Page 81 of Salvaged Hearts

“Sure, sure, sure, but I bet you werelookingat his ass any time he left a room.”

I shrugged. “Even pricks can fill out slacks well.”

Leighton threw her head back and cackled so hard she nearly fell out of her chair. Through her wheeze-like giggles, she breathed, “Never seen a prick as impressive as a Hart brother.” Her sporadic giggles had me coming apart at the seams like only sisters could do. Laughter-induced tears streaming from her eyes, she finally managed, “Is he as well-endowed as they look? Or is that some kind of rich guy crotch padding?”

Oh. Dear. Lord. “You have no idea,” I admitted sheepishly, aware all the heat in my body had congregated in my face.

“Please,” she scoffed. “Greyson drips big dick energy.”

“Yes,” I breathed, “he does.”

“Damn, hewasgood,” she observed.

“The end of all future sexual conquests good.”

Leighton’s delighted little wiggle did nothing to ease the nerves in my belly. Neither did her next words. “Well, at least you know you’re compatible. That should make this wholearrangement better. I wonder if you’ll fight less now that you can screw like bunnies.”

“Leigh,” I scolded, simply because it was easier than acknowledging we were in this marriage for the next three years, regardless of how this conversation went. “Don’t be so crass.”

“Don’t be such a prude,” she scoffed. “Stop holding out. Give me details on the fun stuff.”

“Big words for a woman still hanging onto her V-card.”

She shrugged like that didn’t bug her at all. Honestly, I shouldn’t tease her about it, but we were all a little perplexed about what she was waiting for. “All the more reason for you to take pity on me and let me live vicariously through you.” She smacked her hands down on the marble, abruptly leaning forward. I sighed and melted onto the stool beside her. “Seriously. Tell me. What was he like? Soft and sweet doesn’t really scream Greyson. He’s so serious all the time. Was he bossy?Oooh, I bet he’s a dirty talker.”

“He is,” I mumbled weakly, sliding my coffee across the island. Chewing on my lower lip, I stirred the little gold heart spoon in circles as she waited with bated breath. “Book boyfriend level dirty talker. At one point, he told me to come like his dirty little slut, and Iexplodedon command. Like.Sir. Excuse you?” I shook my head, blinking the lusty haze away. “I don’t even understand what happened last night,” I admitted. But I could remember the harsh feel of his fingers on my skin, the delicious bruises where he’d held on for dear life while he gave me what we both so desperately wanted. “I almost cried, but it was like he…sensed it. He cradled my face, kissed away my fear, and held me until my breathing evened out. The next time, he was so gentle. It was like he used his body to soothe mine. He kept telling me he had me and wasn’t going anywhere.” Dropping the hand that hovered in front of my lips, I widenedmy eyes, blowing the air from my lungs into my cheeks before slowly releasing it. “The next three were…more physical.”

“That'swhy you’re walking funny?” She flashed a Cheshire smirk.

“Piss off,” I laughed. “Just surprised I can stand.”

Her laughter gave way to a pensive expression as she studied me. Sucking in a deep breath, Leighton hedged, “He cares for you, sissy. More than I think you realize. Certainly more thanIrealized. I thought I’d have to kill him and call Jameson to hide the body.” My watery laugh made her smile as she added, “I swear when that migraine hit, you would’ve thought he was ready to kill that photographer. I’m not saying it’s love yet, but it certainly isn’t apathy.”

“That’s what freaked me out last night, I think. I was ready for physical, but it got?—”

“Emotional?”

“Spiritual,” I said uncertainly. “I have experienced nothing like that, so it’s hard to articulate. But this morning,” I huffed a heavy breath, sliding off the stool to cross to the doorway. “It would’ve been easy to blow off as some physical attraction, but when I went to find toothpaste, I saw this in his linen cabinet.” Reaching inside my discarded bag, I pulled out the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me and held it aloft for her to see. Leighton narrowed her eyes in confusion.

“You’re…going to space?” She teased.

Laughing, I shook my head. “When that migraine hit, I’d asked if any of the staff had a cold cap, and he ordered me some.Not one—which would’ve been kind enough—but three, like he was afraid the first wouldn’t work or something.” I looked at the ridiculous blue hat and smiled, sucking down a breath. “He’s…surprisingly kind, this beast of mine.”

“What?”

“Never mind,” I laughed, shaking my head.

“Did you call him a beast!?”

“I made a joke the first week that I’m Belle in his castle. It kinda stuck.”

“Oh, nowshut up—that’s too cute.”

“He calls me his Belle,” I admitted, smiling softly.

“His beautiful,” Leighton swooned dreamily, clutching at her chest. “Alice, if you don’t start dating your husband, we’re going to have problems.” Laughing, I buried my face in my hands as she asked, “Is he already in the office this morning? He’s an early bird like you, right?”

“I don’t know,” I said, staring at the sweet gesture hanging from my fingers. There’d been an entire basket in there—essential oils, smelling salts, a business card for an acupuncturist, migraine-specific medication. He’d bought the internet’s go-to solutions like he was stocking a me-focused apothecary.

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