Page 45 of Impending Consent

I rolled my eyes, typing a quick response.

Me: Hardly blissful. Just weird.

Skylar: Weird good or weird bad?

Me: Just weird. His friend came by for lunch.

Skylar: And?

Me: And nothing. We ate Thai food and talked.

Skylar: You hate Thai food.

Me: I know.

Skylar: And you ate it and didn't complain?

Me: I was on my best behavior.

Skylar: Who are you and what have you done with my sister?

I didn't respond. I didn't know myself anymore. The Sailor Addison who existed a week ago—confident, independent, allergic to commitment—was disappearing and being replaced by someone who ate food she hated to impress her fake husband's friend.

Me: Still me, Sky. Relax. You told me to play nice so that’s what I’m doing.

Skylar: I did but surely didn’t think you would do it. I’m proud of you.

I groaned and locked my phone when I heard a knock on my door.

"Yeah?"

Rival opened the door and glanced around the room before his eyes locked on mine.

"There's a problem with the upstairs bathroom. Leak under the sink, simple fix but I could use an extra pair of hands."

"I'm not exactly a plumber.”

"Neither am I but I think we can make it work. Consider it your contribution to our happy home."

I sighed and lifted from the bed. "Fine, but if the house gets flooded, it's on you."

He led me to the bathroom across the hall from my bedroom, where a small puddle had formed on the floor beneath the sink. I had a feeling hewantedmy help more than he needed it, and shit, I liked being wanted by my husband.

"Hand me that wrench," he said, gesturing to a toolbox he'd brought up. He was already on his back, sliding under the sink to inspect the pipes.

I rummaged through the toolbox, finding what he needed. "Here."

He worked for a minute before extending his arm from under the sink.

"Hold this." He passed me a section of pipe while he worked on something else.

I knelt beside him, peering under the cabinet to see what he was doing. His T-shirt moved up his body, revealing a tattooI hadn't noticed before curving around his side. Some sort of geometric pattern that disappeared beneath his shirt.

"I’ve never paid attention to the detail of this," I said without thinking, then moved my fingers over his skin.

He glanced at me, looking amused as hell. "I have more. Would you like a detailed overview? I know every inch of your body, Sail. Seems a little unfair that you don’t know mine.”

"When we were naked I was distracted by other things." I immediately regretted my choice of words when his smile widened.

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