Page 49 of The Contract Marriage

Chapter Twenty

Liam

Five a.m.

I open my eyes and slowly yawn. The room is still dark, only starlight coming through the window. Below, the ocean’s endless hiss and suck goes on like it will forever.

Normally I’d just get up and go for my morning swim. But today I don’t want to. I have Olivia curled up against me right here in my bed. My heart settles as a syrupy sweetness fills my senses. Part of me wants to cuddle with her until I have to get up for work, but skipping the morning swim too often isn’t good. Gotta maintain the old body—especially now that I have a wife who’s fond of my abs and forearms. She acts cool, but I see her eyeing me.

Cute. And gratifying to sweat for.

I slip out of bed carefully, put on my swim trunks and head to the heated pool with its open ocean view. After a light stretch, I hop into the water and start my laps. I normally do a freestyle or breaststroke, but in case she gets up early, I go for the butterfly since it’ll look more impressive. And I do want her to carry the image of me looking amazing in the water, as shallow as that sounds.

By the time I hit the twentieth lap, the sun has come up and my muscles are screaming. I stop at the edge, pull the goggles off my face, then smile at the sight of Olivia wrapped in a robe, watching me.

“Good morning, wife,” I say, puffing slightly.

“Good morning. Very impressive.”

I grin and push myself out of the pool. “Thank you. Like the view?”

“Yes.” Her eyes follow the droplets rolling down my abs. She sees me seeing her and laughs. “Am I that obvious?”

I nod. Then, unable to resist, I pull her into my arms for a proper kiss. She slaps my chest. “You’re getting me wet!”

“That’s kind of my job now.” Grinning, I pick her up and move toward the pool.

“What—?” she says, then realizes. “No! No, wait—!”

I jump, still holding her, into the water. She shrieks and comes up sputtering, then smacks my shoulder. “Agh! You, you—”

“Got you wetter.”

She mock-glares, but her eyes are bright with humor. “Very clever.”

“Seeing as how you’re so appreciative of amazing views, look.” I point toward the Pacific.

A small pod of dolphins breaks through the sparkling surface, leaping and twisting playfully.

“Oh my God…” Olivia breathes, her eyes widening. She reaches out and threads her fingers through mine. “Look at them! They’re spinning in the air!”

I grin. Dolphins sometimes come by in the morning, and I’m glad she got to see them. What a way to start her first Monday as Mrs. Kingswood.

The soft morning light hits her, but the glow is all her. The twinkles in her eyes, the wide smile on her face, the joy radiating within.

“Beautiful,” I say.

“Totally,” she agrees, her eyes still glued to the acrobatic dolphins. She remains captivated until they’re gone.

“Worth getting wet for?” I tease.

She laughs. “Okay. Yes.” She wraps her arms around me. “Thank you, Liam. It was one of the nicest things anybody’s ever shown me.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad your morning started with something beautiful.”

We climb out of the pool and get ready for the morning. It takes me no time at all—just shower, shave, slick back my hair and put on whichever suit catches my eye.

Olivia takes considerably longer, and watching her go through her routine is inexplicably intimate. She dabs several things from fancy-looking jars on her face, then slathers the properly scented Creed bespoke cream all over her body. I make a mental note to do that job myself when we have more time.