But a part of me felt… a bit used.
Almost like I wanted to be able to have a normal conversation with the guy before he saw me naked.
Then again, he'd already seen the goods, but…
I froze.
And in return — so did he.
Meaning, I had officially killed the moment.
Slowly, he released me, my body sliding down his until my feet touched the floor. His lips were a bit swollen, his blue eyes piercing. "Second thoughts?"
"No," I lied.
His grin was almost mean as he leaned forward, pressing his hands against the wall on either side of my head. "Liar."
I met his gaze, licking my lips, tasting him everywhere. "I just… I didn't want you to drop me, and I panicked."
His eyebrows shot up. "Is that right?"
I nodded.
"Hmm…" He backed up. "…next time you offer your body, make sure you can follow through on it."
"I can!" I argued. "I mean I want to." I reached for his face, but he moved out of the way.
"No, you're right." He continued to back away from me. "It's best this way. Getting physically involved with you will only make it harder."
"Make what harder?"
"Shooting you later when the pain gets too intense… when the days get too dark."
Stunned, I could only stare at him.
"What?" He shrugged. "I figure that's also part of my job… as your husband. I may not kill you, but I'll happily pull the trigger once you're begging for it. Wouldn't be the first time."
And just like that, I wanted to hate him all over again. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?"
"Oh, I know." He chuckled. "I know."
He left the room.
A door slammed.
And I didn't see him the rest of the day.
So much for a honeymoon.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sergio
I HOLED UP IN MY OFFICE like I was guilty of something.
Which sucked, considering the last time I'd felt real guilt was when I'd stolen cookies out of the cookie jar at age eight.
I expected Andi to knock on my door or break it down, considering breaking things was more her style.
But she left me in peace the entire day.
I worked for hours making sure she had a cover at the university and also keeping tabs on her father.
It was busywork. The type of work a person did to keep his mind off more pressing matters.
Like the way her body felt against mine.
The way her mouth tasted.
"Shit." I slammed my hands against the desk and reached for my phone. The text messages hadn't stopped for hours.
First a message from Tex saying I was an asshole.
Nothing new in that department.
Then several emojis from Nixon — of presents.
Hilarious.
Phoenix had called a few times too, but I'd ignored those as well.
Just like I'd ignored the seven invitations to family dinner. It was a tradition, one I didn't want Andi to be a part of. Because I knew there would come a night when her seat would be empty.
My stomach lurched at the thought.
I picked up my phone and checked my voicemail.
"Hey, man, it's Phoenix."
I rolled my eyes.
"Answer your damn phone. I can't get hold of your wife."
I deleted the message. Asshole. She was my wife, not his.
The next message was the same thing.
Finally, around the fourth message, I started to get a bit concerned.
"Dude, if you don't answer I'm going to break down your freaking door! Andi's not answering and she missed her doctor's appointment."
Wait, what?
Doctor's appointment. /?
I pulled out the list that she'd made earlier that day. Sure enough, on the corner it said, And don't forget to take me to the doctor like a good husband!
She'd drawn a heart next to it.
The appointment had been three hours ago.
I told myself not to worry. She'd probably fallen asleep or left her phone in the house or something.
I quickly ran out of the office and started calling her name.
"Andi?"
No answer.
I went into the kitchen.
Nothing.
Panic swelled in my chest as I took the stairs two at a time. I burst into her bedroom. It was empty.
Shit!
I moved down the hall. "Andi?"
A soft whimper sounded. I called out her name again.
The bathroom door closest to her bedroom was shut.
I tried the handle.
It was locked.
With a curse, I slammed my body into it. The door broke free, revealing a crumpled Andi near the toilet.
She was pale.
Her eyes were closed.
And a part of me died inside.
How long had she been here?
"Andi?" I got on my knees and pulled her into my lap. "Andi, can you hear me?"
I lifted her head, but it only fell back, lifeless. Her skin was so pale it was almost translucent. "Andi?"
Her eyes fluttered open.
"Thatta girl," I encouraged.
"Not dog," she whispered, the fight so completely out of her words that the panic worsened until I felt like I was going to be sick.
"Do we need to go to the hospital?"
She frowned. "Aren't we at the hospital?"
"No—" Frantic, I felt her forehead. "Shit, you're burning up. We need to go to the ER."