Shotgun Wedding: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance by Natasha Tanner, Ali Piedmont

didn't know how she took hers.
    I'd come back into the silent apartment, and for a moment I'd panicked. Where was she? I went straight to the bedroom, but all I saw were rumpled sheets and an empty room.
    Had she left me? Slipped past Dacko somehow?
    Was she in danger?
    Then I'd heard the shower. The utter relief, that she was still here. The sense of me being able to breathe again. It was terrifying. It was exhilarating.
    It was undeniable.
    I told myself she was fine, that I didn't need to check on her.
    But still, I opened the bathroom door, the room full of steam, her, gorgeous curved, naked body appearing like a nymph out of the ether.
    This isn't a good idea , I'd thought. And taken a step forward.
    No, it's a great idea. It's the best idea I've ever had.
    My big head warred with my little one. For a second. Then I'd stripped, leaving my workout clothes on the floor where Kat had tossed her t-shirt and little black panties.
    God, she was a little messy thing.
    I'd watched as she'd thrown her head back, her pink lips open, her cheeks tinged a beautiful shade of rose. I'd found myself walking toward her.
    And now I could finally touch her. Feel her soft, wet skin.
    See if I could make her even wetter.
    "Why isn't this a good idea?" I ask again.
    "Because we're not really married," she says. "And because—because this is all temporary. I don't even know where you've been . I don't know what you do. You show up, you beat people up, you walk me down the aisle…"
    Kat turns in my arms, and suddenly I'm face-to-face with her beautiful green eyes. She's frowning.
    It takes all I have not to look down at her tits.
    "We know each other. We care about each other." Do not look at her breasts, do not look at her heaving chest . "And we are really fucking married."
    Kat growls and puts her hands on her hips. Goddamn, the woman has curves for miles.
    "We do not know each other! I mean, I can't believe you even said that. You don't know shit about me."
    "We grew up together, don't give me that shit. And I know I want you," I growl. Okay, fuck, I look down. Her nipples are pink, pert, upright. And it isn't from the damn cold, because the room is blazing-hot.
    So is she.
    So am I.
    "And I know you want me." I take a chance, take a step toward her.
    She shivers, but meets my eyes. Licks her lips.
    Fuck.
    "So what?" Kat says. "Fine, I admit it. You're hot. You're covered in—" She waves her hand up and down my body, clearly avoiding looking at my raging hard-on. "Tattoos. And muscles. And you have more abs than are probably legal. But I'm not having sex with you. I don't just sleep around."
    "Good," I say, and I can't hold back any longer. My vows of keeping her at arm's length are fading into the mist. I can't even remember why I thought that was a good idea—how I even thought that would be possible . "Because if I found out you have a boyfriend, I'd have to kill him."
    "Don't say shit like that, Gray." Kat shakes her head at me. "I can't tell if you're serious or not."
    I take one more step, and we're pressed against each other.
    "I'm dead serious," I tease. She must hear the smile in my voice, because she smiles up at me. "And aren't sleeping right now, sweetheart."
    I press against her, our wet skin sticking, then sliding, then sticking together.
    "I'm not having sex with you," Kat says.
    "Fine." I tilt her face up toward me. I want to kiss every freckle on her beautiful face, her body. "I'll just wash your back. Maybe a few other places. Would that be so bad?"
    Kat swallows. She wants me, I know it.
    "I'm just scared," Kat whispers.
    "Of what, babes?" I kiss her lightly on the edge of her lips, first the right side, then the left.
    "You," she says.
    I stare into her green eyes. "I'd never hurt you, Kat. On my honor, all I've ever wanted was to protect you."
    "Right." She bites her lip again. "You always protected me, when we were little. But Gray—it's one thing for you to marry me to protect me. But it's another if we become