Chapter 8
CONNOR
With our feet hanging over the edge of the dock while we sit, my arm is firmly wrapped around my wife while we look out at Lake Spark. Hadley’s head leans against my shoulder, and I can’t help but kiss the top of her hair. It’s not my fault that she’s in prime position for a chaste kiss.
“Could we have a photo of you both kissing?” The photographer raises his request from where he stands at the start of the dock.
“I’m sure my wife can handle a little public affection,” I call out since they’re not close enough to hear.
Hadley grumbles a sound only I can hear. “Of course, our first kiss as husband and wife would be with our parents spectating.”
“Except they don’t know that, and it’s not really our first kiss in general," I give her in recap, “but enough going down memory lane.”
“Don’t remind me of my na?ve self and your douchebag tendencies. Careful, the lake is deep here, I would hate for you to fall in. Then again, I didn’t sign a prenup, so that’s your bad if something should happen.”
My finger curls, and I capture her chin to tip up and guide her gaze to me. “I would take you with me. You enjoy getting wet around me.” I give her a contrite grin.
“Wishful thinking, Con.”
“Let’s deliver the fairytale, shall we? Committed, loving, insanely handsy.
” My fingers land on her thigh, dragging the fabric of her dress up slightly to touch her silky skin right above her knee, feeling her body flinch, then seeing her mouth thin into a line as she tries to hold a breath because she enjoys this but will never admit it.
“Just kiss me,” she grits out, but it feels like an act.
Gladly.
Dipping my head down, I press my lips softly against her bottom lip, taking a moment to feel the connection that I remember from years ago.
I take more, kissing her top lip, feeling her kiss back, letting go of her tightly wound rope and giving me something that makes me feral inside, needy for more.
I make no mistake that she kisses me back, and when I dip my tongue inside her mouth to meet hers, I feel no protest. A little moan vibrates in the back of her throat, and damn, that’s a sound I like.
I tilt my mouth to cover hers in a different angle, only to feel a new jolt of electricity that makes me go slightly blank.
This isn’t a hard kiss, but the damage is the same. Kissing her gently, I brush her lips with mine as I pull away very slowly, wishing I could prolong this.
I like her quiet this way, with my mouth on hers. She’s more receptive, slightly bewitching, but also mine to kiss.
My eyes skim down to see her plump lips, and I smirk to myself from accomplishment, especially when her breath grows shallow. Taking my thumb, I rub a circle on her bottom lip to touch where I kissed her.
“Not bad,” I rasp.
I don’t let her chin go and keep her face in my hold while her tongue darts out to lick the corner of her mouth.
“Somewhat decent,” she lies and avoids looking at me, but her flushed cheeks inform me that she may have felt the buzz flowing between us. Dislike sometimes makes passion more attuned.
“You know, we haven’t discussed certain needs we might have during our marriage.” I throw that out there because I love riling this woman.
Hadley places her hands on both of my shoulders and digs her nails into the fabric of my shirt. Any bystander watching would assume we are being a cute couple who can’t keep our hands off one another, but that’s not the reality I’m facing.
“Oh, trust me, you’re going to need to work a little harder than oh by the way, honey, I need to release one out,” she mocks me.
“Don’t worry, I assumed you wouldn’t be so easy. But just so you know, if you need to unwind, I’m able and willing since we are sharing a bed. I’m loving my shirt-and-thong look you have going at night,” I compliment.
“Can we end this conversation considering who is in earshot?” she suggests.
I glance over at our parents. We should have known that our parents, oh so wise, saw this coming; Hadley and me together in any form. They've patiently been waiting, well, except Spencer, but you can’t win them all.
I release her chin and move to stand, offering Hadley my hand. She accepts, willingly, and I yank her up. I can’t help it and give her the once-over for the hundredth time, but she’s absolutely gorgeous; it’s natural too.
She seems to notice I’m a man who observes. “You okay there?”
“Yeah, you just really… look beautiful.” I can’t even turn it into a jab because it’s the honest truth.
Hadley blinks a few times, and when I don’t add on a retort, she seems to understand that I’m being sincere. “Thanks. You’re not bad yourself.” I nod once, not sure what to say. “This is kind of crazy, right? All of this.” It sounds like she’s letting down her defenses for a moment.
“A little crazy,” I admit.
She scans the area and then lands her sight back on me.
