“Do you like it?” she beams, not seeming at all shy about how she’s just relaxing in bed, almost naked, with an outfit made for fucking.
Do. I. Like. It?
Love isn’t a word I easily throw around. I was given enough of it from my adopted family, but it’s always been something I struggled with. The Hardings may appear like the all-American family, perfect in every way, with money falling off trees in their backyard, but I was anything but adored and cherished as a child in their home.
I was a chess piece.
A pawn because my father was the king and ruled over everything.
And I’ve never felt secure in intimate settings with other people until years later when the Vasilious adopted me legally.
Now, grown as hell with an empire, I’m humbled as hell when the woman of my dreams looks at me like I’m worthy of her. That my questionable deeds are deemed forgivable because she either wants to move forward with me, or she’s got a real fucked up way of torturing.
“I don’t think that should be a question,” I mutter, slowly closing the distance between us as I feel my cock create a tent out of my towel. “There’s nothing you could wear that would ever turn me off from you.”
“I like a challenge.”
Same.
However, I’m not about to go toe-to-toe with her right now because it wouldn’t be fair. All the blood from my head is rushing straight to my raging dick, and anything that isn’t me owning her doesn’t form a thought in my brain.
“Feel free,” I deadpan, stopping right at the edge of the mattress. “How did you manage to pack this without me seeing?”
Because I was with her the whole time after Bobby’s break-in to help her load up all the things she needed forour trip here.
“I did it before everything happened.”
She says it so casually and without fear that it makes me proud of her for not allowing Bobby into her headspace.
But that’s beside the point.
The point is that Meirnaknewshe would be packing this little holiday surprise for me before anything happened.
Prior to telling me anything about wanting to stay married to me.
Subconsciously or not-so-subconsciously, Meirna is taken with me. She may battle in her head about it, but her heart is already latched onto mine.
I can see it.
“I don’t know if I should be flattered or scared,” I answer honestly. “I have the sexiest woman alive in my bed…dressed like she’s ready to kill. And I’m waiting to plan my future because she won’t give me anything.”
Meirna’s tongue runs underneath her upper teeth as if needing another second to answer when she says, “I never took you for someone who didn’t know how to read a room.”
My heart skips inside my chest and, for a split second, I think I’m about to have a heart attack because itneverdoes shit like that. “I like words.”
“Those are hard to come by.”
“Don’t I know it. However, my number two goal is to make sure communication with you, as your husband, isn’t lacking. That you always know where you sit, stand, and are with me.”
Meirna perks a brow. “And what’s number one?”
My head automatically cocks to the side with an easy, “I never took you for someone who didn’t know how to read a room.”
That makes her smile and, fuck me, I’m ready to fuck her.
“Well…” She lifts her chin as those light golden eyes lock steadily onto mine. “Ihaveenjoyed our time together.”
“But…”
