Page 93 of Merging Wright

She hadn’t been wrong about any suggestions or decisions she’d made so far for this town.

And it felt like we were guardians of this little galaxy.

Jane was serious about the Gamora and Peter Quill costumes, and she rocks the intergalactic outfit like I knew she would, right down to the green face makeup and painted on scars.

Jane had a shadow in Willow, who found her or followed her whenever she could. The relationship was fascinating to watch. Jane was so good with her, and my chest aches when I remember she can’t have children. Of all the things I could give Jane, I can’t give her that one wish.

Because Willow was her sidekick, Jane suggested we add Willow to our costume theme, making her Rocket Raccoon. Children are not included in Trophy’s party, though. She additionally hinted Myles could be Drax the Destroyer.

“Myles is not joining our team.” My declaration might have been more forceful than necessary, and as always, Jane chewed her lip, signaling her disagreement. She too often mentioned I should talk to my twin, implying more than the minimal conversations we have about the construction projects around town.

I didn’t want to talk to my brother.

On that note, I’d had an argument with Tucker earlier in the day about Jane’s partnership.

Only tonight wasn’t the night to discuss the situation with Jane.

My woman had every man in the bar wanting to chat with her, eyes roaming her subtle curves in that formfitting costume. Many men were going to have fantasies about fucking alien women, only they were not getting the real thing.

Jane would be going home with me. I wanted to take her right here inside Trophy’s and let the entire town know how I felt about my wife.

She is mine.

“Let’s dance.” I slip my hand up her spine and cup her nape. She smiles at me over her shoulder. “I want to see these moves you reserve for your apartment.”

The comment is the first hint that Jane lives separately from me in Chicago. When we return, we wouldn’t be together.

“Isn’t there some scene where Gamora says she doesn’t dance? She’s an assassin.” Jane continues to grin at me, her dark-painted lips teasing.

We did a Guardians of the Galaxy marathon in preparation for our costumes. I couldn’t remember the last time I watched two movies in a row, cuddled up on a couch with a woman tucked into the curve of my body, spending the evening snacking on popcorn.

The last time had to have been . . . with Tracy.

“Well, you’re killing every man’s heart in this place if that’s what you mean?” I joke.

Jane shifts to face me. With her nose scrunched up, her puzzled expression is adorable. “What do you mean?”

“Every man in here wants to take you home with him and peel off that fake armor.” My eyes dip to her breasts highlighted by her costume’s metal pushup. “Too bad for them, only I’ll get to glimpse of what’s underneath.”

I lean forward and nip at her neck in a spot that makes Jane weak for me.

She laughs. “Star-Lord is hoping his quill gets lucky tonight?”

I pull back and brush at the hair on the side of Jane’s green face. “Peter Quill is a lucky man. So is Mr. Wright every night.” Every single night I have this woman in my bed, I become more and more grateful for her, for what she’s done for me, with me, here in Wrightwood. I need to tell her about the partnership, but I haven’t been able to think of a replacement for the promise. I need something else I can offer her.

But not tonight.

“Dance with me.” My hand slides down her arm, and I circle my fingers around her wrist, tugging her toward the dance floor. There isn’t really a dance floor, though. I’ve simply pulled her closer to the giant jukebox piping music into the bar.

“Is this where you tempt me with pelvic sorcery?”

My expression must explain I don’t know what she means, because Jane’s laugh is loud and infectious. “In the movie, Peter’s about to kiss Gamora and she pulls a knife on him, telling him she won’t fall for his pelvic sorcery.”

“What will make you fall, Jane?”

Our eyes lock on one another as the current song ends and another begins. I want her to fall for me. Despite this teeny-tiny thing about the partnership, there isn’t a secret between us. She knows everything about me, and while I should feel raw about her knowing all my truths, there’s comfort in the honesty. She’s a partner of a different sort. She’s the other half of me.

The next song begins. I cup Jane’s nape while my other hand falls to her hip, moving her pelvis side to side with mine. We both timidly smile as the song is “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop, the same song Peter Quill shares with Gamora before he tries to kiss her.