Page 49 of The One Night Match
He nods, wrapping his arms around me and the dog. “You can have anything you want as long as you stop crying.”
“Anything?” I murmur.
“Anything but the end of our marriage.”
I sigh but allow myself to sink into his warmth. This man has no goddamn right smelling so good and looking like a tattooed god. I’d be stupid to pass up the opportunity.
Cruz looks down at Kevin, his face showing all the distaste for the animal, but the fact that he’s willing to let him stay because that’s what I want is backfiring a little. The way my chest clenches with emotions I have no right to feel. The way my body leans into his of its own accord. And the way my core aches to be pinned to the bed like I was this morning.
When I told Lexi what happened this morning, she came up with the idea of Kevin. His owner is going away for a few weeks and needed someone to take care of him. Which then changed to him staying with us.
I am a little concerned about Mr. Whiskers, which is why the cat is currently locked up in my bedroom, fast asleep on a cat bed I took up there, seeing as my bed no longer resides in its place.
I’ve yet to figure out how to navigate that particular issue, but that’s a bridge I’ll cross tonight. If I’m honest, part of me hoped we’d have a big fight about Kevin, and that would give me an excuse to sleep on the couch, but clearly that’s backfired in my face.
“How about you go get Kevin settled, and I’ll order us some dinner?” he murmurs against the top of my head.
I nod and pull away, forcing myself to leave his warmth. I’m already too addicted to being in his arms, and that’s a problem.
There are a million reasons I refuse to stay in this marriage, but the very real feelings that are growing for Cruz are pushing to the top.
Because life as a Mafia boss is uncertain and dangerous, and if I let myself fall for him, let myself care, losing him would probably be the end of me.
Kevin sleeps soundly in his playpen in the dining room with more toys than any dog could possibly need, while Mr. Whiskers walks around the house acting like we’re ruining his life.
Well, more accurately, he’s acting like Cruz ruined his life, which is funny because if he had his way, Kevin wouldn’t be here at all.
I’m exhausted, but I refuse to get up to get ready for bed, knowing I have no other choice than to sleep with Cruz. Maybe if my body weren’t already betraying me at every opportunity, it wouldn’t be so bad. But the longer I spend in his company, the closer I come to throwing caution to the wind and allowing him to fuck me the way he did that night in the club.
Except this time, it wouldn’t be a one-night stand I’d never see again. It would be my husband that I’m trying not to fall for while also trying to stop him from having any feelings for me.
It’s a complicated situation that I don’t need to be any more complicated.
“Do you think that if you fall asleep on the couch, I’m not going to move you to the bed?” he asks, his voice amused as he brushes his fingers up my bare thigh.
I’m still in my workout shorts and oversized shirt I wore to do yoga earlier, and I’m suddenly regretting not changing into longer pants.
“I’m not tired,” I lie.
“You’re basically falling asleep where you’re sitting.”
“I am not.”
He sighs. “Riley, let’s go to bed.”
“I don’t have a bed. Remember? You had it removed this morning.”
“Oh, I remember. And if you recall, you’ll be sleeping with me from here on out. In our bed.”
I roll my eyes and hug one of the cushions to my chest to hide the way my nipples harden at those words on his lips. My mind may be ready to get the fuck out of this marriage, but my body is very much down for everything being married to Cruz brings.
We sit for a few more minutes, my eyes drooping closed as I stifle another yawn.
“That’s it,” he murmurs, his arms sliding behind my back and beneath my knees before he lifts me from the couch, cushion and all.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
“Taking you to bed.”
