Page 44 of The One Night Match

“She cornered you?” I frown. “Are you okay?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine, Cruz. I’ve been dealing with catty women all my life. It comes part and parcel with growing up the way we did.”

“I still don’t like it,” I mutter.

She shifts in my lap, trying to climb out of it to take her seat again, but I hold her tighter against me. “Stay where you are. I need to remind myself that you’re all mine after having all those fucks staring at you all night.”

Riley opens her mouth to argue, but instead allows herself to relax in my arms.

It’s not long before her breathing evens out, and she lets out a soft snore that makes my lips tip up in amusement.

I press the call button beside me, careful not to jostle her. “Drive around for a while, Ben. Mrs. De Luca fell asleep.” And I don’t want her to wake up and realize she feels safe enough to let herself be vulnerable with me.

It’s another hour before Ben finally pulls into the driveway and quietly opens the door for me.

I lift her higher in my arms and climb out as smoothly as I can manage before making my way into the house through the garage so I don’t have to pull my keys out.

Asshole, or Mr. Whiskers as Riley has coined him, lets out a soft meow, apparently realizing the human he likes is resting, before running up the stairs toward her room.

The little fluffy dick and I have come to a reluctant ceasefire the last week, because apparently we’re both obsessed with our new housemate. He even let me pat him earlier without any claws involved, so we’ve certainly made some progress.

I take my time climbing the stairs, and when I reach the door to her bedroom, I hesitate.

There’s not a single part of me that wants to put her anywhere other than my bed. Our bed.

It’s crazy to think about the measures I took to ensure I would have my own space once this arranged marriage took place, and now I’m the one who doesn’t want to give her any distance.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn down the hallway and straight into my bedroom, where I carefully lay her on the side of the bed furthest from the door.

Is that the side of the bed I’ve always slept on?

Yep.

But am I going to risk my wife being the first one an intruder could reach?

Absolutely the fuck not.

Mr. Whiskers follows us in, quickly jumping on the bed and proceeding to knead the comforter.

I sigh. “Okay, fine, you can stay, but only if you promise not to pee on any of my suits while you’re in here.”

He glares up at me before going back to whatever it is he’s doing.

I pluck one of my T-shirts from the drawer before moving back to where Riley is sleeping soundly and carefully dressing her in my shirt.

Seeing her in my clothes has quickly become one of my favorite things about married life, and I try not to think about all the lines I’m crossing right now.

Once I’m satisfied she’s comfortable, I lift her back into my arms and slip her under the sheets, tugging them up around her neck to make sure she’s warm enough.

I quickly strip out of my suit, dumping it into the hamper without separating it. Magda is going to throw a fit, but it’s worth being on the receiving end of her anger if it means getting into bed with my girl quicker.

Sliding into the middle of the bed, I carefully gather Riley against me and allow the tension to bleed from my body.

Tonight was too much, and if it were possible, I’d keep her far away from all the toxic members of the organization.

Unfortunately for us both, we have another event to attend next weekend, and this one is going to be a whole lot more painful than tonight was.

Mr. Whiskers huffs as I slip my legs between him and Riley, getting as close to her as I can manage without waking her.