I chuckle, though there’s a flicker of disappointment I’m not ready to acknowledge. I wonder what it would be like if this were a real honeymoon.
“I know, relax.”
We leave the club, holding hands, which causes a warmth that I’m becoming addicted to.
In the elevator, back at the hotel, I find myself drawing her closer. We enter the penthouse, and I pause at the entry to her room. Part of me wants to suggest tea, TV, or another conversation, anything to postpone the moment we have to separate. Instead, I simply say, “Goodnight, wife.”
“Goodnight, husband.” Her smile is soft, almost shy. There’s no sarcasm, just contentment. She moves to her bedroom door and closes it behind her, and I walk to my room.
Lying in bed, I twist the wedding band around my finger, barely realizing I’ve kept it on. But this is the problem; a part of me is becoming intrigued by her in a way I’ve never allowed myself to before, even though it’s fake. I must remember she’s only being nice because of the arrangement, the money for her house. But still, I think of her smile tonight. She seemed genuinely happy… Was it because of me?
As I close my eyes, I see her walking down the aisle to me, and my last thought before I drift off is how easily I could’ve kissed her for hours.
Chapter 13
Karley
“Whydoyousiton the counter?” Oliver asks from behind me.
I turn my head, watching him enter the kitchen of the hotel suite. But then I almost choke on my coffee when I notice he’s not wearing a shirt.
My cheeks heat as I dart my eyes away from his toned body and stare at my cup. The reality of our situation hits me… We’re actually married. Yesterday’s ceremony still feels like a dream, and waking up in this suite together makes everything more real.
“I like to drink my coffee in peace,” I say.
When I cautiously glance up, he’s flashing me a grin that does funny things to my stomach. His blue eyes crinkle at the corners, and I can’t help noticing how relaxed he seems with this whole arrangement. “And I’m the opposite. I love to talk in the mornings.”
I roll my eyes and mutter into the cup, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. “It’s going to be a long marriage.”
This is temporary, I remind myself. A business deal with an expiration date.
He leans in a little closer. “You’ll miss me when you get your peace back, I guarantee you.”
“I doubt that.” I bring my gaze to the window to avoid looking at him, but not before he catches the flicker of amusement in my eyes.
“Are you hungry?” he asks as he bangs cupboards and drawers. It pulls my attention away from the window and onto him. He’s looking around for something.
“Yeah, are we going to grab breakfast?”
He closes a drawer and looks up at me, his blue eyes brighter today. “Well, I had another idea.”
I laugh. “Of course you did.” And because he’s facing me, I can’t miss how his shoulders are broad, round, and toned. I can see just a dusting of hair on his chest. His black sweatpants hang low, so I catch sight of his hipbones.
He moves in front of me to stand between my legs, and my breath catches. Before I have a chance to ask what he’s doing, he grabs my hips and moves me effortlessly in his arms to another part of the counter. My heart is thumping, but he looks completely unfazed. Meanwhile, my skin’s still tingling where he touched me.
“Here it is.” He holds up a booklet, which I guess is room service. Something I haven’t experienced before, and suddenly the thought excites me.
He holds it out to me, and I take it from his hands, his ring catching the light. My heart swells at the sight… He didn’t take it off.
I didn’t either.
I shake my head and focus. Lowering the cup, I scan the menu as he still stands in front of me. My eyes widen at the prices.Twenty dollars for pancakes? I debate between playing it safe with something familiar or taking the opportunity to splurge.
“Do you know what you want?” he asks.
“Pancakes sound good.”
As he calls up our food, I finish my coffee and then slip off the counter.
