His to Keep (Beauty and the Brit)

by Terri Austin

  The wedding of her Vegas dreams.

  “Oh, Iain.”

  Brynn clung to his arm as he escorted her down the aisle. Faux Cher licked her lips and vamped it up as she talked about the sanctity of marriage.

  However, when Iain placed an antique band of diamonds on her finger, it suddenly got very real. Her eyes met his and she held her breath. This wasn’t a fantasy. It wasn’t a lark. She was marrying Iain Chapman, pledging herself to him. Forever.

  Something in her heart shifted then. Brynn had never thought she’d find someone like him. Allie and Monica were settled and in love. She’d always wanted that for herself, but Brynn never believed it would happen. She didn’t even allow herself to hope. But in two short weeks, Iain had changed her life.

  She gazed down at the ring, tears blurring her vision. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “I wanted to buy the biggest bloody diamond they had,” he whispered. “But I thought this would suit you better. If you don’t like it—”

  “I’m never taking it off.” It fit perfectly, and she tilted her hand to view it from every angle.

  When it came time for Iain’s ring, he’d thought of that, too. He produced a thick gold band from his pocket and handed it to her. Her fingers trembled as she recited her vows and attempted to shove the ring on his finger. It took a couple of tries.

  “Buck up, Brynnie. We’re almost done.”

  That settled her nerves a bit. When it came time for the kiss, Iain framed her face with both of his hands. “I do love you, darling.” Then he kissed her so tenderly, her knees nearly gave out.

  After the ceremony, they were treated to Cher lip-synching “Believe.” It was cheesetastic, every bit of it. Brynn couldn’t stop smiling. To her amazement, Iain couldn’t either.

  “If you ever get tired of buying buildings, you can become a wedding planner.”

  He grabbed her hand and spun her around. “Not in a million years, Mrs. Chapman.”

  The whole thing took less than an hour. The photographer acted as a witness and took a million pictures.

  When they left the building, Brynn found herself standing outside on the pavement in the hot morning sunshine. She glanced down at the ring again. She was a married woman.

  Iain hustled her into the Hummer. Once they merged into traffic, he picked up her hand. “Feel any different?”

  “Not yet. You?”

  He nodded. “Everything’s different.”

  She didn’t know where they were going, didn’t much care. Brynn was in a romantic haze and she never wanted to sober up.

  The chauffeur dropped them off at Iain’s apartment complex, where the concierge offered his congratulations. Brynn and Iain rode the elevator side by side in silence. Iain hooked his arm around her waist. He hadn’t stopped touching her since they left the chapel.

  Once they reached the top floor, Iain hurried to unlock the door. His long, quick strides had Brynn almost jogging to keep pace with him. He was in a hurry. But so was she. She wanted her husband—her freaking husband—naked and inside of her.

  As soon as they stepped into the apartment, Iain spun around and pressed Brynn up against the door. He began kissing her, stroking his hand from her neck to her breast with a sure, sensual touch. But Brynn twisted her head to the side and dropped her purse and the bouquet to the floor. “I want you naked.”

  “Ask nicely.”

  Surprising him, she tugged on his tie. “Really, Iain. I want you naked first. Please?”

  He rested his hands over Brynn’s, stilling her movements. He looked down at her, his gaze skimming her face. Lowering his head, he paused before kissing her. In the past, he’d been rough with her, emotional, tender, and soothing. But this kiss…this was a promise. She felt it as his lips moved over hers with purpose. When he straightened, he looked her square in the eye. “I’d do anything for you. You know that.”

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

  “All right then.” He divested himself of his jacket. “I’ll go first.” Together they worked the buttons on his vest and shirt. Brynn ripped at his clothes until his chest was bare.

  As Iain tugged on the low shoulders of her dress, Brynn grabbed his hands. “I want to touch first. Just this once.”

  “Touch later.”

  “This is my wedding day.” She leveled her hands on his chest. “And I want to grope my husband.” Brynn slid her fingers up to the notch in the cap of Iain’s shoulders and gave his left pectoral an open-mouthed kiss.

