Page 9

CHAPTER 9

S itting outside the courtroom, waiting for the annulment hearing, Khill was sweating like he was facing sentencing for murder. And the worst part?

He’d rather be sentenced for murder.

Why the hell couldn’t he just tell her he didn’t want a damn annulment? That he’d married her because he loved her and wanted to be with her forever?

Why couldn’t he tell her how he felt about anything ?

He was still stewing about all that when Justine marched—actually marched— across the courthouse hall like she was leading troops into battle, stopped in front of him, close enough to touch, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why do you look like you’re headed to the gallows?”

Because I feel like I’m headed to the gallows . “Do I?”

Her foot started tapping. Khill sat up straighter. Justine’s baseline was a little grumpy and annoyed. But she wasn’t quick to anger. When her temper blew, however, it blew in a big way. And it always started with foot tapping.

“You know you do,” she hissed. “You’ve looked like this every time we’ve discussed the annulment since Vegas. Why, Khill? You do want the annulment, don’t you?”

He swallowed declarations of love and any other pitiful groveling that might trip off his tongue. “I want…what you want.”

She stabbed a finger at him. “No. That’s not going to work this time. Do you want the annulment?”

“What difference does it make? This is your decision.”

Justine looked like she was going to lunge at him and strangle him with her bare hands. It was so fucking hot. “Why is it only my decision? We were both there in Vegas, drunk off our asses.”

“No, we weren’t,” he grumbled quietly.

She snorted. “Oh, so now you’re going to deny you were even there? Very fucking mature.”

OK, now he was getting angry. Did she really think he was doing this for shits and grins? That it was all some kind of immature practical joke? “We were both there,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Then why did you just say we weren’t?” She poked his shoulder. Hard. “Huh?”

“Don’t,” he warned.

Another poke. “Tell me, damn it.” Another poke. “What the hell did you mean?”

“Justine, I swear, I’m going to?—”

“You’re going to what ?” Poke. “Just tell me what the hell you meant. Why is everything my decision when we both got ourselves into this mess?” Poke. “When we were both drunk that day?” Poke. “When…”

With a roar that seemed to tear its way out of his very soul, he shot to his feet, towering over her until she had to crane her neck up to meet his gaze. “I. Wasn’t. Drunk!”

With his chest heaving and rage pouring off him in waves, it took him a few seconds to comprehend what he’d just blurted out.

Well…fuck.

But there was no stopping the flow of emotions and words now, so he also added, “Orcs can’t get drunk. I married you because I fucking wanted to marry you. I’ve been in love with you for years, Justine. Fucking years . So, no, I don’t want a damn annulment and never will. The only reason we’re here now is because you were drunk and no matter how much I want to, I can’t hold you to those vows.” He took a deep breath, having spit all that out without one. “Is that what you wanted to know, wife ?”

Justine rocked back on her heels, mouth dropping open. But if he’d expected her to back down, he would’ve been sadly mistaken. Because true to form, she stepped back up until her chest brushed his. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted. I would’ve preferred that we dated a little, maybe had sex a few times, before marriage. But I’m not sorry we did it. Not anymore. So, guess what? I don’t want the annulment, either!”

His heart rate picked up with what was probably joy, but damn it, he couldn’t turn off his temper that fast. So, all he said was a snarled, “Fine.”

She bared her teeth at him. “Fine.”

That was all he could stand. He snagged her by the back of the neck, yanked her into his arms, and swallowed whatever comments she wanted to spew at him next by slamming his mouth down over hers.

Over the years, Khill had imagined kissing Justine more times than he could count. His fantasies were vast, diverse, and pervasive. He was fairly certain he hadn’t gone a single day in their entire acquaintance without imagining taking her mouth with his own at least once.

But none of the fantasies he’d had—and oh , he’d had some good ones—compared to the reality of her.

She tasted like peppermint, need, and every hot desire he’d ever had. Her lips were somehow petal soft, yet firm and demanding all at the same time, and Khill knew he’d never tire of feeling them against his own.

Someone moaned. It might’ve been her, but it was probably him. That didn’t matter, though.

What mattered now was that for the first time in his life, Khill felt like he belonged somewhere. To someone. In this moment, with this woman, he was exactly where he was supposed to be. If whatever gods were in charge of this dimension decided to smite him right now, at least he’d die happy.

No, wait. Fuck that. No one—not even a god—was going to pry him away from the woman he loved now that he finally had her in his arms.

Or so he thought, at least. Until a violently loud throat clearing right next to them forced them apart.

Not by much, though. Khill pulled back just far enough to rest his forehead against hers. Letting her go altogether was not an option.

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you don’t still want an annulment?” Lila asked with a snarky smile.

“You got that fucking right,” he answered.

“Damn straight,” Justine whispered breathlessly.

Lila chuckled. “Good for you, girl. I’ll go in and let the judge know what’s up. Meanwhile, might I suggest you take your little, uh, reunion here to a more private location? Because we’re dangerously close to me having to defend you against an indecent exposure charge here.”