Page 7 of Cord

I nod like I’m going along with that when I have no intention of following through. This is our first night as man and wife. I’m staying by her side no matter what.

After a round of hugs and well wishes, I scoop her into my arms and carry her to the elevator while the crowd around us hoots. Contentment washes over me. There’s something about holding her that soothes me.

“Good idea,” she murmurs when the doors slide closed, and we’re alone. “That looked very real. They ate it up.”

I don’t tell her that I don’t give a damn about our audience. There’s only one person in this entire building whose opinion I actually care about and that person is in my arms right now.

“You can stop now,” she says when the elevator dings and the doors slide open.

“They could be watching,” I answer because I know it’s the one thing I can say that will let me keep holding her for a moment longer. I’m running out of time. I have to convince her to stay married so I can get her to fall in love with me.

She doesn’t protest, just lets me carry her to our room. When we’re inside, I set her on her feet. She wobbles for a second, and I remember she barely ate. She picked at her food all night.

Before I have a chance to say anything, she crosses the expansive floor to the bar and grabs the bottle of champagne on ice. She sighs softly, “Thank God.”

She uncorks it and guzzles half of it then turns her attention to me. I think she’s going to offer me something to drink, but she says, “Help me get naked.”

My cock surges at the words, my body humming to life. I want nothing more than to take her up against the nearest hard surface. But I don’t think great sex is the way to convince her to stay married.

She frowns. “You zipped me into it, now help me unzip it.”

I cross the room and pull the zipper slowly, letting my fingertips ghost against her skin the way I did earlier when I hated the idea that I was putting her in a wedding dress for another man. Now, I get to be the one to take it off.

I glance at the scars across her body, the same ones I saw earlier. But I don’t acknowledge them. I know what it’s like when people stare and you wish they’d look anywhere but at you. Whatever horrible, awful thing happened, my girl survived. That’s all I need to know.

The dress pools at her feet, and she steps out of it in the lacy little slip that makes my mouth go dry. Does she realize her nipples are hard points? Does she realize the way she shimmies her hips makes me want to drag her onto the king-size bed?

She makes a sigh like she’s grateful for this day to be done then guzzles more of the champagne from the bottle. She pauses and looks up at me, her eyes already starting to look a little glassy. “I never drink. But it’s not been my best day. You get it, don’t you?”

I shrug. “It was pretty awesome to me.”

She puts a hand on her chest. “See, this is why I paid all that money. I knew you would be sweet. I could see it on the website.”

I open my mouth to tell her that the way I feel has nothing to do with the auction. But before I can, she crosses the room and flops onto the bed, careful not to slosh the bottle. She looks up at me with a grin. “Want some?”

I shake my head and lean against the entertainment center, watching her. “I think I’m good.”

She goes to take another sip only to realize it’s gone. My gut tightens. She said she never drinks.

“I must have been thirsty.” She giggles and goes to stand, wobbling more than she did earlier.

Empty stomach. Not a big deal. I remind myself of this, but the ten-year-old kid watching his parents get drunk doesn’t know that.

“Sit. I’ll get your next one,” I tell her. I move to the bar area and grab a couple of water bottles, plus a pack of cheese crackers that don’t have an expiration date. I ignore the text message on my phone letting me know I’m late on another round of bills. No shit there. I’m drowning, but I don’t want to think about that tonight.

She scowls at me when I hand her the water. “Start with this. You can have more champagne in a minute.”

“Bossy, bossy man,” she mutters.

I clink my water bottle against hers. “Here’s to us.”

She throws back her water like it’s another glass of champagne. “You promised the good stuff after this.”

“Let’s slow down here.” I pass her one of the cheese crackers.

She eats it in two bites then proceeds to belch louder than a truck driver. She scowls at me. “Say excuse me. Have some manners.”

I mutter a half-hearted apology, amused by her antics. She’s cute in a way that makes my heart pound and my mouth go dry.