Page 87 of The Wrong Husband
He tips his head toward Connor, eyes twinkling. “When you meet the woman of your dreams, you don’t muck about.”
Then, with a sincerity that softens his rough edges, he brings his fingers together in front of him—a quaint, almost reverent gesture that somehow suits him perfectly.
“Truly. I couldn’t be happier for the both of you.”
"Thank you." Connor wraps his arm about my waist and pulls me closer.
I shoot him a glance to find he’s watching me with a possessive look in his eyes. One which makes my cheeks flush. Our gazes meet, and the air between us spikes with heat. Unsaid emotions tremble in the space between us, turning it into a living, breathing thing which connects us and snaps us closer. I find myself swaying toward him, when Alfred clears his throat.
I blink and turn to him. "Thank you for the warm welcome," I say softly.
"Of course, Miss." He guides us to the elevator.
"Call me Phoenix, please."
"Of course, Miss Hamilton." The expression on his face indicates he has no intention of calling me anything other than Miss, but that he’s happy to humor me into thinking otherwise.
He reaches the elevator, stabs the button to summon the car, then turns to me.
"The Lion Mills building formerly housed cotton, silk, and wool manufacturing facilities. Now, the repurposed structure offers loft-like apartments that pay tribute to the site’s storied past."
"It’s gorgeous." I glance around the reception area with its arched ceilings and wooden floors, which I swear, must be original.
"We have a shared courtyard garden at the back, but there are also a number of nearby green spaces, including Haggerston Park, Victoria Park, and London Fields. The flat is also conveniently located less than a mile from Broadway Market, as well as the Columbia Road Flower Market."
"The flower market?" I clap my hands. "It’s one of my favorite parts of London. Of course, I’ll have to commute a little more to get to the hospital, but this building has so much character." I look around again. "I’m sure it will be worth it."
"Hospital, ma’am?" Alfred frowns. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, yes, of course." I wave my hand in the air.
Before I can clarify further, Connor jumps in with, "My wife-to-be is a brilliant ER doctor. In fact, she saved my life."
"That might be an exaggeration." I flush a little more.
The pride in his voice is evident, and it does funny things to my insides.
"No exaggeration when I say you’re simply in your element in the ER. I’ve never seen anything sexier than when you’re in your scrubs, taking charge of the chaos, and taking care of patients.” His eyes shine.
"Oh." My chest swells.
Could he be more perfect? The fact that he sees me as not just a woman who’s malleable to his commands, but as someone who’s a thinking human able to make decisions, and that he respects my calling, makes me wonder if he’s real.
He’s so different from Drew, who never lost an opportunity to rub in the fact that he was a more experienced medical professional than I was. I realize now, it was his insecurity that made him put me down in front of the hospital staff every chance he got.
Drew came from an impoverished background, went to medical school on a scholarship, and is brilliant at his job. In comparison, I felt I wasn’t good enough at my job. He took full advantage of that. Especially since, I never told him off.
Connor, though… The way he speaks about me—with that quiet certainty, that unwavering confidence in my skills. It anchors me. His pride in the work I do, in who I am as a trauma specialist, seeps under my skin and settles somewhere deep. It makes me stand taller. It makes me believe I’m more than just capable—I’m exceptional. He makes me feel good about being me. He makes me feel complete.
I bite my lower lip. Connor’s gaze drops there. His blue eyes turn silver. His arm around my waist tightens. I tip my chin up and sway toward him. The elevator car arrives, and the doors slide open. I look away, and with my head spinning from the intensity of our connection, follow him inside. He nods in Alfred’s direction.
"Thanks, Al. Make sure you watch out for her."
He half bows. "Goes without saying, sir." His plummy tones imply he’s outraged that Connor felt it necessary to remind him about this.
As soon as the doors slide shut, Connor places his thumb into the biometric sensor next to the panel of buttons. The P on the top of the panel lights up. Of course, he has the penthouse. Then, he pushes me into the wall and takes my mouth. I sigh, allowing him to thrust his tongue between my lips.
He fucks my mouth with his tongue, miming the way he’ll take my pussy.
