FOURTEEN
JUNE LAST YEAR…
HER SCROOGEY WAS grumpy. Maybe not mad, mad, he’d been worried. She’d remind him that there was nothing she couldn’t face, except the guy had a right to be traumatized in LA. Her getting arrested again that night sure hadn’t helped quell his fears.
But it was for Lilya. For Kintyre. No one should be allowed to mess with their friends indiscriminately.
“I think we should find out.” In the LA Platinum Suite, Zairn’s arm dropped from Roxie’s shoulders to take her hand instead. “And I think we should talk to a lawyer.”
“I already talked to Dunlap tonight.”
“Not that lawyer,” Zairn said. “Come on.”
“Do I have to?” Roxie asked, dragging her feet.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight until I’m confident you remember what city you’re in.” He pointed at Jane. “You stay here. Knox will be back as soon as he can be.”
With Z in charge, she didn’t have to think exactly, but moving took a lot of effort, too much effort. And, ugh, they were walking out on their friends. Going somewhere. She didn’t want to go anywhere, except bed.
“It’s the middle of the night and I’m tired,” Roxie said on an exhale, hand locked in Zairn’s as he carted her out of the hotel suite.
“If you want me to apologize thoroughly…” Zairn pressed the elevator call button and she wrapped their joined hands around her body to rest her weight on him. “You better get me to bed soon.”
With another guy, she might wonder if there was enough juice in her tank to rev him up. That was the great thing about being with Zairn, about loving him, even tired and jail-weary, he’d still be able to get her in the mood in four seconds flat.
“We have something to do before bed.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “This is nonnegotiable.”
“Non…” The elevator opened and he took them inside. “Are we going to an orgy or one of your drug-addled friends’ parties? Getting arrested twice in one night might be some kind of record.”
In LA? Probably not. But for her it would be on the highlight reel, maybe not a positive highlight, but definitely notable.
“We’re going downstairs,” he said, watching the floor numbers descend.
“To where?”
“You’ll see.”
His surprises usually worked out in her favor.
“What happened on your date with Kesley?” she asked.
“You gave me the greenlight setting us up. We had sex in the restaurant restroom, the car, even upstairs in the suite.”
“Mwah-ha-ha,” she feigned exaggerated laughter.
“And then you woke up with your cock in your fist. You had your fun with that pussy before you met me, now mine’s all you get, big boy.
” Jerking his arm, she tightened the embrace again.
“Want to do it in here? We’ve never had Grand Hotel elevator sex before. ”
He blinked, his eyes opening on hers. “Think that’ll be where Knox draws the line hushing up media for us.”
“I don’t care if the world sees us having sex. We have great sex. Maybe we could start another channel on the website, do a how-to show. We’ll give back to the wider population. You’ve probably lost count how many orgies you’ve taken part in. What’s one more woman on your cock on film?”
“We leak sex tapes when the brand’s on the wane,” he said, drawing a fingertip across her hairline and down. “Don’t use all our ammo at once.”
“We going to get drunk? I’m tired, I might pass out. You can still have sex with me. You have permission.”
“Classy.”
“Give me a clue where—”
The elevator opened and, man on a mission, Zairn whisked her out and down the corridor lined with hotel rooms. Wherever they were going, it was a random floor in the building. Huh, she hadn’t expected that. Where did they—
When Zairn caught a handle to open a door and take her inside, she caught a glimpse of the room number before it closed behind them.
“Casa—”
“Got what you need?” Zairn asked.
Not her. No, when she stepped aside, hand still in his, there was a nervous looking guy seated in the furthest armchair.
“Yes, sir.”
“This isn’t one of your better ideas,” Ballard said, strolling in from the bedroom in the corner.
How did she know what was in there? Because she was no stranger to this place.
“We met in this room,” she murmured.
“Yes, we did,” Zairn said, leading her over to the couch. Where they’d sat that same fateful night. “You need us to sign something?”
“Yes,” the guy bounced to the front of his seat. “I’ve laid them out. You must sign the affidavit.”
