“On the contrary. It’s just getting started.”
“It’s not. This wholethingis over. This marriage.”
“No,” he said, with force. “Not unless you look me in the eye and tell me you’re not in love with me. Half in love, even. Say that with utter sincerity, and I’ll leave it be.”
I flashed my teeth. “I already told you I’m not going to admit that.”
“I’m not asking you to admit it,” he countered. “I’m asking you to deny it. Tell me no part of you feels for me what I feel for you.”
I scrambled off the bed, trying to escape the desperation percolating in my ribcage. What was I doing arguing over nothing, anyway? “This is stupid. I have to go. It’s past sunrise, and Amryssa’s probably already awake.”
“You’re hiding again.”
Anger sparked beneath my breastbone. Anger and something deeper, something I didn’t want to look at in the eyes. I marched up to him, my soles dragging across the carpets.
He smiled, so smugly it made me want to slap him again.
Or kiss him. Oh, goddess, I really did want to kiss him again. I wantedeverythingagain, even though he was already all over me—his sweat, his scent, his essence. And still, I craved more. I wanted to rub it all in, soak him up until he became a permanent fixture in my pores.
What a useless, pointless wish. “Get out of my way.”
“No.”
I crossed my arms, mirroring his pose, though my chest didn’t flex and bulge the way his did. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Well, we both know that’s nothing new.” His eyes gleamed a challenge. “And all you have to do is say five words. ‘Kai, I don’t love you.’ That should be easy, considering how adamant you’ve been about hating me.”
I tried to do exactly that, then gave him a silent snarl when the words wouldn’t come. They lodged in my chest, nowhere near making it to my throat.
Because Ididlove him. Of course I did—halfway, or all the way, or who fucking cared, really? It didn’t matter. This wasn’taboutme.
“I’m going now,” I snapped.
A flash of victory illuminated his face, and... Gods among us, I knew that look. Great. Now I would never get rid of him.
Thankfully, when I angled past, he let me go. I stomped away, whisking my clothes from the floor and slamming the bathroom door. Curses sprang from my lips as I dressed.
By the time I reemerged, the bedroom was blessedly empty. The annulment certificate lay on the bed, complete with a second signature. I snatched it up on my way to Amryssa’s room.
When I threw open her door, she beamed.
“What?” I snarled. I’d never been so short with her. “Just what the fuck is so fucking amusing to everybody this morning?”
She tried to smother her laughter with a hand. With no success whatsoever. “I’m glad to see you in such high spirits.”
I glowered. “I’m not in high spirits. I’m in pissed spirits.”
“But why? You’re married now. Completely. And were incredibly loud about it, might I add.”
“Oh. Gods.” Warmth drained from my cheeks. “You heard that?”
“It was impossible not to. At least the first time. Well, and the second. And the third. And the?—”
“All right.” I flung a palm in the air. “You’ve made your point. Just...” I cast a frantic glance around, then remembered the annulment and thrust the paper at her. “Here. This came, and it’s signed. Which makes Kai not my husband anymore. In a few minutes, he’ll beyourhusband.”
That sobered her. The amusement dropped from her face. “You and I both know that’s not valid.”
That gave me pause. I couldn’t fathom how she knew that.