  Bracing his hands against the door on either side of her head, Iain closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. His stomach contracted, causing his muscles to flex. “Brynn. No, pet.”

  For once, she ignored him and, very lightly, slipped her hands down his warm, solid flesh. Her nails gently raked over his flat nipples, turning them hard. She spread her hands wide over his ribs and felt along his sides, down to his narrow waist. His dick strained the fly of his slacks and let her know just how much her touch affected him.

  When he opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on her lips. “Fine. Unzip my trousers.” As usual, he demanded.

  “Not this time.” She smiled as his eyes grew wide. Frustration caused his lips to flatten. “I’m not done.”

  “You are if I say you are,” he ground out.

  “Nope.” She reached around and grabbed his taut ass, squeezing as he tightened his cheeks.

  Using one finger, she followed the back seam of his slacks, over his ass, moving downward. Then she massaged her way up to his waistband, and guided her palms along his belt until she reached the buckle, but she left it alone. Instead, she used butterfly touches to caress his abs.

  “Why are you provoking me? You know I’m going to have to punish you.” At her rebellion, Iain’s arms shook as he strained against the door. What would it take to make him lose control again?

  Brynn rose to her toes and, angling her head, swiped her tongue across his throat, tasting his salty skin. Then she sucked him there, gently, careful not to leave a bruise.

  That was the final straw. Brynn found her mouth wrenched away from his neck. Iain’s hands gripped her shoulders. “I’m close to the edge today, Brynn. Now take off your dress.”

  She shook her head. His domination was her trigger. That’s how she got off. Today wasn’t about that. She wanted him to let go. So far he was holding on to that rigid self-control, but today, this day, Brynn wanted to see it snap. She wanted Iain wild and reckless, as he’d been last night. She liked that untamed side of him. He always sent her crashing—with his words and his hands and his mouth. She wanted to do that for him.

  “I want you, Iain. So much.” Her palm rubbed against his cock.

  Without warning, he grabbed her hand and his lips slammed over hers. His tongue invaded her mouth. All the skill he’d shown in the past was absent. His teeth bumped against hers. His hands cupped her breasts and roughly kneaded them.

  Brynn’s nipples hardened as her bra’s scratchy lace abraded her breasts. She tried to kiss him back, but Iain was too aggressive. And she loved it. She loved every forceful bit of it. This was how he made her feel—aching with desire—every single time.

  When Iain ground his hips against her lower belly, Brynn groaned into his mouth. She reveled in Iain’s brutish treatment. Each harsh thrust of his tongue made her clit throb. She matched his fierceness with her own and nipped his lip.

  He pulled back then, panting. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  “Fuck me right now, Iain. Here against the door.” She wanted him to take her, claim her—and lose himself in the process.

  He was on her again in a flash. As he continued to kiss her, he unzipped his pants and removed his cock. Pulling away, he whipped out a condom. He rolled it on in seconds, then his lips covered hers once more. He shoved the dress up over Brynn’s hips. Grasping her ass, he lifted her, never breaking contact with her mouth.

  Iain reached between her legs and tugged at her panties. She heard a brief tear, then a lo
nger one as he tore them off and threw them to the ground. Then he was inside of her, filling her up, stretching her.

  There was nothing easy or civilized about him right then. Even when he tied her up or pinned her arms to her sides, Iain was always very aware of what he was doing. She was the one who broke, never Iain. But right now, his need overrode everything else, and Brynn was right there with him.

  As he pounded into her, her body absorbed each hard thrust and wanted more. Digging her nails into his shoulders, she buried her face in the crook of his neck. His skin was slick with sweat and he smelled so damned good, she just held on and breathed him in.

  In minutes, Iain tightened his hold on her hips and came. As he shuddered, he bit down on her shoulder. It stung, but it felt good, too.

  The muscles in his back bulged as he drove into her one final time. His body stilled and Brynn continued to cling to him, soothing her hands across his back and nape. She didn’t come, but she wasn’t sorry. She’d sent her new husband right over the edge. It was amazing, this primitive side of him.

