Tess suddenly stood. Her eyes glittered as she tore off her jeans and sweater. The smear of blood still marked her cheek—her trophy from battle. Her stomach muscles danced, slinking from her clothes.

My mouth went dry, staring at her body. She only wore knickers—no bra—the blush from the candle wax faint on her breasts. “You’re impossibly stunning, esclave.”

My cock swelled, filling with desire for the woman who’d saved my life. She truly owned me. It was undeniable now.

I wrenched back the covers, inching over for her slim body to fit against mine on the small hospital bed. The moment her delicate form pressed against me, I breathed heavily. “Don’t hate me for accepting pain. It was an insurance policy.”

“To protect me.”

I kissed the top of her head, wincing a little at the ache in my chest. “To protect you.”

“You don’t have to protect me anymore,” she murmured.

I smiled, relaxing against her warmth. “Tess, I will protect you till my last breath on this earth—and even longer if I can. You’re mine. You should expect nothing less.”

Tess’s frame shivered as tears dampened my chest. “You almost left me, Q. I hated you for leaving.”

I held her tighter, letting her release everything she’d lived through. “But I didn’t leave. I found a way to be with you. You found me in time.”

Her voice was watery with sadness. “I never want to feel that way again. Promise me.”

Rocking her, I let her cry. “I promise, esclave. I promise to never leave or keep things from you again. Je suis à toi.”

Franco had told me briefly about the arrest. About what she’d gone through. I wanted to smash the cop’s face in for detaining my woman, but that would have to wait. Right now I would be the sponge to soak up Tess’s tears, and tomorrow I would stand by her side. We would speak the binding words of eternal vows.

Tomorrow all of this wouldn’t matter.

Tomorrow the future was ours.

* * *

Stepping into the solid wall of heat deleted our sorrows, giving us happiness instead.

The air-conditioned flight had taken us away from Spain, the hospital—away from what Lynx had done.

Seychelles at midnight was almost mystical in its paradise. The airport twinkled with lights, creating a buzz of anticipation while a welcoming blanket of relaxation descended. All my angst and stress from the past few weeks melted away, leaving me weightless for once.

This was the place I would marry Tess. The place where true happiness began.

The ten hour flight had given us time to rest, but the trade-off for sleep was stiffness. No matter how I forced my body to move, it’d lost the smooth power, replacing it with jerky tiptoes. The stitches in my legs tugged uncomfortably, the tenderness in my thigh throbbed, but nothing would stop me from being here—or marrying Tess tomorrow.

“Bloody hell, it’s hot,” Franco muttered limping down the plane steps. The moment he hobbled away from the stairs, I turned to take Tess’s hand as she stepped carefully onto the tarmac.

“Wow,” she said, glancing around. “It’s beautiful. I missed the heat.”

“I agree—”

My phone rang, vibrating against my ass. Letting Tess go, I pressed the receive button, bracing myself for the torrent of exclamations I knew was coming. I’d avoided talking to her at the hospital but couldn’t avoid it now.

“Bonsoir, Suzette.”

“Mon Dieu! You’re alive. Thank the heavens. I’ve been going crazy! Franco wouldn’t let me talk to you. He banned me from upsetting you. Then Blair said you were in hospital. Hospital, Q! I tried to call the doctors and find out if you’d be okay for the wedding. I contacted everyone I knew for information. But no one told me anything. Do you know how frustrating that is! People said you died! Q—” Tears filled her voice. “You—are you—”

I jumped in. “I’m alive—as you can very well hear. We’re at the airport. And you’ll be able to see for yourself that I’m in one piece if you let me get off the damn phone and into the helicopter.”

I’d been informed of the location when we checked out of the hospital. Suzette had done a great job arranging a chopper transfer, but I still didn’t know the name of our final destination.

Tess smiled beside me, enjoying the one-sided conversation.

“By the way—which island are we flying to?” My mind flicked through the atolls and land masses making up Seychelles. I’d never been tempted to buy property on this side of the world but I’d visited once or twice. The diving was incredible thanks to the crystal clearness of the reefs.

“It’s called Cheval De Mer.” She cleared her throat. “And I’m not saying any more until you get here. The other guests have arrived, but they’re separate from where you and Tess are staying.”

Anger sprung with rushing fire, bringing gushing pain to extremities. “Guests?” Shit, who the hell did she invite? “Suzette! You knew I didn’t want anyone there.”

Silence.

“Suzette,” I growled.

“You put me in charge. So…I took charge.”

I rubbed my temple, cursing the shooting pains in my heart. Tension heightened the aches in my body. Fuck. “If I find there are a bunch of people I don’t want, or if there are news reporters bobbing in the fucking ocean trying to photograph us—I won’t just fire you, Suzette—I’ll—”

“Threats and more threats. Don’t you know they don’t work on me?”

Tess placed a hand on my arm, granting me some serenity. Ordinarily, I would’ve grinned at Suzette’s comment, pride filling me for her snarky strength. I’d given that to her. I’d saved her. But this time, I was pissed.

I wanted to scream. But my energy level was too low. “Don’t make me regret this wedding.”

She sombered, answering softly, “You could never regret it. You’re marrying her.” She hung up, leaving me glowering at the phone.

“Everything okay?” Tess asked. Her blonde hair was coiled upward, loose strands dancing in the hot breeze.

I pinched my brow. I didn’t know how intelligent I’d been putting Suzette in charge. Who knew the catastrophe she might’ve orchestrated. But it was done now. I had no way of controlling whatever she’d put into action. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to kill her for disobeying.