“No problem.” He kept hold of her hand while he signed, then presented the pen to her. “Your turn.”
“My turn to what? What are we…” Words on one of the pages caught her eye. “Marriage certificate. We’re getting married?”
“That’s what engagements lead to, Little Rox.”
At the end of the couch behind Zairn, Ballard approached, not that her gaze left the guy probing her with his eyes.
“Now? What about the wedding? Jane’s planning—”
“No one will know about this. It’s a confidential marriage license. We sign an affidavit to say we live together. Say the words. Sign and it’s done. No witnesses.” Except Ballard and the other guy, who Z was ready to identify. “He solemnizes the marriage.”
Ah, an official. “So we get married. In secret. Only the four of us know. We continue like we’re engaged and go through with the wedding Jane is planning?”
“Yes.”
“And this is because I got arrested?”
“This is because I love you and don’t want to wait. When shit like this happens—I come too close to losing you too often. This is what I need.”
“If I’m going to keep being me and pushing the boundaries,” she said. “I love you Casanova, more than life itself—”
“No but,” he cut her off before she could get there. “What else is there to think about?”
“Okay, no but, but…” because she had to be honest. “I suck at keeping secrets.”
His expression relaxed, had he really expected her to refuse him?
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
“I suppose you’re relying on my aversion to admitting our relationship publicly.”
“You’ve kept our secrets before.”
Slowly, she licked her lips. “Because what we are is not their business.”
Married. She should be scared. Run. Cut her losses and—not one atom in her whole body wanted to be anywhere else.
“No, it is not.” His fingertips grazed her jaw. “No matter what we get into or where we are, we need to be able to speak for each other. This gives us global rights. We need to do it. No take backs. Us, always. Trust me, Roxanna. Be with me.”
Boosting herself up fast, she landed her mouth on his for a quick, hard kiss. “Just tell me where to sign.”
The paperwork was straightforward. What a long way she’d come. On the night of Talk at Sunset , the first time, Astrid came to her with contracts she wouldn’t sign without reading. Now she was signing affidavits after barely a glance because Zairn was the one to put the pen in her hand.
“Would you like to stand?” the officiant asked, rising, prompting them to do the same.
They shuffled out from around the coffee table until she was standing in the same spot she’d been in when Zairn introduced himself after their tiff.
“Do you have rings?”
“Would kinda go against the whole confidential thing if they did,” Ballard said, standing at Zairn’s shoulder.
“Sure,” the officiant said. “Okay. We are here this evening to witness the joining of Zairn Lomond and Roxanna Amelia Kyst in matrimony.”
Whoa, boy. “Thank God he got my name right,” she quipped. “This could’ve ended before it began.” She explained to the newbie. “He doesn’t like it when people get my name wrong.”
“What do you think I’m paying him for?” Zairn’s fingers threaded between hers. “Quicker we do this, quicker we get to bed.”
“Good point. I’m being quiet.”
“This contract should not be entered into lightly. It comes with obligations and responsibilities. By entering this marriage, you accept the pledge of forever. Please face each other.”
How was she supposed to… They turned and when their eyes met, a grin jumped to her lips. Marriage. Had she ever been afraid of it?
“Do you Zairn agree to take Roxanna as your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish as long as you both may live?”
“I do.”
And there it was.
“Do you Roxanna agree to take Zairn as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to cherish as long as you both may live?”
“Uh…” Her smile only got wider as she lingered. “I absolutely do.”
“No rings so… You have joined now in solemn matrimony. May you know love and happiness every day of your marriage. Embrace each other and the gravity of the vows you have made today. Pledging yourselves to each other in love and hope, you have the rest of your lives to fulfill the delight you have promised today. Zairn, Roxanna, never take each other for granted. By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He paused.
Of course he did. “You may kiss the bride.”
Cupping her face, Zairn bowed as if to kiss her but hesitated when she rose on her tiptoes. “Can’t get enough of me.”
“You wish, Skippy.”
Stealing his mouth, she didn’t need his permission to take what was rightfully hers.