Completely submerged in the crystal clear water, I follow the guide and Alex towards the reef up ahead. The instructor points around, highlighting the fish and coral that he mentioned on the ship. I’m completely mesmerized as a school of fish swims around us, not even noticing when Alex takes my hand in his own. Swimming around on our own, we notice a few turtles and even a sleeping nurse shark, tucked inside a den.
When he realizes our time is up, Alex guides me back towards the boat and helps me climb the ladder before bringing himself onto the ship.
“I can’t stop smiling, my cheeks hurt.”
“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed that. I did too.”
Wrapping his arms around me, he leans close so that only I can hear him.
“I just want to spend the rest of the day lying on the beach with my beautiful wife.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I murmur.
Still wearing our bathing suits, Alex and I return to our villa and head directly towards the beach. I opt to rest in the sand while Alex wants to refresh himself with a dip in the warm water.
A couple hours later, with my skin heated from the warm sun, I can feel Alex’s cold shadow as he leans over me on our beach towel.
“We need to head inside, beautiful. I have a surprise for you tonight.”
Taken aback by his complete animation I ask, “Really? What kind of surprise?”
“Just the kind of surprise that means we need to get inside and get cleaned up.”
“But I’d rather be dirty with you.”
“Oh, I definitely plan on getting you dirty first,” he replies as he takes my hand, pulling me up, and rushing towards our villa.
Giggling as I run to keep up with his pace, I collide into his back as he stops inside our bathroom. Turning to face me, he takes my face in both of his hands, gliding his thumbs back and forth across my cheeks.
“We don’t have a lot of time, so I can’t ravage you until later,” he says before leaning forward and capturing my lips with his own.
Stepping back, he quickly sheds his swimming trunks and loosens the ties on my bikini bottom. Reaching up, I unhook my top and toss it with my now discarded bottoms.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he moans, lifting me up by my thighs and wrapping them around his waist.
Walking into the shower, he turns the knob and sends a blast of cold water streaming onto our heated skin. The coolness feels exquisite against our desire-fueled bodies. Pressing my back against the cool tile, Alex catches my lips and rocks against my wet opening. As a groan releases from deep in my throat, I shift upward slightly so that his engorged erection slides deep inside my core. Resting one hand against the tile and wrapping the other around my waist, Alex thrusts deeply at a quickening pace. Enclosed in a bubble of steam, I can feel his heated stare commanding me to let go. As he rocks in and out, I scream out my release and he quickly follows with his own deep growl.
After setting me on my unsteady feet and legs, Alex quickly lathers himself with soap and then rinses off before stepping out of the stall.
“Sorry, beautiful. You only have fifteen minutes to get ready. I’ll stay out of your way.”
I work quickly to wash my hair and body, then dry off at top speed. Running a comb and blow dryer over my hair, I let my thick hair rest in soft waves down my back. Applying just a bit of mascara and lip-gloss, I look over myself and am pleased with what I find staring back in the mirror. The sun has lightly kissed my skin, but it’s the glow of love and being loved that has made my skin so radiant.
Stepping into the bedroom, my gaze wanders through the room in search of Alex, but I don’t see or hear him. As my eyes search around one last time, they come to stop on a box that is sitting on the bed, a small envelope resting on top. Tearing the flap open, I find a note. At the bottom of the page, in his elegant scribble, Alex writes:
Find me where you made me yours.
Lifting the top of the box, I find a beautiful black dress nestled inside. Sliding into the material, the cap sleeves rest at the edge of my shoulders, highlighting the sweetheart neckline. The dress sits comfortably against my skin and stops about mid-thigh. Grabbing a pair of black heels from the closet, I am startled when I hear a knock. Opening the door to one of the staff, he gestures for me to follow him and to leave the shoes behind.
Stopping at the end of the hall, he turns in my direction, questioning me with his eyes.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“You tell me, miss.”
“Oh, um,” I pause, thinking back to Alex’s note.
Find me where you made me yours.
“The altar,” I shout, startling the older man. “Sorry. Um, could you please take me to the outdoor wedding venue?” I ask more quietly.
“Absolutely,” he says.
Tucking my hand in his arm, we stroll in the darkened night, following a path of twinkling lights in the sand. I now realize why he told me to leave my shoes in the villa. The staff member comes to a halt at the end of our path, then motions me to follow another set of twinkling lights, assuring me I’ll find my way.
Walking slowly through the twisted and sandy path, my imagination runs away with me as I picture another staff member waiting for me next to a car, ready to usher me off to another undisclosed location. My imagination didn’t do Alex nearly enough justice. Instead, waiting for me at the end of the twinkling lights is the reason that my heart beats. Standing to the side in a white linen shirt and linen pants, holding a single purple rose, Alex waits patiently for me to come towards him. As I move closer to him, I can see the small table set up along the shoreline, twinkling lights dangling above. Soft music is playing in the background.
“Wow,” is all I can manage to muster once I reach him.
“You look extraordinary, Mallory. Please, come with me.”
Before he can step any further, I reach up and rest my hand along his cheek before stretching on my toes to place a soft kiss against his lips.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For everything.”
Smiling gently in reply, Alex takes my hand, lacing his fingers with my own, and guides me to the table. A different staff member brings out our food, a wonderful seafood medley, and we indulge in a feast fit that is truly for a king. Nearly collapsing in my chair, Alex comes to stand beside me and asks me to dance.
Placing my hand in his, he sways in the sand to the beat of slow music. After a moment, he releases my hand, cradling me close to his body, arm resting against my waist and a hand holding my head to his chest.
“I don’t want to leave this place. Everything has been magic here,” I murmur against his shirt.
