Something about Mira’s words makes my chest squeeze painfully, and I drop one hand from her face to rub at my chest. Sure, neither of us made the decision to get married with a sound mind, but the way she says that no one has to know hurts. That this was anepic fuckup. I get that I’m not many people’s idea of husband material. And I know that a large part of that is a problem of my own making. But I thought Mira saw through my bullshit. At least enough that she wouldn’t be completely embarrassed to call me hers. No matter how temporarily. A memory of my college girlfriend, Carissa, assaults me.
“This can’t be a surprise, Griffin. We’ve been having fun, but did you really think we’d get married? You’re hot and sweet, but come on. You think you’re going to play hockey for a living. I can’t bring a guy like you home to my parents. They’re doctors.”
“Right,” I say, my voice tight as I scan her face. “No one has to know.”
Her expression shifts at my tone. “Griffin… Come on. It’s not like you want to be married to me, either. This was a drunken mistake. We never would have done anything this stupid if we were sober.”
Yeah, we were drunk, but hearing Mira call this a mistake rubs me wrong. Because what she’s really saying is thatI’ma mistake.
I’m always a mistake. Here for a good time and a great fuck, and nothing else. I’m not the guy you bring home to your parents. Not the guy you tell your brother about. Not the guy you risk anything for. I’m just a mistake. And that has my ire rising.
Which is why I open my mouth and say something truly unhinged.
“It wasn’t a mistake.”
Mira goes still, blinking slowly at me. “What?”
This is dumb. I know it’s dumb. But the words have been said, I’m feeling hurt, and I dig in my heels without consciously deciding to.
“I’m not divorcing you, Mira. I want to stay married.”
“Come again?” she squeaks.
I swallow the lump in my throat. In for a penny, in for a pound.
“I won’t divorce you, wife.”
eight
MIRA
I must have heardGriffin wrong because there’s no way he just said what I think he said.
“I’m sorry. I could have sworn you said you won’t divorce me, but that’s sheer fucking insanity, Griffin.” My voice rises in both pitch and volume with each new word. “Because we’re not in a relationship. We have never been in a relationship. We’re roommates and friends, and that’s it.”
I know my eyes look crazy right now, but whatever. I feel crazy. Might as well look it too. My body feels like it’s buzzing. Like a swarm of angry bees has built a hive inside my chest.
“You don’t evendorelationships. Why in the hell would you want to stay married to me?”
At this point, I’m so filled with anxiety and confusion that I can’t physically sit still. So I yank the sheet off Griffin and the bed, wrap it around myself like a toga, and begin to pace the room. Until I realize his dick is out there for the world to see. And it’s big. A little longer than average, but thick as hell.
Oh my god. We definitely didn’t have sex last night, then, because I’d be feeling it this morning if that monster had been inside of me.
At least there’s that.
I’m still staring at Griff’s dick a few seconds later, snapping out of my trance only when he clears his throat.
“Like what you see, wife?” He leans back against the headboard with his arms crossed behind his head. His one-eyed monster points to the ceiling.
“Wh-what? Shut up. And don’t call mewife.” I tear my eyes away from his dick and find him grinning at me. It’s the same smile he gives me when he’s goofing off and trying to make me laugh, but this time, there’s an unfamiliar heat layered over it that makes my belly swoop.
“Why not?” His smile widens. “That’s what you are.”
“Please be serious,” I growl. “And put your dick away. I can’t talk to you with that thing staring at me.”
He throws back his head and laughs. And damn him, but it’s quite the sight. I want to lick the column of his throat and run my hands over every inch of his golden skin. And fine. Maybe I want to know what it would feel like to be stretched by him. Because Jared wasnotpacking that kind of heat.
“The thing is, Mira, I am being serious.”