“Probably not, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

This was why I wanted to elope to Volière.

You’re marrying her.

Suzette was right. Nothing could stop the knowledge that Tess was mine completely. No matter if she’d arranged a circus or a fucking Mardi Gras, having Tess sign her name beside mine would make everything else fade into oblivion.

I wrapped an arm around Tess’s waist. “Ignore me. Been a long day. Let’s go.” Nodding at Franco, I added, “Time to leave reality behind.”

Franco grinned. “Damn right. Had enough reality for a lifetime. I’m ready to pass out on a lounger and drink cocktails until my body doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Sounds like a great fucking plan.

Together our trio made our way toward the helicopter glinting in the starlight. It wasn’t a Bell Relentless but it was still a nice machine with clean lines and blue and silver paintjob.

“Good evening, Mr. Mercer. Ms. Snow.” The pilot nodded, shaking my hand. “Please, come aboard and make yourself comfortable. The flight will be approximately twenty-five minutes.”

Tess climbed in, turning to give me her hand which I flatly refused to take. I wasn’t a fucking invalid. Sure my heart had stopped a few times under torture. Sure my legs held more stitches than I wanted to count, but I wasn’t dead. I could climb into a goddamn helicopter unassisted.

That didn’t stop a shove from Franco on my ass as I bent forward. I stumbled inside, swallowing my groan of pain. Everything heated, flaring with discomfort. Steadying myself, I muttered, “You obviously don’t like having thumbs. Do that again and I’ll make it an even missing pair for you.”

Franco laughed. “Just helping an old man. Doing my civil duty.”

Asshole.

Grabbing his arm, I yanked him unceremoniously into the cabin. He landed with a thud, cursing.

“Oops. Didn’t know you were so delicate. Just repaying the favour.”

Franco looked up, his emerald eyes sparking with laughter. “Not as delicate as you. You know, I’m getting over seeing you naked, Mercer. Hanging upside down like that. I have to say, I wasn’t impressed.”

The joke barbed, but I knew what he was doing. He’d been in charge of finding me alive—not just because it was his job, but because he genuinely cared for Tess. No one wanted a grieving wife on their watch.

The sparring was a way of unwinding—dispelling the anxiety of the past few days. With my lips twisted into a smile, I pulled my leg back—fully intending to kick him.

Tess looked at us in horror. “Are you trying to send yourself back to the hospital? Stop it!” Her blue-grey eyes flashed as she sat down in one of the eight chairs situated much like an airplane cabin. “Both of you.”

Franco smirked, climbing to his feet. “Better listen to your woman, boss. She’s got you on a tight leash. Don’t want to disobey.” He smacked me on the back. My eyes watered with residual agony from the baseball bat injuries.

Repaying the favour, I planted a heavy hand on his healing shoulder. “Least I have a woman. I feel sorry for your cock. Which hand did you use to jerk off? Left or right? Guess not having a thumb is going to be a bitch for that.”

Franco swung, missing my jaw as I ducked. We were both breathing hard with pain, but broke into laughter.

Tess rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, “I don’t get it. Does everything have to be a competition between you two?”

We answered together, “Yes.” Franco added, “Just giving him payback. He owes me a thumb and until he pays up, his ass is mine.” His chest puffed, lowering himself carefully into a chair. “He’s alive because of me—he owes me. Big time.”

I chuckled. We’d survived a lot in the past few days. If we couldn’t laugh about it what was the fucking point.

Tess held up her finger, pointing at us as if we were incompetent children. “You’re forgetting I killed Lynx. If anyone owns Q’s ass, it’s me.” Standing, she crossed the small distance between us and blatantly grabbed my left ass cheek with her fingernails.

I jolted under her hold; my cock—who’d been too much of a fucking pussy to twitch till now—thickened under her intense gaze. I’d wanted her in the hospital but this was different. My system wasn’t layered with drugs. I didn’t care about my pain—all I cared about was sinking inside her.

“You’re mine. Are we clear?” Her lips parted, recognising the paralyzing cloud of lust between us. I wanted her. Naked. Screaming. Coming.

Dropping my hand, I grabbed her in the exact place she held me. Dragging her close, I whispered, “If we’re still on the topic of whose ass belongs to whom, esclave, don’t forget—this…” I trailed my fingers possessively to her crack. “This is mine. And I’m taking it the moment you’re my wife.”

She bit her lip, eyes sparking with grey fire.

The captain and co-pilot finished their pre-flight checks, turning to look down the small gangway. “Eh, are you ready to leave?”

I let Tess go, never taking my eyes off her. She wobbled a little, sitting back down. Turning to face the flight deck, I nodded. “Yes, we’re ready.”

The rotor blades kicked into gear. The turbines went from silent to screeching.

“Great. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.”

There would be no relaxing, not after Tess’s tease.

Wait till I get you alone, esclave.

I was ready to embrace my future.

* * *

Twenty-five minutes later, a small island in the shape of a horseshoe came into view. Even at night it looked like utopia. Subtle lighting illuminated one side of the island, while a few less brightened the other side.

An island. Away from world news, doctors, or traffickers. If Suzette hadn’t already done so, I would demand a security crew to man the waters surrounding us—keeping all of us safe. I didn’t plan on leaving this place until I’d healed. As far as I was concerned, our crescent moon was over—our honeymoon had just begun.

No one spoke as we soared toward land, skimming over the black ocean in a whirl of rotors. At least this time we flew. I would’ve had a fucking fit if we had to travel by boat.