Page 77 of The Contract Marriage

Her eyes widen as she feels me start to get hard again. “We’re not going for thirty…”

I laugh. “I don’t know. Let’s see how the night goes,” I say with a crooked grin before claiming her mouth again.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Liam

I move slowly, carefully back onto the bed and watch my wife sleep. She looks so happy and at peace. The soft dawn light casts shadows over her face, and as I settle onto the mattress I let my eyes drift from feature to feature, cataloging everything. I still can’t believe we had such a magical night. It was all I could have hoped for and more.

I hold her right hand and study the new ring on her middle finger. So what if I scoffed when Frederich told me to get her a ring? The moment I saw it on the showroom floor, I knew it was hers. A gorgeous five-millimeter-thick pavé white gold diamond ring, with stones all the way around so the band sparkles from every angle. It makes a statement together with the Rubedo.

She smacks her lips in her sleep. What’s she eating? Fish? Seafood and chocolate seem to be her favorites.

Her eyebrows pinch. She’s about to open her eyes…

There it is.

Awareness floods her sky-blue irises as she blinks at me.

“Good morning.” I smile.

“Good morning,” she says, her voice low and husky.

I absolutely adore early-morning moments like this. I get to glimpse more than what she shows to the world. Not to mention her soft gaze and the sweet, unguarded smile that brightens my day.

“You didn’t continue after I almost fainted, did you?” she asks, wrapping her arm around me and burrowing deeper into my chest.

I laugh. “Not my style. I want you to be awake and feel it.”

“Ah,” she says, sounding fake-sad. “Guess we’ll never hit thirty.”

“Don’t worry. We can keep going until we do. The day’s still young.”

“Beast.” Laughing, she smacks my shoulder, then stops and brings her hand to her face. Her expression focuses. “Uh… When did this ring appear on my finger?”

I press my lips together for a beat. “Mmm… Maybe half an hour ago?”

She blinks up at me in confusion. “I thought I already got my present, with the drone show.”

“That wasn’t really a present. More of a declaration. Every woman deserves something special on her birthday, don’t you think?”

She gives me a bright smile. “You’re right.” She extends her arm and admires the ring. “This is gorgeous. Love it! It’s so…me! Do you just look at all the pieces at your company, then go, ‘This is it’?”

I chuckle. “No. Different designs kind of…go with different names. This one was screaming yours. Besides, everything inside Kingswood Stones & Designs is mine to use to spoil you.”

She flushes. “You sure know how to make a woman happy, even if she’s suddenly a year older,” she says, unable to tear her eyes from the ring.

It occurs to me that I haven’t seen anything that looked like a present from Simon on her. But then, he probably wouldn’t give her jewelry. Doubt he can afford anything halfway decent. After my pavé ring, anything he might give her in the future is going to look pathetic by comparison.

So what did he give her? A pen? A keyring?

“So, yesterday”—I clear my throat oh-so casually—“did Simon give you anything?”

“What do you mean?”

“Simon said he planned to celebrate your birthday with you. So I thought he might have bought you something. You know, a new pen, or…” I struggle. What would somebody like him buy to trump me?

She shrugs. “No. Just took me out to lunch. That was it.”