Page 20 of Darkest Before Dawn (His Perfect Darkness #2)

I nara

Rex smiles at me, cool possession in his gaze.

My whole body flushes at the sight of him.

I’m already amped up, but now I’m suddenly giddy, like I’m riding an adrenaline high.

He’s claiming me publicly, and I’m not annoyed; I’m excited.

I’m used to my body interpreting pain as pleasure, but this is a new type of masochism.

Or else I’m craving complete ownership more than I thought.

“Excuse me,” he says. “Can I have a moment to speak to Mrs. Roy?”

“Of course, sir.” George scrambles out of his own seat to offer it to Rex. It’s a revelation, watching Rex move through the world like the rich celebrity he is.

“Thank you.” Rex’s smooth tones remind me of a politician’s. “We’ll just be a moment.”

“Take all the time you need!” George hustles out, taking a starry-eyed Denise with him, but not before she wrangles an autograph out of Rex.

And then I’m shut in a clerk’s tiny office. Alone with Rex.

My new husband.

The room feels smaller with him in it. Like there’s not enough air.

I stand to face him, crossing my arms over my chest to keep myself from touching him.

I need to make clear that he’s in trouble, and swooning into his arms will give the wrong idea.

“Does Roy Manor have a doghouse? Because that’s where you’ll be sleeping tonight. ”

“No, darling. But you can have one installed on the grounds. You’re the mistress of the manor now.”

I narrow my eyes on him. If he thinks that’s tempting.

. . he’d be right. The mansion is beautiful.

I could spend years exploring all the rooms. I drop my arms and close the distance between us.

The pull to go to him is too strong; I can’t resist it.

I don’t want to. “I can’t believe you changed my name.

Rex, what the hell?” I playfully smack his chest.

He grabs my hand and kisses it. The touch of his lips makes my pulse flutter. He is so sinfully handsome when he’s being bad. “Inara and Rex Roy-Ramos. Sounds perfect.”

He joked about hyphenating before, but hearing it out loud sounds more serious. “You’d change your name too?”

“It’s only fair. Everyone will know I belong to you, too.”

My knees weaken. Rex’s charm offensive is hard to resist. Denise had it right. The whole package works for me, too.

“That’s not. . . you don’t. . .” I sputter, trying to figure out what to say. “We’re not actually married.”

“According to the world, we are.”

“You didn’t even ask me.”

He opens his mouth, probably to declare himself, and I hold up a hand. “It’s too late.” If he gets down on one knee, it’ll be all over. I already feel myself wanting to give in. He’ll win. “It’s already done. We’re not even in a relationship.”

“Aren’t we?”

I don’t know what we are to each other. But this is a dangerous topic. I can’t think about it right now.

I don’t know what it says about me that I’d rather focus on the gruesome details of serial murders than discuss the state of our relationship.

“You said you’d stop meddling. You promised.”

“I’m not meddling. I’m giving you my name. For your protection.”

My mouth falls open. “What protection? The paparazzi was all over me!”

“I know. I’ve made it clear that’s not to happen again. You’ll be assigned your own security detail. We’ll also give select media some access, and after a few interviews, the press will settle down.”

I frown. Interviews? Access? What the hell?

“Speaking of interviews, we’ll be holding a press conference today. Don’t worry. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”

If meeting the press is anything like the mob earlier, I don’t want anything to do with it.

“I’m used to these,” Rex reassures me. “I can do all the talking. You can just stand there and look pretty.”

I grit my teeth, and then I clock the gleam in his eye. “Are you riling me up so I’m mad instead of nervous?” I ask.

“Is it working?”

Yes. “Keep it up, and I really will kill you.”

He shifts forward into my space. “Is that what you want?” Only Rex would think my threat is an opportunity for us to flirt. “You’ll be a very wealthy widow.”

My brain glitches out. “Really?”

“What’s mine is yours, Inara.”

Rex is a billionaire. Does this mean I’m one now, too?

That can’t be right.

I can’t think about this right now, either. “This isn’t a real marriage. I need you to understand that.”

“Understood.” He sounds serious. “The Roy name means something to New Rome. It’ll attract attention, but there are many people who respect it.”

Like George the clerk. Although Denise didn’t seem too impressed with me.

“Please, Inara. Keep it until this is all over. I only want to help.”

I blow out a breath. “All right. As long as you understand it’s fake.”

“Of course.” He dips his head, agreeing so quickly I don’t think it’s a real concession. “We can work out the details over dinner tonight.”