  Then it was over. She felt the emotional distance immediately. When Iain pulled out of her, the muscle in his jaw ticked. He set her down and walked away. Turning his back on her, he removed the condom, his shoulders tense, his movements jerky.

  Brynn tugged at her dress and stepped in front of him, waiting for him to say something—how amazing it had been or how much he loved her. But he wouldn’t even look her in the eye.

  “What’s wrong?” She tried to stroke his cheek, but he flinched and pulled away.

  He zipped his fly and bent to retrieve his discarded clothes. When he got to her panties, he paused, then snatched them up. He raised his head but still wouldn’t look at her. “Sorry about that, Brynn. It won’t happen again, love.”

  A frisson of alarm slid up her spine. Why was he acting so weird? Something was wrong. “What are you talking about? I wanted that.”

  His startled gaze fluttered to her eyes. “Not possible. I know you like it rough, but that was… I took you like a bloody animal,” he bit out.

  She closed the distance between them and, standing on her toes, took his face between her hands. “You really hate being out of control, huh? I pushed you there, Iain. On purpose. I wanted you like that, and I’ll want it again. Not every time, but you know, anniversaries, birthdays, maybe Christmas.”

  He pursed his lips together and wrenched his face from her hold. “I was brutal. I treated you like—”

  “Like a whore?”

  “Yes,” he spit out. “Like a bloody whore. I just whipped my cock out and had at you.”

  Brynn wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “Whatever we do together, it’s okay. I didn’t tell you to stop, and I could have. I wanted that, Iain. I don’t know how to make it any plainer.”

  His arms remained stiff at his sides, but Brynn hugged him a little harder. After a long moment, he dropped the clothes and embraced her.

  “I never want to hurt you, Brynn.”

  “You didn’t,” she whispered. “You couldn’t. You love me.”

  “Yes, I do. More than anything.” He kissed the top of her head, then rested his cheek on her crown. “This wasn’t the way I planned our post-wedding sex.”

  She reared back and looked up at him. His eyes were still troubled, but the regret and shame that had blanketed his features were gone. His earlier expression ripped at her heart. He really thought they’d done something wrong. What a role reversal.

  She gave him a little smile. “You thought about our first boink as man and wife? You’re such a sweetie.”

  “You just used the words boink and sweetie in the same sentence. Think about that. And go have a gander in the bedroom while you’re at it.” His eyes cleared and any lingering tension between them dissolved.

  Now she was fascinated to find out what he’d been plotting. Stepping out of his arms, she walked to the bedroom and stopped at the door. Brynn’s hand flew to her mouth.

  The room was filled with flowers. Vases and vases of flowers in every color imaginable. They sat on the bedside tables, the dresser, and petals littered the floor like confetti. Their fragrance reminded her of Allie and Trevor’s garden. An ice bucket filled with champagne stood to one side of the bed. And there was a jeweler’s box sitting in the middle of the gray duvet.

  Iain stepped behind her and placed his hands on her hips. “This is what I had planned.”

  Chapter 19

  She turned in his arms. Guilt now engulfed her. “I ruined it for you, didn’t I?”

  He shook his head. “I ruined it for you.”

  “Iain, you didn’t. It gets me crazy when you go all caveman like that.”

  A shadow of doubt clouded his eyes before he masked it. His gaze scanned her face. “Were you really all right with my…behavior?”

  Brynn nodded. “I seriously loved it.”

  He breathed out a light sigh. “Go on, then.” He tipped his head toward the bed. “Open it.”

  “When did you have the time to do all this, anyway?”

  “It’s amazing what you can accomplish with enough money.”

  She walked to the bed, picked up the box, and opened it. Inside was a drop necklace with one large diamond encased in an art deco setting. It was obviously old.

  Brynn glanced up at Iain. “This is beautiful.” She removed it from the box and held it out to him.

  “It’s vintage,” he said. “Which, you know, is another term for used.”

