Page 21 of Impending Consent

“Then you’ve changed your mind about remaining married to me? Because based on our past few conversations about this, you’ve been demanding an out.”

“That’s not fraud. That’s me changing my mind.”

“That’s you setting all this up to have sex with me because I told you no and Sailor Addison doesn’t do no.”

I cringed again but recovered and narrowed my eyes. “Fine, if I have to admit to fraudulently misleading you into a marriage in order to get it annulled; then so be it.”

“Are you also willing to lose half of everything you own?”

“You don’t have to take my money. And if this isn’t about money, why would you?”

“Principle,” he stated sternly.

I lifted a hand and bypassed the water, electing for the wine. I gulped it down, emptying the glass, which I quickly refilled and gulped that down as well. Once the second glass was done, I slammed it on the table.

“Easy, killer. That’s how we ended up here in the first place.”

“No, Hennessy is how we ended up here and why would you want to remain married? You don’t even like me.”

His smile was so damn sexy I hated how much I appreciated the visual of his full brown lips. “What makes you think I don’t like you?”

“Because you’re doing this….” I threw my hand toward him.

“This?”

“Forcing me to stay married to you and threatening to take my money.”

“I’m not threatening to take your money, Sail, and requesting that you honor your vows, vows you voluntarily delivered, is not forcing you. It also proves that I do like you. I like you a lot and want you as my wife regardless of how we ended up here.”

“ButIdon’t want you.”

He stared smugly and his brow slowly inclined. “I disagree.”

“You think because I did all this to have sex that means I want you?”

“Are you admitting that you manipulated me for sex?”

“No…” He smiled wider then forced some snapper into his mouth. “You told me no, which I didn’t appreciate, so I employed other tactics to get the job done because…”

“You don’t lose.”

I frowned. “No, I don’t, but that wasn’t why I did it.”

“Then explain your reasons and maybe I’ll reconsider.”

I narrowed my eyes and his remained on me. “I had too much alcohol in my system, which messed with my logic. That’s why I did it. Can we just agree that I messed up and end this?”

“No.”

“No?” I reared my head back.

“I said no, Sail. I meant what I said. I like you; I want this to work. I feel like it can but you have to be willing to try.”

“I don’t want to try. Why would I try?” I threw my hands up and he continued to stare at me.

“We’re married. I don’t take that lightly, even if you do. I wasn’t drunk. I knew what I was doing, and even if you were, you knew also…”

“I don’t remember any of what happened, so how can you say I knew?”

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