Page 26 of Merciful Lies

“Anna, you’re dead on your feet. You look like shit.”

“Thanks.”

“I just mean you need to sleep,” I say, biting my tongue. “Look, I don’t want you to worry about anything but resting, okay?”

She just stares at me, but she nods. That’s a win and I’ll take it.

I know Anna doesn’t trust me.

Not yet.

But she will.

I give her a very brief tour of the condo, showing her the living room, kitchen, and last, the bedroom.

“Is this my room?” she asks as she steps over the threshold.

“It’s our bedroom.”

Her shoulders tense again. Only this time it’s because of me, and I don’t like it.

“B-but?—”

“You’re my wife and you’ll sleep next to me. Every night. In my bed. Understand?”

She looks shocked, but nods. Really, she can’t be feeling any more surprised than I am.

Even when we were saying our vows, I had every intention of showing her the guest bedroom at least for tonight. But not now.

Now, I want Anna in my bed. More than ever.

I already know I’m not the wooing kind. Giving orders is more my speed, and she seems to accept my decree.

Or maybe it’s just weariness that won out. Either way, I’ll take it.

“I don’t have any clothes,” she whispers.

I frown.

She’s right.

“Tomorrow we’ll get your stuff from your apartment. You can wear these tonight,” I say and grab a pair of soft cotton boxers and a plain t-shirt from my drawer.

Ana moves to the restroom and uses the facilities. She comes out dressed in my clothes and my heart starts to pound steadily.

Now, I’ve been with all kinds of women. Stunning women with porn star bodies. But none of them could hold a candle to sweet, soft Anna as she walks slowly to my bed wearing my clothes.

Fuck.

That elusive feeling of peace teases the periphery of my senses. It’s a feeling I haven’t seen hide nor hair of since the last time I saw her.

It makes no sense. I haven’t known her long enough, even if I watched her from afar for weeks before we met.

Somehow, someway I feel a rightness when I am with her.

Like just having her near brings light to the constant darkness that is my life. And knowing she’s mine now, well, that does something else to me.

I watch her run her small hand over the covers on my bed with a fierce, rapacious hunger. I know she needs time, so I won’t touch her tonight.

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