“Part of me hates that this is pretend. The other part wonders how deep into the fantasy I should go. You’re trouble, Connor Spears, and you know it.
” She has some serious conviction in that statement, but I like the way her eyes have a sparkly glint and the line on her mouth stays stretched when she says that.
“And you’re insufferable most of the time, lucky me,” I answer softly.
Hadley is right, though. She should have run when she had the chance, but now everyone can get off my back, except her, and I don’t mind that.
Our game of rivals is just that, and I’d play it forever if it means that I at least get to have her words and sight directed at me.
She just doesn’t realize, and that’s my doing.
In the corner of my eye, I see the photographer approaching us again for closeups.
I encircle my arm around Hadley’s waist and pull her close and tight to my body, enjoying the way she molds to me.
She’ll always have to look up because of our height difference, I just hope the marvel in her eyes will always remain.
By the time we wrapped up the photoshoot, ate cupcakes, and avoided champagne toasts with our parents who are planning joint family holidays, we were tired.
Hadley took a few more items from her house to bring to mine, which just means she’ll get more established at my place, harder for her to escape too.
I helped take a few bags from her car inside, refusing to give up the location of spare sheets for the guest room because I might have an inkling where they actually are. I led her to my room and cleared out some space in my closet instead.
She may hate me, but last night when she slept and unknowingly rolled into my arms, I couldn’t help picture what it would be like to have her naked and under me… again.
I have every intention of driving her wild. She can get under my skin, then I will get under hers. That’s marriage, right? Two-sided bliss.
After a shower and a check of my schedule for the week, I enter my kitchen to find Hadley in shorts, a t-shirt, and sitting at the kitchen island with a sewing needle and thread.
“Already getting domesticated on me?” I inquire as I open the fridge for a beer.
She snorts a laugh. “Never for you.” Closing the door to the fridge and grabbing the bottle opener, I study her while she seems focused on cutting thread. Hadley must notice, as she pulls her eyes up. “Yes?” There’s a little attitude in her tone.
“What are you doing?” I throw the bottle cap to the side.
“I need to sew the ribbons on my new pointe shoes.”
Sipping my beer, I picture her in my head on her toes, spinning around for me until she lands on my lap.
She’s a great ballerina. Even though she dances a lot of styles, ballet is where she’s kind of extra hot, and she dances flawlessly but adds her own alternative flare to her song choices and choreography.
She raises a brow at me. “Why did you watch me the other day?”
Ah, I knew this was coming. My mother gave away my secret, that she caught me surveying Hadley when I ran into my mom on the street, the reason I was delayed meeting my dad and uncle.
“I might not enjoy your presence, but you have talent.”
She seems to be debating if my answer is worthy of her approval. “It’s strange.”
I slant my shoulder up in doubt. “You shouldn’t dance with the door open; anybody can watch.” I set my beer bottle down.
“It gets warm in the studio. I wanted some air.”
I begin to walk slowly to her, determined to try something. “I’ll buy you an air conditioner, consider it a present for my wife. But what I meant was, any guy could watch.”
A sly smirk forms on her mouth that I want to devour. “Ah, can’t have that now, can we? Connor throws a fit at the idea of another man watching.” Her tone is taunting me, and I don’t like that one bit.
I circle around the island, getting closer to my target. “Hadley, while we’re married, no man will look at you.” I slide the pink satin ribbons off the counter. My eyes stay connected with hers while I tie the ribbons together.
Her eyes slide down, but then quickly back up. “What are you doing? I need those.”
A sinister scoff leaves my mouth. “I’ll buy you a new pair, twenty if you want. We need these for something else right now.”
My hands land on either side of her legs, then I slide the chair so she is squared off with me.
She isn’t protesting, and that’s a positive sign.
“Do you know what I think?” she husks.
“Humor me.” I pull the knot on the ribbons ceremoniously.
Her head lolls slightly to the side. “You enjoy watching me because it makes you hard, doesn’t it, even though you’re supposed to despise me.” Her sultry voice should be a crime.
Ignoring her valid observation, I get to work. “Hands, Hadley,” I demand.
To my utter amazement, she lifts her hands together, wrists tight, offering herself as the prize.
I whistle in approval. “Well, well, well, someone is a good girl and listens to her husband.” I begin to wrap the ribbon around her wrists.