Page 52 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

He takes in the whitewashed brick walls decorated with various art and wall decorations. Throughout the room are accents of black. Black pipes that are exposed throughout the room along with the black steel pillars and framing around the windows. The floor is hardwood but is covered in various colored rugs that add color to their designated areas. In the living room is a plush grey carpet with a black couch on top with a unique wooden table in front and a side table to the side. Further into the room, he can see the kitchen with dark grey cabinets above and below white marble countertops. Evenfurther is a hallway leading to several doors to other rooms, such as a bedroom, a bathroom, and, my favorite, a library with thick cushioned chairs and a couch. Back in the main room, there are plants interspersed everywhere. The only thing missing is a skylight to look up into the night sky for star gazing. Maybe one day at the next home I acquire. Maybe something outside the city so they won’t be clouded by the city’s light pollution too.

Jordan turns to face me after he has taken in every inch of the place.

“Nice digs you got here, darling.”

My breath hitches with the word darling. I think in the back of my mind I never thought to hear him call me that again or realized how much I loved hearing it from him.

“Thank you. Do you want a drink?”

“I wouldn’t say no to one.”

I nod and make my way to the kitchen. I pour both of us a glass of whiskey. Sliding his across the island between us, I say “Sorry, no bourbon.”

“This will do.”

Silence saturates the air between us. I fidget with my glass between my hands on the counter. Looking up nervously, I see Jordan staring at me patiently. Expectantly. I’m the one who asked him to come here so I could talk to him, so I should be the one to start, right? Right.

I clear my throat. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“You told me that.”

“Right. I also said I don’t want to marry Zander. I can’t.”

“You also told me that. I thought your father was forcing your hand? Threatening Danny if you didn’t?”

“He still is.”

His eyebrows furrow with confusion. “So, what’s changed?”

“Danny says he has a plan to get me out of it. He won’t tell me what it is because I need to be able to deny I know what he has planned.”

“And you trust him?”

“With my life,” I say confidently and without hesitation. “Danny would never do anything that would put me at risk. He will do anything to make sure I’m happy and free to live my life how I want to live it.”

“And how do you want to live it?”

“With love,” I whisper.

Again, we stare at each other silently. The anger and frustration has melted away from him now. Out of the lines in his face and the tension in his shoulders.

“I saw two couples today that made my heart ache with longing. I realized I want what they had Jordan, and I am sure as hell not going to get that with Zander. Just a lot of pain and hate, whether I ask for it or not.”

“That’s an odd thing to say about pain. Whether you ask for it or not? You a masochist now?”

“No. It’s just that I told Zander the marriage would be in title only and nothing more. He didn’t agree with that and said he’ll take what he wants.”

All of a sudden rage overcomes Jordan. I thought I had seen him mad earlier at the bar, but it is nothing compared to right now.

He throws his glass at a wall suddenly.

I jump in surprise but not fear.

Turning to look me directly in my eyes in all seriousness, he growls “I’ll fucking kill him!” His hands grip the granite countertop to where his knuckles are white and a tiny part of me is concerned he might just crack it.

“You can’t kill him, Jordan.”

He glares at me. “Watch me!” He starts to move across the room and towards the front door.

---