“Let’s do it, then,” he said with a wicked smile. He wasn't about to let her back out now.
“Are you serious?” Her smiled faltered for a moment as he called her bluff.
“Sure, why not?” he mimicked her words with a grin. He tugged at her hand, walking toward the awning.
“Wait a second,” she gasped.
“Oh, so you’re backing out?” Jack’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He was enjoying this far too much.
“No, I am not backing out. I said I would marry you and I will,” she responded, thrusting out her jaw. “I want to... ummm... clarify a couple of things.”
“Okay, Ms. Worrywart, go on — clarify,” he said.
“It is soon to be Mrs. Worrywort. You realize that we are in a foreign country right?” she asked. He nodded. The thought had occurred to him as soon as he asked. As they were both foreigners without the correct legal documents, the ceremony wouldn't be legal. It was a harmless bit of fun. Emma's face relaxed as she came to the same conclusion. “Good. You realize that you never asked my dad’s permission?”
That took Jack by surprise. He loved that she was playing the game with him. “You want me to call him right now?” Jack asked innocently as he began reaching for his phone. “Or are you just thinking up excuses not to marry me?”
“Oh, I’ll marry the hell out of you,” she said laughing and pushing the phone back to his pocket. “Besides, then we can tell everyone we are on our honeymoon and get free drinks.”
“You are staying on an all-inclusive resort,” he informed her with a laugh. She pushed his shoulder playfully.
“Before we do this, though, you should at least propose properly,” she said trying to keep a straight face. Jack looked thoughtful for a moment before taking her hand and dropping to one knee. He wanted to do this right. This was the closest to a wedding he was likely ever going to get.
“My dearest, loveliest Emma,” he began looking up at her. He couldn't stop the grin from filling his face. “Will you do me the biggest honor of this vacation, and marry me?”
“Yes,” she answered with a giggle. He stood up and kissed her, finding a passion he hadn't been expecting. Desire threaded through him at her touch and when they pulled apart he could see it mirrored in her eyes as well.
“Come on!” Jack recovered first, grabbing her hand with a smile and pulling her toward the awning.
***
“You may now kiss the bride,” the marriage officiant declared. Jack grinned at Emma's smile. For this moment, she was his. He liked the idea of having Emma all to himself, even though he knew the marriage was a sham. This was just pretend, just a wonderful game they both were participating in because they knew they couldn't have the real thing.
He put his hands on her face, and drew her lips to his. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and he could barely contain himself from wanting more. Wanting her. There was something about kissing her after those words, something that made him ache for it to be real.
“Smile for the camera,” the minister said, holding up a camera. Jack's hand shot up and covered the lens before the man could even press the button. The last thing he needed was pictures of this wedding being posted online. As much as he wished this ceremony could be real, it was the last thing his family or his business needed.
“No pictures,” Jack snapped. His eyes darkened as he stared down the minister.
“No pictures?” Emma asked, disappointment in her voice. “Not even one, just for us?”
Jack frowned. Emma's eyes pleaded with him for just one. This was her wedding day as much as it was his. He relented. The two of them could have one picture, especially since it was their wedding. He actually rather liked the idea of having something to remember this day by. “No pictures except this one. This one is for us.”
He handed the minister his phone and turned to smile for the camera. Emma cuddled up into him under the awning as the camera flashed. The minister smiled before handing it back to Jack.
He grinned at the screen. The picture was perfect. It captured Emma's simple beauty and the two of them looked absolutely ecstatic. It looked like a real wedding picture.
“I better get a copy,” Emma said, her eyes staying on the picture even as she handed the phone back to Jack. He laughed, completely happy to oblige that request. He kissed her again, reveling in her sweet taste and the way she pressed against his body. She fit with him.
“You’ll get the only copy,” he whispered. “This is ours and ours alone. No one can ever take this from us. This is our secret, one only we share.”
She had to be aware the effect she was having on him. Just kissing her and having her press into him was causing him to grow hard. All he could think about was having her beneath him, writhing, na**d and panting. He wanted his name on her lips as she came.
“We should head back and start our honeymoon,” she whispered, pushing her h*ps against his. The familiar ache at the base of his spine was starting to grow the longer he held her. His hand tightened on her back, and he nearly threw her to the sand to take her right there on the beach.
“Ahem.” The minister raised his eyebrows and looked pointedly away. Jack got the message and released his blushing bride just long enough to grab her hand.
Together, they sprinted back down the beach, laughing at their splashes in the waves and enjoying their new marriage.
Chapter 8
Emma pushed open her door and nearly stepped inside before he caught her.
“What do you think you're doing?” Jack asked, his eyes twinkling. Despite running along the beach, he wasn't out of breath from running. He was out of breath controlling himself with Emma. It had taken every ounce of willpower he processed to get her back to the hotel room. The only reason he had managed to wait was that it was technically their wedding. He was looking forward to this part.
“Opening the door?” Emma cocked her head to the side, confused. She had sprinted just as hard to get back here.
With a fluid motion, Jack scooped her up in his arms. She giggled as she realized what he was doing, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close. She pressed her nose into his throat and inhaled, taking in the scent of him. It made his heart race with primal need.
He carried her to the bedroom, setting her down gently on the floor. She held onto him for an extra moment, as if she were soaking him into her skin. When she looked up at him, her long lashes fluttering over sea-green eyes, his heart melted into a puddle on the floor.