous people, only I wasn’t entirely certain whether the truest level of peril remained within the sect. Christian’s attempt at appeasing the members with our upcoming wedding might not be what members were looking for. They’d been made too many promises and now their pristine little worlds were being challenged. What lengths would some if not all go in order to protect their kingdom? The thought was revolting.
I’d made a good decision to take her out of harm’s way. Buying time was often the best way. The most powerful moguls had one attribute over the others.
Patience.
Snickering, I moved toward the door of the little shop, my hackles rising immediately.
Winter was nowhere to be seen.
Fuck.
There was no chance in hell that she could have gotten away from me. None. Unless there was another way out.
“Is there a back door in here?” I barked at the attendant in the store.
The young girl pointed, backing away from the counter as I advanced.
I stormed into the back, immediately noticing the partially open exterior door. Giving it one hard shove, I moved onto the cracked concrete, scanning the horizon. My emotions were all over the place, a mixture of worry and fear trickling in with a rush of anger so significant that my head ached like a son of a bitch.
I took what I believed to be the logical direction, checking the few other entrances that led into the airport, trying every door. They were all locked from the inside for security purposes. As I rounded the end of the building, I caught a glimpse of her red dress. She’d actually made it close to the taxi stand.
Fuck. Fuck!
I took off running, pushing my way through dozens of people, able to catch her only seconds before she attempted to hail a cab.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked, keeping my voice low. The last thing I wanted to do was draw attention. I slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her into my arms.
At first, she shoved her hands against me, her mouth twisted in fury. Then she wrapped her arms around my neck, grinding her hips against me.
“Darling. There you are. I thought I’d lost you, my baby cakes.” Winter’s voice was loud, the words exaggerated.
Everything about her riled and excited the hell out of me. I wanted nothing more than to tan her hide then thrust my cock deep inside. I cupped the back of her head, forcing our lips closer together. “Trust me, my beautiful peacock. You’ll never lose me again.” The feel of her in my arms was extraordinary, her voluptuous body fitting perfectly with mine.
Every part of me was alive, the adrenaline still rushing through every cell and muscle. As I pressed our mouths together, the single moan escaping her mouth forced my balls to tighten. I moved her lips with mine, taking my time to enjoy the taste of her.
Her body responded as it had before, the scent of her feminine wiles floating into my nostrils. I wanted nothing more than to take her right there, but I would find the control. I allowed our tongues to entwine, the taste of her exquisite.
When I broke the kiss, she purred in the same dramatic flair as before, finally dragging her tongue across her lips. “What kind of fun are we going to have at the beach, my darling soon to be husband?”
She truly had no idea the kind of danger she was in. I tightened my grip on her head, enough so her eyes opened wide. “You fucked up, Winter. You ran. You won’t be able to do that again and you will be punished. And this time, you won’t like the form I use.”
* * *
The thirty-minute drive to the island had been more pleasant than I’d expected. I was even enjoying the fact the car that had been rented was a convertible, the name I’d used on the forms untraceable. Winter had remained silent, her attitude surly at best, but she hadn’t attempted another escape.
She also seemed to enjoy the ride.
The surprise and few seconds of sheer joy the moment she’d realized I’d taken her to Jekyll Island