  “Stop. I love it.” She gave him her back so that he could fasten it.

  Iain draped the cool metal around her throat. After he attached the clasp, he kissed her nape. “Let me see.”

  She spun around. “Well?”

  “Lovely.” Using one finger, he followed the chain down to the middle of Brynn’s chest. “Now I want to fuck you properly.”

  “Shall I close my eyes and think of England?”

  He huffed out a laugh. “Oh, you’re a real comedian, you are.” Then he tugged the dress off her shoulders. Brynn wiggled out of it, revealing her body. She wore only a strapless bra, since Iain had ripped off her panties.

  Brynn bent her arms behind her and unhooked it. Just two weeks ago, she could barely talk to him. Now they were married and she was comfortable being naked in front of him. She felt so sexy and brave with Iain—free, as if she’d broken out of a cage of her own making. She liked being sassy and playful.

  She stood in just her sandals and threw back her shoulders “How does it look now?”

  Iain grasped her chin. “I don’t deserve you.” Then he kissed her roughly. Brynn’s toes curled in her sandals and she kicked them off. “Now lay on the bed. Arch your back again. Thrust your tits out.”

  She hopped onto the bed, bouncing once, and fell back. With her back arched, her breasts on display, she posed for her wonderful, arrogant husband.

  “You’ve suddenly become very brazen. I rather like this Brynn.” He grinned and unhooked his belt. His pants and boxers went flying before he sprawled out next to her.

  “I think it’s the ring.” She wiggled her finger at him.

  Iain leaned over her. Slowly, almost reverently, he covered her face in kisses, starting with her forehead, then her cheeks, her nose, her chin. She was already breathless, and he hadn’t even gotten to the good parts yet.

  When he removed the freesia from her hair, he bent his head over the bloom and inhaled deeply. “I’m glad you wore this for me.”

  Iain had so many facets to his personality—high-handed, thoughtful, and passionate. He was protective toward Marc and Amelia, and he still took care of Davy’s parents. Just when Brynn thought she had a handle on him, he flipped the script. One thing she was certain of—he loved her. She felt it all the way to her soul.

  Iain trailed the waxy bloom down the length of her cheek and over her lips. The sweet smell surrounded her, along with the scent of the other flowers in the room. He’d done all this for her. But he didn’t need
to do any of it. “You make me happy. You know that, right? Just you.”

  “I’m glad.” There was something unfathomable behind his brown eyes. He seemed…unsettled.

  Iain lowered his gaze and continued trailing the flower over her chest and then circled the freesia around her breast. He barely touched her with it, but her nipple budded tightly and was more sensitive with each pass. He lightly dragged it across her areola. There was something erotic about watching Iain clutch the delicate flower in his large hand, caressing her, arousing her.

  “Iain. Please.” She reached out to grab his shoulder.

  “Not yet.” He tossed the flower aside and used his hands, covering her small breasts and tugging her nipples between his fingers. He wasn’t gentle, but he wasn’t out of control either. The pain grew sharper, more exquisite as he pinched a little harder.

  Rubbing her hands along his forearms, she wanted him again. Inside of her. Now.

  Iain let go of her breasts and skimmed his fingertips along her stomach. Hands spanning her waist, he brushed his thumbs over her hip bones and moved inward. He rained scorching kisses and used tiny flicks of his tongue across her torso, along her belly, all the way to her thighs.

  “Put your feet on my shoulders, Brynnie.”

  Looking down at him, Brynn smiled. “How did I get so lucky?” she asked, repeating his earlier words back to him.

  Iain didn’t smile back. His expression grew dark and somber. Then he lowered his head and licked across her inner folds. Quickly, with featherlight strokes, his tongue danced over Brynn’s slit. When he thrust his fingers inside of her, it was almost her undoing. Pressure coiled deep in her stomach and spread outward. She was so close.

  Brynn’s hands flew to her breasts, circling her nipples as Iain continued to sweep over that swollen bundle of nerves, using just enough pressure to make her lose her mind.