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"Yes" She sighed "That wily old buzzard He toldlies would come back to bite me in the butt"

Carlos felt a chill skitter down his bare back "What are you saying?"

She gave him a worried look "I don’t kno to say this, butAjay married us"

Chapter Twenty

Caitlyn winced at the shocked look on Carlos’s face "Don’t worry about - "

"He what?" Carlos interrupted her

"Heblessed our e, but - "

"Didn’t you tell him it was pretend?"

"Shh, not so loud" She scurried to the opening and pulled the draperies shut that served as a door "We’re supposed to be happily married"

"We’re not supposed to be married at all Why didn’t you stop him?"

"It would have blown our cover I’hed "That rascally Ajay kneouldn’t be able to stop him He’s always been a tricky - "

"Wait" Carlos held up a hand "Caitlyn, there are tiencies? This was one of the me is that awful?"

"You know I can’t marry you for real"

She planted her hands on her hips "Well, I guess it’s your lucky day, ’cause I don’t think it’s legally binding"

"That’s a relief"

"Oh yeah" She glared at him "I’m deliriously happy"

He crossed his arms on his chest and scowled back

She tried not to notice how his biceps bulged and hoide and strong his chest was Or hoarers had dressed they pants were the same color as her blue silk robe The tattoo around his neck drew her attention The black and red panther see toward her

He motioned to the wall behind her "There’s a silver cross hanging there"

"Solanced at the cross "Beautiful workmanship, don’t you think?"

"Please don’t tell me Ajay is a priest"

"Idon’t think so" She didn’t want to adht see him as their spiritual leader

Carlos watched her closely "What exactly did he say?"

"You don’t want to know" She pulled on so festooned above the pallet The netting tuauzy white fil and settled on the pallet "He said ere kindred souls set on the earth to love and protect each other" She glanced at Carlos

He was still by the entrance, his stance rigid and tense "I will protect you With my life"

That was nice, but he’d left out the part about loving her She hugged her knees to her chest "He asked God to bless our union and prayed that ould have many children"

When Carlos remained silent, she quickly added, "It doesn’t e would not be recognized in the States"

Carlos’s eyes gleamed amber in the dark "Ajay is the leader of his people, and the words were spoken out loud, calling upon God as a witness Where I coh"

Her heart lurched Did Carlos actually consider them married? A few seconds of elation quickly morphed into wounded pride, for it was clear that he didn’t want to be her husband Her most dreaded fear crept back to crush her self-confidence Not good enough

Outside, so a druan chanting She groaned and rested her forehead on her knees

Carlos sat on the wood-planked floor "What are they saying?"

"They’rewishing you great prowess in the sack"

He grunted

The druhed It would have been great tobeat

Carlos shifted uneasily on the floor "How long are they going to do that?"

"I’m afraid they’ll keep it up until we" Oh, what the heck At this point a little more embarrassment hardly mattered "I knohat to do"

"What?"

"Showtime" She stretched out on the pallet and took a deep breath to ?" Carlos scooted a little closer

"Nothing to see here Return to your homes," she mied a bit closer to the netting

She s and ertips over the curves of her hips and up her rib cage to her breasts

"Aah," she gasped as she palroaned even louder

She rolled onto her stoed her fists on the pallet "Oh Carlos!"

She heard a hissing sound as he drew in a sharp breath She planted her feet on the pallet and squeezed her knees together "Oh my God!" She panted loudly and rapidly "Yes, yes!" She let out a long screaers cheer She lifted her arrin, she turned to Carlos "Okay, your turn"

He stiffened "You’re kidding"

"It’s your honeyers were quiet Birds chirped in the distance

Caitlyn snickered

"They cheered for you," he mumbled

"That was a et ritted his teeth "They’re doubting led "I don’t think they have any doubts"

"To hell with that" He tilted his head back and let out a long, guttural roar, followed by soers cheered

"Wow I’ rejected once again This was not her idea of a wedding night