Page 88 of A Twisted Arrangement

“I really don’t think I can do that.”

It’s my turn to blush, and I cough to cover my nerves. “Pretend I didn’t mention it.”

“Deal.” She wraps her arms around her knees, now tucked to her chest. “If you had an issue with the whole drugging and kidnapping thing, why didn’t you run?”

“I did. Twice.”

She jerks back, eyes flaring. “Well, Damon left that out in our evening gossip.”

I lift my shoulders, then let them fall. “I’m not sure he knows about it.”

“Tell me! It’ll feel good to have one up on my husband for a change.”

“The first time, I threatened Matthias with a knife, and it ended with him carving my name into his neck.” I draw a line hollow of my neck and trace below my collarbone.

“Okay, that’s kinda hot. I wonder if Damon will do that.” She’s smiling wide, and not for the first time, I understand what Damon sees in her. It’s not her preciousness but the life she breathes into the room.

“He definitely will if you ask.”

She scrunches her nose. “It’s kinda messy. Maybe a tattoo?”

“Matching?”

“Maybe.” She hums in the back of her throat. “Your second attempt must have ended well, too, since you’re still here, after all.”

“The next day, my guard helped me escape, but I couldn’t leave him. I gave up.”

“Did you give in, or did you finally get out of your own way and recognize this is what you wanted?”

She drums her fingers on her knee. “Do you love him?”

“I…I d—” Pause. If I’m going to say that, I’m going to tell him first.

She laughs, butting through my nerviness. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s written all over your face.”

I cover my cheeks, knowing the heat in them is giving me away.

“He looks at you like you’re his world,” she says quietly.

“Well, he’s kind of obsessed with me now.”

“Not just now. If I saw him staring off into a room, I knew I’d find you on the other end. That man has been absolutely smitten, probably his entire life.”

“Well, we didn’t really get close until we were fifteen.”

“You cannot convince me it didn’t start sooner than that.” She drums her fingers on her knee. “You should set up a family dinner. I know the guys want to come visit.”

“Really? They haven’t shown any interest.”

“Are you for real? Matthias has shut down any attempt to come here. He’s not going to let them until you ask.”

I roll the idea of having the Everette family over in my mind, and I’m surprised to realize I like the idea. “I can ask, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be okay with it.”

Misty tilts her head, a mischievous smirk curling her lip. “You really don’t know how much power you have, do you?”

The keypad on the door beeps before Matthias steps in. My mouth waters just looking at him in his white collared shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first few buttons undone. His hair’s messy like he’s been dragging his hand through it, and it’s giving off just-had-sex vibes. My thighs rub together on their own as I take him in and process the fact that I’m married to thisman. That I’m going to keep seeing him come through that door for the rest of my life.

His dark gaze is hooded on mine, a lazy smile curling his lip as he walks closer. “Miss me, wife?”

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