“There is no future,” she mumbled, looking outside the window.
I spotted a small motel light ahead, and I slowed down, putting on the blinker.
“That,” I said, pulling into the parking lot, “is where you are wrong.”
I got out of the SUV before she could reply.
It was closer to one before we arrived the next day. As we pulled up behind the building where she directed me to go, she reached for the door handle eagerly. The sleep and food we’d had the night before helped restore her pallor. She had been quiet at the motel, not objecting to me sliding in beside her since there was one bed in the small room. As usual when I woke, she was nestled close and my arms were around her. I knew she would refuse to admit her body knew where she belonged even if her pride screamed against it, so I moved away carefully and grabbed the first shower.
I followed her, handing over her bag. She began to turn away when I called her name. “Grace.”
“What?”
“If you really want to keep our marriage a secret, you need to remove that.” I indicated her hand with a tilt of my chin.
She glanced down at the thin band on her finger. “I can’t get the damn thing off. It’s too small.”
“It was the only one they had that didn’t fall off your hand. Mine too. They’d been busy.”
“Too big would have been easier to get rid of.”
I lifted one eyebrow but didn’t tell her she’d never be rid of me. Instead, I held out my hand and drew her close. I picked up a handful of snow and put it in my mouth, then sucked her finger inside, swirling my tongue around the digit. Her pupils grew large as she stared, transfixed. Slowly, I sucked, caught the ring with my teeth, then released her finger, the metal disc sitting on my tongue.
I held it up. “Ta-da!”
I wasn’t prepared for her fast movement. One second, she was in front of me; the next, her lips were on mine and her arms looped around my neck. I took full advantage of the situation and kissed her hungrily. Our tongues slid together, and I groaned deep in my chest. She whimpered, her hands tightening on my neck, and I yanked her as close as I could. She broke away with a gasp, and I buried my face into her neck, nipping at the skin, knowing I was leaving a tiny mark.
I wanted to mark her. Remind her she was mine even if the ring was gone from her finger.
She pushed away, her color high, her breaths coming out in sharp gasps. Her hair was a mess from the short time my fingers spent in it, and she was beautiful. Glowing. Enraged.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
She turned and ran.
“See you soon, darling,” I called, licking my lips, still tasting her.
Love and hate. How often she mixed up the two. I would have to remind her of that soon.
I watched the ceremony from the back of the room. The attendants were lovely, the bride beautiful, but none of them held a candle to Grace. Stunning in her gown, she was elegant and sexy. The muted gold suited her, casting her skin in a soft glow. Her hair was gathered away from her face, cascading down her back in a mass of curls and waves. She wore only earrings, allowing the dress to shine on its own. She took my breath away, and my determination to keep her solidified. I wasn’t allowing anything to come between us again. Simply the thought made me angry.
I got some curious stares, and I had to remind myself not to glare at people. I wasn’t used to social interactions of this sort. Family gatherings. They were a complete mystery to me, but they were important to Grace, so I knew I had to get used to them.
In the receiving line, Grace stepped forward, introducing me as her coworker, stumbling over the words as she lied. I lifted one eyebrow in amusement and congratulated the couple, thanking them for allowing me to attend. Addison Riley, the new bride, Grace’s best friend, and pseudo cousin, waved her hand.
“Nonsense. Grace told us how you drove nonstop to get her here. We are indebted to you and thrilled to have you with us.” Her new husband, Brayden, distracted her, and she turned to the next guest, so I was able to move on.
I stood in front of Grace, smiling. She could have told them it was my fault. She could have made up any story about why she had missed the event the night before. Instead, she made me the hero. Still, I couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Coworker, Grace darling? A bit more, I think,” I whispered close to her ear as I bent, pretending to kiss her cheek.