Give this man an inch, and he thinks he’s a ruler.

I raise a finger between us. “Don’t get too comfortable, Mr. Roy. I’m already interviewing assassins.”

The door opens just in time for George to hear my last statement. “Um, is this a bad time?”

“We’re almost done,” Rex says. Without taking his eyes off me, he breaks into a superstar smile. My insides quake under the full force of his charm.

A tall woman with a black headset fixed over her long box braids leans in past George. “Mr. Roy, Mrs. Roy. We’re ready for you.”

“Thank you, Nadia. We’re ready.” Rex lays a hand on my back, pressing slightly to move me forward. “This way, darling.”

“Wait.” I stiffen my legs. “I need to get down to records storage. There’s an old case with similar details to the most recent murder.”

Rex leans in, his expression intent. “You think it’s him?” He keeps it vague because we’re in public.

“It might be. Or it’s related.” The connection of the dead birds left at the scene is too important to ignore. “Either way, I need the murder book.”

“One moment.” Rex turns to George and murmurs to him. The man bobs his head so much he practically bows. Rex returns to my side. “We’ll have them within the hour.” His lips are close to my ear. “They’ll be delivered to Hotel Magnifique by an NRPD records keeper.”

I frown. Having a records keeper hand deliver a file is unheard of.

“There are perks to being a Roy,” Rex tells me softly. And then he holds out his hand.

Feeling flutters in my core that have nothing to do with nerves. I take it and let him guide me to our first public appearance as a couple.

Rex

Our first press conference as a couple happens right on the City Hall steps.

When I found out where Inara was, I worked with the head of my PR team, Nadia Jenkins, to plan the media event.

We decided the classical architecture would make a beautiful backdrop for the world’s first glimpse of Inara and me as a couple.

Under Nadia’s brilliant leadership, her team made it happen.

Events like these are a necessary evil. Better to craft a juicy public persona and feed the sharks than have them rip into my private life.

But today, I feel a sense of triumph facing the crowd with Inara by my side. Mine.

My reluctant bride hangs back, so I step up to the microphone and give a wave, drawing the camera’s attention. My security team—a long line of men and women in black suits—stand between us and the press.

In the past, I’ve dated a number of carefully vetted beautiful women. Mostly actresses or famous athletes, women comfortable with the spotlight. Our time together was more of a mutually beneficial business arrangement than anything else.

My relationship with Inara is different. I’ve never felt such strong emotions for anyone, both inside and outside of the bedroom. She’s the only woman I’ve wanted to claim so completely. I couldn’t wait another day without making it clear to everyone she belonged to me.

I hope St. James is watching.

“Dearly beloved,” I say. “We are gathered here to witness this man and woman joined together in holy matrimony.” I pause to wait for the joke to land.

A grin stretches across my face, and cameras flash with a strobe effect.

“It’s true. Earlier today, I had the honor of making this woman my wife.

” I angle my body to include Inara. She takes a small step forward, raising her chin.

She agreed to go through with this, and she’s keeping her word.

I take a few steps toward her and hold out my hand again, inviting her to meet me halfway. A small pause, a sigh only I can hear, and she moves to my side. Her face tilts up to mine.

I only meant to give the cameras a good shot of us together, but as I gaze at her, the world stops. Stills. I fall into her golden eyes.

Suddenly, there’s only the two of us. Her complexion glows, her cheeks chafed by the chilly air. Her beauty stops my heart, even now.

The wind picks up, and I tuck her close, wanting to shield her from the cold. She relaxes against me. The only sign that she’s out of her element is the way she bites her lip.

“All right?” I murmur to her. Press conferences are overwhelming if you’re not used to them. But for someone as private as Inara, it must be hell.

She nods. She’s strong and able to put on a bold front, as I knew she would.

I raise a gloved hand to her face, brushing back a few windswept strands of hair. “Can I kiss you?”

Her lips part, and her breath shudders out of her. In the distance, I hear reporters shouting my name, but there’s only Inara. Only us.

I cup her cheek and lower my head. My lips brush hers, and I’m instantly, painfully hard. I was already aroused, bickering with her in the close quarters of the clerk’s office. But now I’m ready to rip her clothes off and mark her here, in public.

I drop my hand, feeling as shaken as Inara looks.

And I realize why I was so quick to file marriage papers and mark her with my name. All my obsession, all my intense feelings add up to one thing.

Love.