by Anne Martin
I smiled and let him out.
When I turned to face her where she sat in the tufted chair, I wanted to pick her up and carry her to the couch in the living room then burn this room down so she could never sleep in it again. It wasn’t an entirely rational feeling, but it wasn’t irrational either. We’d gotten married in the drive-through the night before. It hadn’t been fifteen minutes afterwards when she started getting shifty around me. She didn’t mention it, and I didn’t mention it, and we’d just gone to bed like usual, me in my room, her across the apartment in hers.
“Horse, I’ve been thinking,” she said, sitting up straight.
“Yeah. Go ahead.” I crossed my arms and waited for her to tell me that we should definitely annul the marriage.
“Well, it’s probably safe for me to travel, right? And you don’t seem to mind everyone thinking that your semen are the miraculous travelers of great and barren wastes, so maybe we should go visit my parents.”
I blinked at her, uncrossed my arms and sat down on the bed. “Really?”
Her eyes looked hunted. She glanced at me then away. “This is really selfish of me, but my mother would kill me if I came home single and pregnant. But I love my mom. I can’t even think about having a baby without her to tell me what I’m doing wrong.” She met my eyes like she had a question in them.
I nodded slowly. “My mother passed away when I was twelve. We got married, Trix. You aren’t lying when you tell her that. It’s legally documented.”
She closed her eyes tight. “Nix is going to kill me.”
I laughed and leaned back on the bed. “Only because he loves you. We should have a party, announce the marriage true Las Vegas style, make a big thing out of it. It would be great publicity, spin it so it’s our baby, our show. You also need to go shopping. Get those cute pregnancy outfits the suburban moms wear.”
“Ugh, that sounds exhausting. Are we really doing this? Publicly?”
I grinned at her. She wasn’t having second thoughts. Crazy woman. “Go big or go home, or in this case, go big and then go home. It’ll be fun. I’ll arrange everything. Is tomorrow night too soon for the announcement and party? I’ll need to get rings. What else?”
She shook her head. “No one will believe that we got married.”
“We should work on our story. How about we were secret lovers for years, but then you got pregnant and I realized I had to make you an honorable woman?”
“I’m not honorable by reputation. You’re less so.”
“Then we’ve been secretly married for a year. Having a baby made us go public about it.”
She shook her head. “I think it would be most plausible if it’s part of one of my rampages.”
“Which it was.”
She eyed me. “I wasn’t drunk when we went through that drive-through and said ‘I do.’ Were you?”
“Drunk on the heady elixir that is your essence. I must have been drunk, or it wouldn’t have been quite so tacky.” We’d gotten married in the drive-thru. What was more tacky than that?
“It’s the perfect culmination of our relationship. This is what I think we should say. I got addicted to you, hated it, and made you marry me so I could get you out of my system for good.”
“That makes sense to you?”
She shrugged. “It happens more than you’d think. Marriage is a sure way to end a relationship. Haven’t you noticed?”
“What if you have no relationship beforehand? Is it still doomed?”
She sighed. “My parents are happily married. Way too happy. The way they kiss in public is still disturbing. That’s what I grew up with, but out here, nothing lasts, nothing is real.”
“You’re real.”
She gave me a small smile that vanished as she frowned sternly. “We need to talk about arm candy.”
“You don’t do arm candy. I always have arm candy.”
She nodded with a little look of disgust that I didn’t particularly like. She was thinking about me with women hanging off me. She’d never liked that, but now, as her husband, whether it felt real or not, she’d probably chop off my arms.
“I could wear a leash and collar and follow two steps behind at all times.” I winked at her.
She rolled her eyes then smirked and gave me a look. She was seeing me in a leash and collar and nothing else. Burning. We were married. Married. It still seemed past impossible that she’d stop hating me long enough to agree to be legally bound to me.
“What’s going to happen,” she said, because apparently she was managing this thing. “Is that we go in separately then start talking. When a female comes up and touches you, I’ll go all psycho jealous on you, and her, and it’ll be very public and clear that you belong to me. I hate that kind of thing. It’s so tacky, but it should work. I’ve fallen for your charms and can’t bear the sight of you with anyone else. Stop looking so delighted. I’m not actually fighting over you and there will be no mud.”
“You in mud. No, there won’t be. In fact, this whole thing will have to be pretty calm and relaxed, because you can’t get upset and raise your blood pressure.”
She winced. “I hate that so much. But you’re right. Moderate activity beats bed rest. What about sex?” She looked at me directly when she said that, but I could have sworn that pink stained her cheeks.
“I’m a male. I don’t think you can tell the baby’s for a few more weeks. Twenty? You’re halfway there.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say something about wanting me in your bed? I assumed there would be sex. Does being married to me make the conquest less exciting?”
“I have the idea that if there is conquest, it’ll be me being taken, not you. You don’t do well with being pursued. I should know. I’ve been trying to seduce you since the first time I saw you get out of Violet after that three hundred.”
“You offered me a job.”
I smiled at her. “What do you think seduction is?”
“You don’t seduce your employees. Ergo, hiring me would be the opposite of seducing me.”
“I’d make an exception for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Now I feel special. You don’t want to talk about sex. Why is that?”
