It’s not an invitation or a question. Just a firm statement. He wants me in his bed. He wants to fall asleep in my arms and wake up next to me. No hesitation, no waffling about our strange status as both husbands and friends-with-benefits.
I hold him close against my side, right where he belongs. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Chapter Thirty-One: Alex
A soft pillow under my head. A masculine scent lingering on the sheets. Warm, strong hands kneading the muscles of my lower back. A perfect way to wake up. Best of all, my alarm hasn’t gone off yet, which means I get to linger in this moment a little longer.
As much as I’m enjoying the massage, I’d prefer to snuggle with Euan for a few more minutes before I’m forced to start my day. But when I try to reach for him, my arm stops short, tension holding it in place.
Peeling one eye open, I raise my head enough to see the problem. “Euan?”
He hums in acknowledgement, his skilled hands not even pausing in their work.
“Why am I handcuffed to the bed at six in the morning.”
I don’t think I’m up for morning sex. At least, not the same level of intensity as last night. I’ll never get any work done today if I’m too focused on my well-used ass.
“Self-preservation,” he replies.
I frown and look over my shoulder at him.
Euan’s lips quirk as he explains, “You startle too easily.” Then he taps his jaw on the spot where I accidentally headbutted him the last time we woke up together.
Groaning, I drop my head back onto the pillow. “Since I’m awake now, you can uncuff me.”
“A shame, you really do look so pretty when you’re tied up.” He leans forward and quickly snaps the cuffs open, setting them on my nightstand.
As soon as my arms are free, I wrap them around him and tug him back down on the bed, burying my head against his shoulder.That’s better.
Euan hugs me back and rests his chin on my head. Snuggled close, I slowly start to drift back to sleep—
Beep! Beep! Beep!
I tense, my grip on Euan tightening. “Not flailing,” I grumble.
He chuckles but otherwise doesn’t acknowledge my statement. “You need to go to work.”
“Don’t wanna work. Wanna stay in bed all day.”
“We also have to meet with the lawyers today.”
Right. The lawyers. Because we’re getting an annulment.
Sighing, I untangle myself from Euan’s arms and finally turn off the screeching alarm.This is a good thing,I remind myself as I get ready for work.We both want the annulment.
This week with Euan has been fun, but the sooner we untangle this weird knot of lust and legal issues, the better.
So why does it feel like the beginning of the end?
Yesterday, every minute of work dragged. It was like someone coated time in molasses and stuck it in the freezer.
Today, everything has thawed, and time is pouring through my fingers, slipping away from me. One minute I’m running the Friday morning staff meeting, the next I’m gathering up my things and checking on my subordinates one last time before I leave for the afternoon.
“Good luck!” Felix calls.
My brow furrows in confusion.Good luck … getting an annulment?
Jasmine gives me two thumbs up and a wide grin. “I’m sure she’ll say yes!”
