It wasn’t very subtle, so I ignore her, hoping she’ll get the hint. I’ve never been interested in quick hookups, and I’m not about to start now. Especially, when I’m fresh out ofvows. Even if they were forced, I made them.
When I walk to my seat, Maeve meets me with an angry glare. Her narrowed eyes shift between me and the attendant who just stopped me in the aisle. Is my new wife jealous?
I stick my carry-on in the overhead bin and plant my ass in the chair which seems too small for me. She puffs and huffs while trying to situate herself like she hasn’t already done that. I watch her. She checks the contents of the toiletry bag provided for us by the airline. I watch her. She gives me a side-eye and continues checking everything around her. I watch her. She scratches her cheek. I still watch. She wipes the bead of sweat running down her temple. And I watch it. She becomes agitated and whips toward me with tiny slits for eyes, and I barely can contain my smile.
“What?” She sounds beyond annoyed.
“What?” I parrot, biting the inside of my cheek.
“Done flirting with that lady? Or is she coming back?”
I let a smile graze my lips—I do it more often around her than I have in the past few years combined. “Are you jealous?”
“I’m not,” she snorts, like the idea itself offends her. “But I don’t want to be made a fool.”
“You think I’d cheat on you?”
Another snort. So loud this time, it attracts the attention of people around us, so she quickly lowers her voice. “You slept with me while being engaged to my sister. Forgive the fuck out of me for being concerned.”
My shoulders go rigid. I turn my body toward her and lean my elbow on the divider between us so she can hear me better. “I wasn’t engaged to her. I hadn’t even seen her.” I lean a hair closer. “But this time, I’ve given my vows. And I intend to keep them.” I find and hold her eyes, making sure she knows I mean business.
Her throat bobs. “Even if she offers to make you a member of the mile-high club?”
I quirk a brow. “Who said I’m not already a member?”
Her lips pinch together, and she turns away from me.
My chuckle is breathless as I grab her shoulder and pull her to me. “I am not,” I whisper into her ear, making her shiver. “But I don’t mind becoming one with you.” I quickly nip on her earlobe, making her exhale harshly.
She slowly turns her head toward me, nearly grazing my lips with hers. “Who said I’m not a member?”
I inhale loudly through my nose, grab the back of her head and move her face to mine. “Are you?” I hiss.
“Why? Are you jealous?” Her breath fans my lips.
I can say a million things and play it off, but this is where I create a fucking boundary. Putting some pressure into my grip on her neck, I speak. “I am. Because the only initiation my wife will ever have is from me.” I give her lips a lick. “And you’ll be smart to remember that. Wife.”
I pull away, shifting my legs because my dick is rock hard.Feeling a stare on the side of my face, I turn toward it and find an old lady looking at me with wide eyes.
“Newlyweds,” I explain with a simple smile. She giggles and turns away to murmur something to her companion who’s about the same age as she is. He sends me an appreciative wink and places his hand on her knee.
They look to be in love judging by the way their body language totally aligns with each other. I look at Maeve whose whole body is turned away from me. Her knees are squeezed shut together, and her hands are fidgeting on the armrests. We speak totally different languages.
We get drinks before everyone is situated, and the extra-friendly attendant offers me her ‘help’ once again. I look up at her, and she points at one of the lavatories.
“This one is bigger,” she whispers with a wink.
“I’ll make sure to use this one with my wife,” I deadpan and notice how fast her smile drops. For fuck’s sake, what’s wrong with people nowadays? I came here with a woman who has a fat, shiny ring on her finger. It should be obvious to everyone that the fucking rock is me pissing on my territory. Obviously, we are together. What the fuck did she think was going to happen?
I glance at Maeve and the ring she keeps touching with her other hand. I make myself a note to get her another ring because this one was bought to impress the family, not the bride. And even if it was brand new and meant for her, I’d have to throw it away and choose another one. It’s not her. This giant diamond is not her. This platinum band is not her. The whole thing seems tasteless on her artistic hand. It seems too heavy and out of place.
“Is this how it’s going to be all the time?” She speaks so quietly, I’m not even sure it was for me.
“What?”
“Women around you.”
“No,” I say honestly. “I don’t usually attract women. I’m not sure what happened with this one.”