I rubbed my hand through my hair. I needed a trim. “I’m nervous about it. You’re in a delicate condition, and I always pictured things with us to be a bit more rodeo than sweet.”
She stared at me. “You’re worried that you’ll hurt me? You think you’ll hurt the baby? I read up on it, and sex should be fine. You’re right, not crazy wild aerobic stuff, but normal… What is normal for you?” The look on her face was priceless.
I laughed and squeezed her hand. “Not marriage. Not pregnant women. Not living with someone. It’s great. I love the whole novel thing, but it’s a little nerve-wracking.”
“You’re having second thoughts?”
“No! Of course not. I’m just trying to figure out how to touch you without losing my mind.”
She smiled. “I won’t let you go crazy.”
“I’m not so sure about that. If I let you smell my books, you’ll probably ravage me without any caution whatsoever. I don’t know what your triggers are, other than motorcycles and golf carts. I’m not sure how to have boring sex with you.”
She started laughing. Laughing and laughing like I’d said the funniest thing. She had a great laugh, rich and deep and warm. And sinfully sexy. “All right, Horse. We’ll take it slow. How about you kiss me, closed mouth, for fifteen minutes a day until you’re comfortable enough to move to the next level.”
I swallowed and bit my lip. Kissing her for fifteen minutes a day? Were we really having this conversation? What was holding me back? I should take her right now and make her so euphoric that she never let me out of her bed again. “I like the sound of that.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Do you? To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever gone slow before.” She leaned close and gave me a butterfly kiss, her lashes brushing my cheek before she pulled
back. “Is that too hot for you?”
“A little bit.” Mm. She smelled so good. Did she want to go slow and sweet? From anyone else, I would think that she wanted to make it special, would call it love-making. I fluttered my lashes against the side of her smooth neck. “You?”
She laughed again, breathlessly.
I turned and took her in my arms. I gazed at her for a long moment, my heart pounding with that feeling in my stomach like I was about to leap out of an airplane before I brushed her lips with mine. So soft. So sweet. So much like love.
Her answering kiss was just as cautious, just as sweet, with trembling lips and shaky breath. I pulled away and studied her until she slid her fingers around my neck and rested her upper body on mine, melting against me.
“Horse,” she murmured and then there was nothing but Trixie’s breath and warmth, soft and real.
The surprise wedding party was two days later. At the reception hall on the edge of the desert, everything smelled like jasmine in the evening while the heat wasn’t suffocating. The food was good, alcohol plentiful, and my crew were reveling in the whole thing. It came across as a party to celebrate the fact that we were ahead of Nix, something we’d personally debate at the upcoming cage fight.
I mingled with the crowd, smiling and nodding without hearing what anyone said. I didn’t want to be a moment of folly to Trix. I wanted her permanently, as a constant star in my life.
I smiled when I saw Jezabel. She looked me up and down in a calculating way meant to put a man on his guard. She worked blatant flirtation as well as I did.
“I’m glad you made it,” I said warmly.
She raised her eyebrows. “I’m not sure why Nix found it necessary that you gloat personally, but he’s the boss.” She gave me another look to indicate that I was not, before she turned and sashayed off.
“Horse, what’s the game?” Mac frowned at me. He didn’t like these kinds of things. He got anxious.
“Publicity mostly, also a few changes coming up.”
“Like what?”
I put an arm around his massive shoulders. “A few week’s vacation.”
He stiffened up and turned furious eyes on me. “Vacation in the middle of the season? We’re on a roll and you want to quit? Do you not want to beat Nix into the ground where he belongs?”
“I appreciate the fire, but this is a family emergency.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Since when do you have family?”
I smirked, but then there was a rustling through the crowd as everyone looked at the head of the stairs where Trix stood. The blood red dress was like a flag, waving to my heart in the rhythm of love. The top was some kind of leather stuff, but it ended just beneath her bust and silky gauzy fabric floated out around her body over her feet. Trix wore black. Always. Except that night in the club with the amoeba, but that didn’t count. This wasn’t your typical suburban maternity outfit, not the leather bits on top that were a sharp contrast to her luscious softness.
Mac whistled. “What’s she up to?”
I threaded through the crowd towards her, unable to look away from the vision of voluptuous beauty.
I didn’t realize Mac was staying with me until he spoke again. “I realize that she’s your Everest, but you’ll never be able to seduce Trix the ordinary way.”
I glanced over at him. “What do you suggest?”
“Not the direct approach. You have to be subtle, play hard to get so she pursues you.”
“I’ve tried that. She ignores me.”
“But you constantly harassing her, trying to make her jealous with other women, it’s not going to work.”
I shot him a grin. “You’re probably right. I should definitely give the impression that she’s the one who caught me.” I slapped his shoulder and picked up my pace, pushing through people less gently. I met her halfway down the stairs.
“Trix,” I said.
She gave me a look, pursing her mouth in distaste which only reminded me how her mouth felt against mine.
“Mr. Horse.”
“Does that make you Mrs. Horse?”
She gave me a look of amused irritation. “I think you’ll be Mr. Trix.”
