Page 21 of Complete Me

“But I need to go to Scotland,” she continued to brush her lips against his jawline.

While it took considerable effort, he managed to grab her by the hips and break away from her spell. Smith wasn't fond of his wife being apart from him. The thought of her being in another country was unbearable, even if it was a neighboring one. However, after what Georgia had told him this afternoon, perhaps it was a good idea.

She took his hesitation as denial and began to pout. “Edward's decided to elope. You can't tell anyone.” She rushed to say, as though Smith was about to get on the phone and call the tabloids.

“I was about to phone the press,” he said in a flat voice. She stuck her tongue out at him, which only made her look more adorable. This was exactly how the little blonde vixen on his lap had wormed her way into his heart. She'd been wild and uncontrollable and all too eager to sink to her knees for him. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the steady uptick of interest in his pants at the thought.

“He wants Clara and I to come and help. Clara has already gotten permission.”

That was a lie. Smith knew it. Alexander's obsession with his wife made Smith look like a sensitive twenty-first century male.

“Why do you need to go?” he asked. “Doesn't he have a whole staff who could put this together?”

“Because we're his best friends.” Belle explained. “And we'll need to plan a bachelorette party or a stag night. I'm not really sure which he'd prefer.”

“If you think the idea of you running around town, hopping from pub to pub is going to sell me on this idea, beautiful, you're mistaken.”

The flirtatiousness slipped from her face and she began to glare. “If you think you can order me to stay home instead of going to celebrate with my best friend before he gets married, then you're mistaken, Sir.”

She added the last bit with emphasis.

“I ought to take you over my knee for being so petulant,” he warned. “But you'd like that, wouldn't you?” Belle always enjoyed a little fight before her submissive side came out to play.

“Or,” she suggested, leaning forward to employ her feminine wiles again, “I could make it worth your while.”

“Beautiful, you make everything worth my while,” he assured her. Her hand slipped down and found the rock-hard bulge, he was doing his best to ignore. In actuality, she didn't have to work so hard. He had made up his mind, almost as soon as she'd asked. If Smith was going to follow-up on this information from Georgia, it would be better if Belle was safely out of the way. He had no idea whether Jacobson was in London or in his country home. Not for the first time, Smith was relieved that they wouldn't be spending Christmas with Belle's mother and brother on the family estate. He had helped his wife sell her interest in Stuart Hall to her half-brother earlier this year. That was a decision that was paying off in spades, because it meant that Belle felt no inclination to return there. Now that Smith knew Jacobson had been behind the attacks, she wouldn't be allowed to return; not until Jacobson was dealt with. Sending Belle to Scotland, where there were already armed guards, seemed like a smart move.

Belle pressed her index finger to his chin and drew his attention to her. “What's on your mind?”

“How many hours I'll need to fuck you before I'll be able to let you out of my sight,” he said gruffly. She believed him because it wasn't a lie. He just left out some of the other important bits. It made him sick to think that the entire time they'd sought sanctuary from Hammond and his men at her family home, that they'd been in danger.

Jacobson had chosen not to act and Smith didn't understand why. He could have killed Smith that day in the forest, returned to Stuart Hall, and finished the job. Mary Stuart had welcomed Jacobson into her home without batting an eye. Smith couldn't help but wonder how much of the politician’s decision to buy the adjoining estate had to do with his wife. It was another matter he'd have to look into.

“Seriously, Price,” Belle demanded his attention. “You are in la-la land.”

“Do you want me to show you what I'm thinking about?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir.” She bit her lip again, but this time it was followed by a shy nod. He loved how her eagerness mixed with vulnerability whenever he shared his plans to take her to bed.

“You can go to Scotland,” he said in a husky voice.

“And you'll come next week, right?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Yes,” he promised.

But it was a lie. He had no right to make such promises. Not with what he had to do. Despite that, his responsibilities would wait until morning. “Do you want to go to the bedroom, beautiful?”

She nodded again, a little quicker this time.

“Then show me the way.”

Belle needed no further encouragement. Sliding from his lap, she found her way to the floor and began to crawl on her hands and knees toward the staircase. Smith watched appreciatively. It wouldn't be the last time tonight that he enjoyed the sight of his wife on all fours. He licked his lips as she paused at the foot of the stairs and popped back onto her heels. She was such a natural submissive—absolutely breathtaking in her willingness to please.

He stood and removed his belt in one swift motion. Walking toward her he slid it through his open palm. She tensed a little, but he knew she was simply preparing. Pain wasn't what Smith needed tonight, even if she might deserve a little spanking for her games. Instead, he looped it loosely around her throat and tugged.

“Come, beautiful,” he commanded. Tonight he needed to possess her. He needed to claim her. No matter what happened in the coming days, he would leave Belle Price with no doubt that she belonged to him.

10