“I know, love. I wish we could stay here forever. Just you and me. We’ll come back though, anytime you want.”
“Promise?” I ask, glancing up into my husband’s eyes.
“Without a doubt. You just say the word and I’ll have us here the next day.”
Alex’s fingers stroke my hair gently as he looks down at me with love.
“I love you beyond words, Mallory. I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t take me back, all of me. I never knew my heart could feel so full.”
Leaning up, I graze my lips against his.
“I love you too, Alex. I will protect your heart, always.”
Chapter 25
In the town car headed back to the airport, I find it difficult to keep my eyes open. Between the past three days of adventurous outings planned by my husband, coupled with our lustful desire for each other, I can honestly say my body is completely spent. I have never felt this level of extreme exhaustion.
"I didn't mean to wear you out, love."
"It's alright. I had a spectacular time. I wouldn't change a thing."
"Same here. You can rest your eyes while we're on the plane, we should be through security just as they begin boarding."
The airplane ride from St. Thomas to Washington D.C. is long enough for me to take a much needed nap, but I hope that after our hour layover, I'm a
ble to sleep through our evening flight.
Stopping in the bookstore, I look around for a magazine to read while we wait, and maybe even a few sugary treats, preferably peanut M&Ms. Glancing at stack after stack of local and worldly gossip magazines, my attention fixates on a magazine cover that showcases two people in a very heated sexual act. The headline stops my heart when my eyes skirt across it: Royal Bachelor Likes It Rough.
My knees give out as I realize that the picture is of me and Alex in the bedroom of his Victorian home in England. Placing my hand on my chest, I try to push back the hurt and anger of our private lives being invaded.
"Mallory, there you are. I was looking everywhere for you...," he trails off when he sees me gripping a magazine in my hands, tears splattering the pages.
I drop to the floor in humiliated devastation.
"Hey, what is it?" he urgently asks.
Unable to form a coherent sentence, I toss the magazine in front of him when he kneels beside me. Anger. Pure, unadulterated anger seeps across Alex’s features - anger so fierce that I would be terrified to find myself on its receiving end.
Still kneeling beside me, Alex whips out his phone and presses the speed dial for Gregory.
"We have a problem. Yes, the magazine. How long has it been out? Today? Ok, it's obviously one of my staff members because no one else has access to our home. No, don't fire anyone yet. Find the camera and then see if there are any prints. If not, track all of them, follow their accounts, find out about their families. Someone like this won't be able to cover their steps for long. They'll try to find another way once the camera is gone." Hesitating momentarily, Alex glances in my direction before stroking a hand through my hair. "I don't know. I think she's a bit shocked right now. Goodbye, Gregory. We'll see you at the airport." Standing up, he reaches down to help me to my feet, leaving the magazine lying on the floor. "Don't worry, baby. I'll take care of this."
Walking through the airport, I can't help but feel that everyone is glancing in our direction. I feel so violated by the magazine that all the inquisitive glances cause my body to shiver. Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, Alex pulls me closer as he quickens his pace through the airport until at last we arrive at the boarding gate.
The airport must have been tipped off to our presence, because within ten minutes of waiting for our loading zone, a large crowd of passengers with phones begins taking our picture. Frightened, I look towards Alex. Noticing my despair, he grabs my hand and brings me to the airline desk. After arguing with the attendant, she finally notices the absurd crowd milling around and allows us to enter the cabin.
My attention stays glued to the window, my hand gripping Alex's as we sail through the sky.
Giggling sardonically to myself, I turn my interest back to Alex when he asks, "What's so amusing?"
"It's safe to say that our married life will never be boring."
My sarcastic tone puts him on alert and he places a hand on my cheek.
"I will always protect you, Mallory. Nothing bad will happen to you again."
Nodding my head at his comment, I lean back against my seat, wrapping my arms around my chest. Closing my eyes beneath the weight of my heavy lids, a nagging feeling deep inside me tells me that I might not be prepared for what's about to come our way.
Thank you so much for reading this book.
I hope you enjoyed it!
Please be sure to leave a review.
The Stone Series
Stone Shattered
Stone Unhinged
Stone Mended
Acknowledgements
I want to start off by sending a tremendous thank you to my husband. He has spent endless nights staring at me behind a computer screen and stepping up to watch our children. If it wasn’t for him and those addictive motovlogs I don’t think I would have any sanity left.
And thank you to YouTube for posting the author’s videos that motovlog. Seriously. I live vicariously through them.
To my kids: I hope you grow up in a world that lets you express your creativity. The arts are what make the world beautiful.
To my family for always supporting me, even if they have to read the stories and pretend I wasn’t the one to write them.
To my beta readers and ARC reviewers, you help make my writing better and create a better story.
Finally to Emily Tate: I don’t know where I would be without you. I was completely dragging my feet with this one and dread having to find another editor. You stepped up and blew me away. And seriously…Bea ran away, I don’t know what to tell you. Oh, and she found the vibrator in the kitchen, because don’t we all keep one there?
About the Author
Renee Harless, her husband, and children live in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She studied Communication, specifically Public Relations, at Radford University.
Growing up, Renee always found a way to pursue her creativity. It began by watching endless runs of White Christmas- yes even in the summer – and learning every word and dance from the movie. She could still sing Sister Sister if requested. In high school she joined the show choir and a community theatre group, The Troubadours. After marrying the man of her dreams and moving from her hometown she sought out a different artistic outlet – writing.
To say that Renee is a romance addict would be an understatement. When she isn’t chasing her toddler around the house, working her day job, or writing, she delves head first into a romance novel.
To learn more about Renee Harless visit her Website or follow her on Facebook
Stone Unhinged (The Stone Book 2) Page 23
