His features grow inscrutable. "But are you treating it with the seriousness that it deserves?"
Anger pulses through my veins. I feel it bubble up my throat, and maybe it’s because I’m still a little hungover from yesterday and exhausted from the tension leading up to the wedding, but I feel something snap inside me.
"If I didn’t take it seriously, I wouldn’t be lying to my sister and to my friends, trying to convince them that I’m marrying you because it’s something more than a contract between us," I hiss.
As soon as the words are out, I deflate.
"I’m sorry." I rub the back of my neck. "I… I…didn’t mean to get upset with you."
"It’s okay for you to get upset with me." His face carries a touch of something like wonder. "In fact, I’d prefer that you get upset and share what’s on your mind."
Seeing the opening, I jump in with, "I want you to do the same."
His face shadows. "I’m not very good at sharing my feelings, as you must have gathered." His voice is wry.
"Are you being self-deprecating?" I shoot him a sideways glance.
"I know my shortcomings, of which there are many." He reaches over and pushes my hand aside.
"What are you do— Oh!" I sigh as he digs his big fingers into the back of my neck, right where there’s a knot of tension. He turns me around so my back is to him. Then he begins to massage my neck and shoulders in earnest. With every squeeze, more tension bleeds from my muscles.
"Ohhh, that feels sooo good…" I hang my head, let my shoulders slump, and allow myself to soak up his ministrations.
When he digs his fingers into a particularly stiff part, I moan.
He freezes.
"Oh, don’t stop."
When he doesn’t move, I turn and open one eye long enough with a view to tell him off. But the lust in his eyes, and the absolute longing on his face makes me swallow my words.
Ohmygod. The air between us zings with unsaid emotions. And need. And want. His jaw is hard, like he’s fought a battle with himself and lost. He leans in toward me, until his lips are just a millimeter from mine. I draw his breath into my lungs, shivering with anticipation. I part my lips, waiting for him to crash his mouth on mine, when a door at the side of the room opens.
We pull apart like we’ve been electrocuted. I almost overbalance, except he grips my shoulder, steadying me, then helps me to face forward on my stool. He keeps his big palm flat on the small of my back. Reassuring yet also arousing.
A distinguished older gentleman with silver framed glasses and gray hair enters the room. He’s wearing a suit and tie, but instead of looking severe, something about his face is welcoming.
He smiles at us. "Mr. Hamilton. And Ms. Richie, we’re delighted to have you here."
He lifts the lid of the display with practiced care. Inside, several wedding bands rest in neat rows; their gold and platinum surfaces catching the soft light. “A small selection for you to consider.”
I force myself to gulp calming breaths, to slow my heart rate. Damn, these almost kisses are almost worse than the actual kisses because now, I’m going to be in a state of wanting to feel his lips on mine. Which means, I’m going to be dreaming about kissing him and having his bigarms around me and his weight on me. In turn will result in even less sleep than I normally get.
"What do you think?" James turns to me. "It’s your choice."
"You didn’t haveto leave the choice to me." I fold my arms across my chest and stare at the road forward.
"I wanted to make sure you liked it. I didn’t give you the chance to choose your engagement ring. I wanted to make sure you had a say in your wedding ring."
The rest of the time in that jewelry shop passed in a daze. I managed to focus long enough to point out the simple platinum wedding bands I wanted, which I knew would complement my engagement ring and also suit James’ controlling personality. I didn’t think he’d want to wear anything flashy.
He didn’t seem to disagree with my choice, which I take as something resembling approval.
"I like the engagement ring. It’s what I’d have picked anyway."
He shoots me a sideways glance, as if to check if I’m telling the truth, then nods. "Good."
For a few seconds, we drive in silence. Then he says, "The wedding bands are a good way to reinforce to the world that our marriage is the real thing. Of course, we don’t have to wear them when we’re not in public."
