Page 96

“She’s not my wife.” Not yet anyways.

See, it was impulsive thoughts like that, jumping into my mind with a level of conviction that terrified me, that made me think I was going insane.

“Come on, Adrian,” Lukas said. “Let’s hear it.”

I was never at a loss for words. When I was silent, it was because Ichoseto be. And now, speaking seemed like the hardest thing in the world.

The silence, and who it reminded me of, was what had me saying, “I can relax around her. I don’t know, sometimes it feels like she’s the only person who knows me. I feel,” I had to take a deep breath around the word, the taste of it unusual on my tongue. “I feel steady around her. It’s like even when we are in front of a thousand people and I feel like a character instead of a person, one look from her and I’m back down on the ground.”

Apparently, once I got going, it was hard to stop. “And honestly, half the time I just look at her trying to figure out why she’s smiling at me. I don’t deserve that. Not from someone like her. And after last night…even knowing that people view her as a target to get to me—I refuse to let her go.”

Dominic let out an impressed laugh. Fucker. “Well, who knew Adrian was such a poet. You should tell her that, man. It’ll probably end pretty well for you.”

I shot Dominic a look, but he just held up his hands and said, “Telling Rose I loved her stopped her from killing me.”

I was still holding back that admission. Especially when there was so much unsolved. Her life was still indanger. Hell, Reyna and I were still technically in afakerelationship.

Declarations like that had no place here.

Instead of outright denying it, I simply changed the subject. “Sorry about Daphne earlier,” I told Lukas.

He brushed me off with a wave of his hand. “We’re used to your moods now. But I’m serious. You don’t get to boss her around.”

“Why? That’s your job?” I quipped.

Lukas smiled, about to say something when the side door to my office opened. The one that led directly from my bedroom.

“There you are,” Reyna said, walking out. She stopped short when she realized I wasn’t alone, her mouth opening to greet them.

“Ignore them,” I said, extending my hand to beckon her towards me. She was in a soft black sweater, a skirt, and tall boots—of which served to make a less than pleasant rumble of thunder sound outside.

Reyna walked up to me, only sparing Dominic and Lukas a passing glance. I grabbed her hand when she was in reach, placing a kiss in the center of her palm.

Her eyes blew wide, but I ignored it. No point in hiding anything from them. Even if we were still acting like this whole thing was fake.

Fuck that.

“It’s eight already?” I asked. If I was late, I was getting smacked upside the head by my mother.

Reyna shook her head, her hand squeezing mine. “Twenty ‘til. I just—” A pretty blush bloomed over her cheeks. “I was done with work early, so I just came over.”

Towillinglyspend more time with me. Fucking Fates, I didn’t think my lungs were working right.

Lukas coughed into his hand, not so subtly reminding us of his presence.

I turned my head slowly back towards them. Dominic was hiding a grin beneath his hand, while Lukas’s eyebrows were raised. “You’re still here?”

That made both of them laugh loudly, then they both stood to leave. “Have fun, you two,” Dominic said, nodding politely at Reyna.

“Daphne would kill me if I didn’t ask everyone over for dinner soon,” Lukas said to the whole room as he followed Dominic out.

"Saturday brunch, too," Dominic added over his shoulder.

“Fine,” I said, answering him while I looked at Reyna. Her eyes went wide again, like she was chastising me for being rude. I simply did not care.

When I heard the click of the door, I yanked Reyna towards me, planting a firm kiss on her mouth. She was startled for a moment, then melted into me with an ease I certainly was not worthy of.

“Come on,” I said, pulling back. “We have somewhere to be.”