“You good?” he asked me as he moved closer.
“Yes. I was just learning the names of your employees.”
“You ready to eat, boss?”
Rule looked over as Red Wally walked in. “You tell Jinx there was food?”
Red Wally nodded. “He said he’d be here in a minute.”
“Saidit?” I asked—becausewhy not?
Red Wally stopped just inside the door and huffed a laugh. “I like this girl.”
Was it wrong that I liked that it was the consensus?
I spent the next two hours watching Willy and Red Wally roughhouse in the pool—which Rule had confirmedwasheated—while Jinx finished off the leftovers and Rhyan sat in a chair on the back patio and stared at her cell phone.
It was true. Jinx didn’t speak. At all. He communicated via text messaging with the others, or so it appeared since every time he used his phone, one of theirs would chime. His lack of vocal conversation didn’t seem to bother any of them at all. They talked openly and even relayed what Jinx said without preamble, keeping him front and center in the conversation. It was apparent the five of them were a cohesive unit, and I found myself wanting to be included, although I didn’t understand why.
“You good?” Rule asked as he stepped up behind my chair.
I was sitting at the outdoor bar with my feet propped up on one of the other stools, my gaze on the two redheaded men acting like children.
I tilted my head back and looked at him, smiling because it felt oddly right to do so. I couldn’t remember a time when I felt like I fit in anywhere. Not at home with my mother, certainly not at her famous-people parties, and not with what few friends I’d had growing up. But here … I was an outcast in a sea of outcasts, and it felt strangely comfortable.
“I am. You?”
“Yeah.”
When he didn’t look at me, I brought my head back to level and stared out into the bright afternoon sunlight. My scalp tingled from Rule’s nearness. Or at least I thought that was the case until I realized his fingers had brushed through my hair, and the hairs were pulling at my scalp, causing sensations to erupt unexpectedly.
He moved away a moment later, and I smiled to myself, wondering if he’d felt it, too. I doubted it, but it was nice to think perhaps he was attracted to me in some way. I mean, I was his wife. As strange as that was to think, it did give us the perfect opportunity to explore on a physical level. I certainly wouldn’t mind. The guy was insanely hot, and I had never had this sort of instant attraction to anyone. Well, unless you counted Jinx, but I was keeping that tidbit to myself because, you know,married.
Then again, if Rule wasn’t interested, perhaps he would be willing to let Jinx step into his role. Or perhaps maybe I could try on that whole ménage à trois thing. It seemed to be working well for Rhyan. I wasn’t sure whether her relationship with Red Wally and Willy was long-term or merely a dalliance, but they seemed happy. They certainly gave each other shit like people who liked each other, anyway.
My gaze shifted to Jinx, and I briefly imagined what it would be like to be crushed between him and Rule. As my brain conjured the image, I swore I could feel the heat of their bodies, the warm press of their hands over my skin… A shiver danced down my spine, and I couldn’t hide it. Since Jinx chose that moment to look at me, he noticed, and I was pretty sure his eyes had darkened.
I tore my gaze from him and looked at Rule, only to see he was also watching me.
This wasn’t going to be easy; that much I knew for sure.
Since I hadn’t spoken to Rule about the terms of this marriage—whether we would be consummating the ritual—it probably wasn’t wise to fantasize too much. I mean, I didn’t see the harm in exploring what was right in front of me. This time, I was referring to Rule—the man I’d married—not Jinx. Although, the more I thought about it, the more I liked that idea, too.
There was a good chance my overactive libido was going to get me in some serious trouble.
I wasn’t looking for a fairy tale romance, but I had no problem consummating this transaction with some kinky sex. Rule seemed like the perfect partner because it was obvious he didn’t form attachments. Everything about him was cold. Even the way he interacted with the people he was closest to. I didn’t think he’d said more than two-word sentences at any point since they’d arrived. And if he had some weird hangup about virtue and shit, maybe he wouldn’t mind if Jinx acted as a stand-in husband for the time being. I got the feeling he was fucking wild in the bedroom.
A buzzing sound came from behind me, and I recognized it as Rule’s cell phone. It had been going off throughout the day. Every time it did, he glanced at it. Occasionally, he would type a response; otherwise, he would tuck it back in his pocket.
“Your things are here,” he said. “You want them put anywhere specific?”
“Um. My room’s fine, I guess.”
He nodded, then disappeared to the front of the house.
I got up to follow him because it seemed the right thing to do. I found him talking to what appeared to be a delivery driver. He passed him a wad of cash, then said something as he pointed toward the front door.
The guy’s eyes were enormous as he glanced at the cash and then at Rule. Finally, he got with the program and barked a command at his partner, who was beginning to load boxes onto one of those rolling things—a hand truck, I think they called it.