I grinned at her and gave her a once-over. There’s no way I would ever not ogle her in that stunning red gown. “Not your usual color. Is it comfortable? The leather looks a bit restrictive.”
“I’ve almost missed the leer. You certainly know how to make a woman feel desirable. Jason’s a genius. I ordered another in blue to match your eyes. You don’t think my breasts will keep getting bigger, do you?” Her eyes widened in horror at the thought.
I bit my lip. “I’m sure they’ll stop at some point.” I couldn’t talk about her breasts and ogle her at the same time. Her body was precious, every part of it and not something I could objectify.
“Horse!” Candy grabbed my arm and pressed against my side.
I froze, staring at Trix. Was she really going to act jealous in front of this crowd? It wasn’t her. She read my thoughts and winced before she grabbed Candy’s hand, removing it from me.
“Get your own man, Candy. This one’s taken.” She took my arm and draped it over her shoulders and grabbed me around the waist to pull me against her side.
“You and Horse?” Candy’s expression was dubious, but she backed off, hands up in surrender.
Trix raised her left hand and waved it lazily around so the enormous diamond sparkled light in Candy’s eyes. “Just until the magic wears off, then you can have him all you want.”
“You’re married?” Candy’s screech cut through all the conversation and everyone turned to gape at us.
I took her left hand, raised it for the world to see, and kissed it, slow, tasting each sliver of skin like we were somewhere very alone. I wished we were. This whole thing felt like a lie. We really were together, living in my apartment, enjoying each other’s company in every way.
“That’s enough,” Trix murmured. She wasn’t used to being on display as touchable, kissable, conquerable. I wasn’t used to belonging to one woman.
I scraped her skin with my teeth and then straightened to give her a wink. “Maybe for you, but I’m just getting started.”
“Nix’s going to go ballistic,” Candy said, still staring at us like she couldn’t believe this was real. Neither could I.
Trix shrugged and tugged me down the stairs after her. “He’ll cope. It won’t last long, just long enough to get him out of my system. Unless he gets bored with me first. It’s a race to the finish line.”
“Not possible,” I said, raking her with my eyes. It really wasn’t possible.
She held my hand for about ten minutes before she left me without a backwards glance. I watched her leave, the sway of her hips as mesmerizing as the rest of her.
“So, that’s the announcement,” Mac said, staring at me with glinty hard eyes over his drink.
“Incomprehensible, I know.”
“How did you manage it?”
“I couldn’t possibly tell you my secrets.”
He shook his head and glanced over at Trix where she moved through the crowd. “When she’s finished with you, you’ll still have to race against her. You’ll have to try and beat her.”
“We’re taking some time off.”
“So you said. Honeymoon?”
“Meeting her parents.”
He raised his eyebrows. “She has parents? Mob, right?”
I winced. “I have no idea.”
“You two are really having a baby together? Is that wise? Wouldn’t it be better to give it up for adoption? The two of you aren’t really parenting types.”
“I’ve been parenting the crew for how many years? How many times have you overdosed since you joined my team? You don’t say that to someone, Mac. If I weren’t such a good parent, I’d knock your head off. I might anyway. You don’t ever suggest that my wife is an unfit mother. Ever. That woman can do anything. She’s the single most brilliant, beautiful, talented female I
’ve ever met. Watch yourself. She’s my wife. My wife.”
I kept his gaze until he nodded and backed away. “Sure. I guess it’s not just a fling. At least not to you.”
I went to the bar and got a drink. I hadn’t been there long before a woman leaned against my back, sliding her hands around my chest.
“I’m taken,” I said, pushing her hands off. I turned to give the female a smile then froze when I saw the blond beauty married to my greatest opponent.
“Horse. Is it true? Are you and Trixie married?” Kitten’s Southern lilt matched the sultry intent in her eyes.
I stiffened up. “Very. How do you do? I’ll go find your husband for you.”
She stopped me with a hand wrapped around my arm. I glanced around. Only the bartender was in the room off from the main party. Where was Nix? Kitten was delicate. I couldn’t just remove her from my person. I’d bruise her.
“You don’t need to go. I’m perfectly content with my present company.” Her hands circled my bicep. She wasn’t strong, but that was exactly why I couldn’t get her off me.
“I’m not a good conversationalist. I really need to go.” I tugged away from her, careful so she didn’t fall over or anything.
She batted her lashes at me. “Are you telling me, no? I seem to recall you saying that you’d never do such a thing.”
“That was before I was married. Also, I was lying. I’d never touch Nix’s wife. Now, if you don’t mind…”
She finally released me and I backed away with a deep breath of relief. I stopped abruptly because Nix had been standing directly behind me.
He had an eyebrow raised. “You’d never touch my wife? I seem to recall bruises.”
I raised my hands. “Not the touching I was referring to. You put her up to this. Why?”
“Testing your loyalty. If you can resist my Kitten, then I don’t have to kill you straight off the bat.”
“Comforting. No, I’m not screwing around on Trixie. I’ve worked way too hard to get her to…” I ran a hand through my hair. “Is marriage always so nerve-wracking?”
He grinned at me and sipped his beer. “Basically. Kitten, you didn’t have to enjoy touching this sinner quite so much.”
