"Hey," she says, her eyes flicking from me to Cohen. "Am I interrupting?"
"Never."
She offers Cohen a warm smile. "Morning, Cohen. How's Emerald and the baby?"
"Perfect," Cohen says, his voice softening. "Emerald sends her love. She’s threatening to kidnap you for a girls' day after the holidays."
Blair and Emerald have only met in passing, but I get the feeling they’ll be good friends, which I’m happy about. Blair needs friends in her corner. She has Harper, but Harper isn’t in this world.
"Tell her I’m in." She looks at me, her gaze steady. "Are you two almost done plotting world domination?"
"Just about," I tell her.
She doesn't ask for details. She doesn't need them. The trust in her eyes is absolute. It’s a weight I’ve never carried for anyone before, and it settles in my chest, heavy and hot.
"Okay. Well, I’ll let you finish." She starts to turn away. "My dress is steamed. I’m ready when you are."
She disappears down the hall, leaving the scent of her tea in her wake.
Cohen watches me watch her go.
"She’s good for you, Gabe," he says quietly.
"Yeah, she is."
The rest of the meeting is brief. Cohen gathers his documents, sliding them into his briefcase.
"I’ll see you both tonight," he says at the door. "Emerald’s looking forward to meeting Blair properly." He pauses, his hand on the doorknob. "You sure about this? Once you pull this trigger, there’s no taking it back."
My gaze drifts toward the hallway where Blair disappeared.
"Stop asking me that." I say, my voice cold enough to freeze the blood in his veins. "After what he’s done, the only thing I regret is not doing this sooner."
Cohen nods once, then he’s gone.
I findBlair in the kitchen, staring out the window at the snow-covered pines. She’s refilling her mug, the steam warming her face.
She looks up when I enter, a soft smile on her lips. "Cohen gone?"
"He is."
I cross the room in only a couple of strides, crowding her against the counter, caging her in with my arms. My hands find her hips, pulling her flush against me.
"Tonight’s going to be intense," I murmur into her hair.
"I know."
"You don’t have to do anything but stand there and let them see how incredible you are. Be my wife. Let me handle the rest."
"I know." She tilts her head back, her blue eyes searching mine. She kisses me then, a soft, trusting press of her lips that makes me ache. "I trust you."
That’s all it takes.
The control I’ve maintained all morning snaps. Adrenaline and possession surge through my veins. The need to mark her as mine before we walk into that fucking ballroom is vibrating through my bones and won’t be ignored. When she walks into that room tonight, she’s going to be full of my cum.
"Up," I growl, my hands gripping her thighs and lifting her onto the counter.
Her breath hitches as her legs part to wrap around my waist. She grips my shirt and yanks me closer. The cashmere of her sweater rides up, exposing the pale skin of her stomach. My hand slides underneath it, relishing in the heat of her skin, the way it’s so soft compared to mine.
