Page 107 of An Inevitable Marriage

There were many men who’d do just about anything to get their way. This man, sitting in front of me, holding me like I was precious, wasn’t one of them. Consent in every single situation was king in his life.

I fell for him a little more because of it.

“I’ll do it,” I said softly. “For you, I’ll do it.”

I realized something else then. If he asked me to love him, I’d do that, too.

Chapter twenty-eight

Liam

Wedidn’tgettoreenact one of Snow’s sexy scenes from her books. Instead, we found ourselves at the de la Fuente household having dinner with Natalie and Zach. And his way-too-fucking-charming brother.

When they’d invited us over earlier, I’d told Snow I had no problem spending time with her friends. I wanted to. Wanted to weave my way so deep into her life that the thought of walking away from me, from us, simply didn’t appeal to her.

Had I known about the fifth wheel—the one Snow was so excited to meet—I wouldn’t have been so eager to come.

“Oh my goodness, seriously?” Snow laughed at another one of his stupid anecdotes. Apparently, the idiot was a famous singer—the very one she loved to shake her ass to—and had plenty of embarrassing stories to entertain my wife with.

Asshole.

“Yes, yes.” He nodded as he raked his fingers through his perfect fucking hair. “She took it all off right there behind the stage.”

Everyone laughed. I didn’t.

I was too busy figuring out if one really could burn a hole in the side of someone else’s head with nothing but a glare.

Zach’s wife said something I didn’t hear, to which Snow responded, “I’ll help you.”

Chairs scraped across the floor, and my brain made the connection that the women had left the table. Good. That would give me a moment to letFabioknow I didn’t appreciate his over-friendliness with my wife.

I opened my mouth, but his phone rang before I could say a damn word.

“Excuse me,” he said, pushing away from the table and making a hasty escape.

I cursed under my breath.

A chuckle sounded beside me, and when I looked up, Zach studied me with an amused expression.

Shit, maybe the curse wasn’t under my breath after all.

“He’s harmless.” Zach jerked his head in the direction his brother had just left. “A shameless flirt, way too charming for his own good, but harmless nonetheless.” Grin spreading wide, he leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “Not that me telling you that will lessen the jealousy running through your veins.”

“I’m not—” I began to protest but quickly snapped my mouth shut. Was that what that murderous feeling was? Jealousy? Was I really jealous of another man talking to Snow? I thought back to all the times my friends had been with her and how I’d wanted to rip their limbs off for standing too close or smiling too wide.

“Well, fuck.” I scraped a hand over my face. “This is a first.”

Zach laughed. “Trust me when I tell you, I know exactly how you feel. Before Natalie, I hadn’t experienced such a profound need to hurt someone for just looking at her.” He shrugged. “Maybe that’s how you know it’s real.”

His words unlocked something behind my ribs. It had always been real for me. From the moment we’d walked into the judge’s office. Hell, if I were honest, I’d wanted her to be mine from the moment we met, I just hadn’t recognized the feeling.

Thing was, there was the small possibility this was temporary for her. That she’d walk away as soon as our contract was up. I didn’t quite know what to do with that.

“How did you know Natalie was in it for real, too?” The question tumbled out of my mouth without permission. But now that it was out, I waited with bated breath for Zach’s answer.

“I shared the darkest part of myself with her, and instead of running away, she embraced me. She loved me even when I thought I was unlovable.”

Something else stirred inside my chest.