–Me: My wife.
–Greg: Her maiden name?
He’s too professional to betray himself this time. I frown as I realize I have no clue. She mentioned getting the marriage license, so it must’ve been brought up, but of course I remember nothing, which is irritating.
“What’s your maiden name?” I ask abruptly.
“Hayworth,” she says. “Why?”
“Curious. You’re my wife, and my family might ask.” I text it to Greg, asking him to make it quick.
As soon as I put away the phone, Lareina walks toward me. “Can you button the back for me?” She turns around. Her arms are twisted awkwardly to hide as much skin as possible.
“Too late to be modest,” I say as I button the bodice. The image of my cum on her belly floats up—and all the blood in my body flows down.
I was too impulsive earlier, letting her goad me. Our having sex basically means I have accepted her proposition, and can’t change my mind now.
Despite the unease in my heart, I console myself with the fact that Lareina will take care of the problem of my finding a wife. Although she’s a bit eccentric, she’s pretty. Plus she’s a blonde, which means nobody will question our relationship. And our sexual compatibility is amajorplus. Virgin or not, I’ll enjoy our time in bed.
Besides, this marriage doesn’t have to be forever. The firm will complete the annual review in three months. Then, in the subsequent four weeks, it’ll announce all the promotions. So in four months, I’ll have no use for her anymore. Since she wants to be at least thirty before she goes back to being single, I’ll be magnanimous and give her the extra two months she needs.
I make sure to brush my fingertips against every inch of her warm, exposed skin, delighting in her nearness. I never understood why my cousin loved to put things on his wife somuch—isn’t the point to get her naked?—but now I see the charm. “Your back is beautiful. All smooth and creamy.”
She stiffens for a second.What did I say?
“I’m not showing you my back,” she says, sniffing. “Only a man would undervalue modesty.”
“Not just any man, but your husband,” I correct her.
“If I tell you to walk around buck naked—”
“Wanna see it right now?” I finish the last button on the top, then pull her back until her backside bumps against my half-hard cock.
Gasping, she turns around. “Aren’t we going home?”
I place a firm kiss on the back of her neck. “Yes.” I need to get away from Vegas, put some distance between me and Harvey—and possibly my mother, who might be in the city searching for me. Once again, I question the unforeseen forces of the universe:Why couldn’t I have been blessed with a normal mom and uncle?
I have my original hotel’s concierge check me out, pack my things and send them directly to my home in L.A. Then Lareina and I head to the airport, where my private jet is waiting. I let out a soft sigh. The crew is mine and loyal. I don’t just pay them handsomely, but make sure they and their family are well taken care of. Harvey or anybody else won’t be able to bribe my crew and fuck me over.
Since it’s just two of us, the jet takes off quickly, just the way I prefer. Lareina looks outside as we climb, then studies the plush leather seats with interest. “Ooh, this is nice! Does it turn into a bed?”
“No. But there’s a bedroom in the back.”
She trots away to explore, while I pull out the documents from the bag the concierge sent over. The flight to L.A. will be about an hour, and I want to finish the docs I need for filing.
After a few minutes, she comes back. Her eyes sparkle as she looks at me. “We should go to Europe on this plane.”
“I don’t have time for a honeymoon.”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t meannow. It would be too clingy. But later. It can be our divorce-cation!”
I glare at her, oddly irritated by her mention of divorce. “You don’t go on a divorce-cation with your soon-to-be ex-husband.”
“You do if you plan to remain friends with the ex.” She leans over. “Aren’t we going to be friends?” She’s so close that I can smell the berries on her breath, the lemon on her skin. Her eyes are wide, and my shadow is reflected in their clear depths. She appears so guileless. My protective instincts stir.
Then I think of my parents. And all my exes who started out okay but devolved into clingy, creepy messes as soon as they decided they were in love with me. “No. We’ll be enemies for life.” It comes out more tersely than I intend.
Lareina pulls back. With the growing distance, I’m no longer reflected in her eyes. Her sweet scent retreats, leaving a void.
