Page 77 of Silent Ties

“I don’t know.” He wrinkles his nose and once again I’m reminded of a mountain. Buried deep beneath the exterior is the real Maxim Zimin. “If I smile more would things be better?”

“I don’t want to annoy you,” I say softly.

He shakes his head, sighing. “You don’t annoy me.” He hesitates. “I mean yeah.”

I try to take my hand back.

He holds on tight. “Don’t ruin this.”

The smirk on his lips isn’t a full smile, but he’s trying.

“I want to hear you talk,” he says seriously, like he’s not quite sure he understands it himself. “All your gibberish. About your baking and whatever else you’re into.”

“And you’ll ask me questions,” I prompt.

“If it makes you feel better.”

It’s not that I’m forcing him to participate. I think he doesn’t know how.

“Have you never had a serious girlfriend?” I ask.

He frowns. “Yeah.”

“And you didn’t talk to her?”

The smirk widens. “No, not really.”

“That tracks.”

An uncomfortable twinge spreads in my chest at thethought of Max doing any of the things he does to me with another woman.

It makes me think of the spark of attraction we’ve always had.

“Do you think we can do this?” I ask. “Be married.”

“We’re going to stay married.” There’s no room for argument. “So we may as well figure out how to operate with one another.”

“You really want to?”

His eyes narrow. “You don’t?”

“I’m just. . . are you sure?”

“Well, I’m obsessed with learning about every noise you make while I fuck you.”

My cheeks heat at the blunt, dirty statement.

“If I had to guess, I’m going to continue to obsess over you, wife. So yes, I want this.” A second later he adds, “But please for fuck’s sake never speak to Elijah again.”

I bite back a smile. But then I tip forward, brushing my lips to his cheek. “You’re very jealous, you know.”

He stands, hauling me up.

“Wait, where are we going?”

He’s striding back the way we came, toward the parked car.

“Home,” he says over his shoulder. “There are several things to take care of.”