Page 112 of Power Play

“I’ve been thinking about the problem.” I reach for the notepad I’ve been scribbling on all day and hold it up so he can see. “I made a very extensive pros and cons list.”

“You’ve been busy. What’s number one on the con side?”

My lips twitch. “How grumpy you are. Followed closely by how much you kick in your sleep.”

“Valid.”

“Before I tell you my opinions, I want to know what you think we should do.”

“I’ve gone back and forth. An annulment makes everything go away. No one will ever know—besides Hudson, that fucker—and we can pretend it never happened. Staying married means it’ll end in divorce when we’re ready to move on, which is a lot harder to hide. The flip side of that, though, is you’ll have access to my bank account. My insurance and, as much as I hate to say it, my name.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone in this city knows who I am. You mention you’re Liam Sullivan’s wife, and you’re going to get things you didn’t have before. It’s a shitty privilege because I’m no better than anyone out there doing their job, but it exists.”

There’s a flutter in my chest when he says word.

Wife.

“What would that mean for our personal lives? We’re not going to cohabitate, are we? It’s strictly a legal obligation for medical benefits.”

“Correct. You live your life. I live mine. If you want to keep doing our sex lessons, we can, but I’m not sure if that would complicate things more. There’s no obligation to me. Well, besides Spain for the wedding,” he adds, almost like an afterthought. “But I can understand if you want to back out of that too.”

It’s my turn to be selfish, because I can’t imagine stopping our lessons now.

We’re nearing the finish line, and I’ve been dreaming about what sex would be like with Liam.

Everything up to this point has been earth-shattering.

He’s set the bar high for future relationships because he’s thorough. Persistent. A giver who isn’t happy untilI’mhappy, and it’s disarming to be taken care of physically and emotionally.

There are the orgasms that rattle my world.

But there are other smaller, more important things.

The way he holds me after we’ve cleaned up. The kiss to my forehead and his arms, heavy and steady, as my feet come back to the ground.

I know people look at Liam Sullivan and see a professional athlete, but with me, he’s so much more.

Kind and considerate.

Soft and tender.

A man with a heart so big, I never have to worry about where I stand.

He’s my best friend too.

And I’m certain down deep in my soul, no matter which way this goes, there won’t be any resentment or anger at the end of it all. It won’t be like the last time I was married. I won’t be wishing I could take days or weeks or months back.

He’ll make me as happy as he does right now, and what a gift that is.

I glance down at my extensive list, and I know it doesn’t matter what might be on the con side. I’ve made my decision.

“I don’t want an annulment,” I say slowly. His chin jerks up and he looks at me. “We’re sleeping together. We’re going to pretend to date. How hard can a marriage-with-benefits be?”

Liam’s grin is slow and beautiful. He reaches across the cushions and wraps his fingers around my wrist, giving me a little tug. I tumble toward him, our chests almost pressed together and our mouths inches apart.

“I want you to be sure,” he murmurs. “Don’t say yes because you think it’s what I want to hear. Don’t say yes because you think it’s going to make you cursed down the road. Don’t say yes because you think men are going to care how many times you’ve been divorced. Say yesonlybecause you really and truly want tobe legally bound to me, Piper. Because you want to be my wife and benefit from what I have to give you for now.”

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