Tess smiled. "Thank you. I feel better not being so exposed."
Me, too. I'd been ready to murder everyone.
Suzette grinned. "Not that you have any cause for being shy, but I understand."
Goddammit, my nerves. The overbearing monster inside prowled, snapping its jaws. The beast wanted to go suicidal. I felt threatened. Threatened by a boy from Tess's past.
There was no reason to be. But try telling that to a beast that didn't listen.
He's just a stupid boy who will never deserve Tess. Me, on the other hand-I still didn't deserve her but too fucking bad-she'd married me.
A headache overshadowed the rest of my injuries. I managed to unlock my jaw enough to say, "Merci. And I'm sorry for my temper."
I scanned the room out of habit, searching for anyone out of place. The guests smiled, milling around now that the service was over. Not that they were guests. Mrs. Sucre didn't count, nor did Frederick, Angelique, or Franco. There wasn't one unfamiliar face. Apart from the dickshit in front of me.
"It's okay, mate. Totally understand." Brax nodded, opening his mouth to say something equally annoying in his Australian twang.
I couldn't do it.
Growling under my breath, I said to Suzette, "You're in deep shit for inviting him."
Tess scowled, whacking my shoulder. "Q. That isn't fair. She did it for me." Smiling gently at Fuckwit, she added, "Sorry, Brax. Q's been through a lot the past couple of days. We really ought to be leaving. He needs to rest."
A geyser of temper exploded from my mouth. "Did you just call me weak, Tess? I'm perfectly capable thank you very much. I'm not going to pass out from a simple conversation."
Twerp jumped in. "Hey, don't be mad at her. Look, maybe it was the wrong thing coming here, but I wanted to see Tess and make sure she was happy. I love her. I wanted to wish her all the best. And you too-if you stopped being such a jerk."
Fuck, that's it.
Thank god I wasn't wearing a shirt because it would've ended up splattered with his blood.
Tess leapt in the middle of us. "Brax, stop it. Q, don't judge him until you know him. He's a good friend and you need-"
"I don't need to do anything, esclave. He's seen you naked. I'll never be his friend. So don't expect it to be all rugby games and fucking unicorns."
Tess blew curls out of her eyes, exasperation rather than fear on her face. That just irritated me further. Did I look so banged up I was incapable of inflicting pain?
I can rectify that.
The girl dressed in yellow giggled. "I doubt you'll see us again after today, but if it makes you feel any better, your wife has seen my fiancé naked, too, and I don't want to beat her up."
My eyes stretched wide. I couldn't come up with a response. I hated the thought of Tess being anywhere near this boy. I hated to think of anyone owning her heart. I was beyond jealous. I was fucking possessive and the beast inside only made it worse.
I wanted to piss a circle around Tess, blatantly claiming she was off bounds to everyone but me.
Calm down, idiot.
My heart raced but Tess laughed. "I'm glad you don't want to hurt me, Bianca. I'm just happy you and Brax are together. And please accept mine and Q's congratulations."
She had no right to offer anything of mine. I wanted them off this island, not to exchange pleasantries.
My rib twinged, letting a hug of pain fill my chest. God, I'm tired.
Fuckwit grinned. "I asked Bianca to marry me two weeks ago. I know it's really fast-but sometimes you just know, yeah?"
Tess softened, glancing at me. My anger petered out, replaced with vengeful lust. My cock sprang to attention dragging me under her control again. Damn woman and her magic. "I totally agree. Time means nothing when you know."
I swallowed, trying so fucking hard to keep the sexual need from my eyes. Forgetting about Fuckwit-he was nothing to me-I murmured to Tess, "Sometimes all it takes is a look."
Tess's lips parted and the strain of the past few minutes didn't mean a thing. The desire between us was all-consuming and I was done with this place.
Narrowing my gaze, I murmured, "Time to stop playing with the guests. You're coming with me."
Tess blushed. "That would be rude. We can't just-"
"Yes. We. Can. Now, Tess. S'il vous plait." She wasn't being fair. I was the injured one. I was the one in need of TLC. These guests could fucking wait until I'd had my wife beneath me, on top of me, tied up, and ravished. "You don't want me to ask again. You won't like what I'll do."
Suzette broke the thick tension. "You can't go. Not yet. I've got a small reception planned next door."