Page 19 of Splintered Security
“What?” His strong arms squeeze me.
“You’re a morning person, aren’t you? This is two days in a row of you being chatty and awake. Early.”
“It’s hardly early, Anni. It’s nearly eight.”
“What?” I spring off the bed and move in panicked circles, never quite making it anywhere. There’s so much to do and we need to leave in ninety minutes.
Strong hands on my shoulders and low words above me bring my circles to an abrupt halt. “Calm, baby. No need to stress yourself out. We have time.”
Not much. Not enough.There’s shit to dowas the understatement of the day. “I’ll give youDie Hardif you make me coffee and give me every last minute we have this morning.”
“Done.” He kisses the top of my head and saunters out of the bedroom.
I’m not a fast showerer. I’m not a fast anything in the mornings, but today is special. It’s not a surrounded-by-family-and-friends moment of love to be shared, but it is my day. My day with Ren, even if it is a wedding I coerced him into due to bad decisions and shit outside my control.
I can’t think of that today. I have too much to do and too little time to do it in.
Besides, thinking of August today will bring the melancholy and tears. And I need one day that doesn’t bring either.
I step out of the shower I took at warp speed and settle at the vanity. Ren hands me a steaming cup of coffee, squeezes my shoulder and, without a word, strips out of his boxers, stepping into the shower. His back is to me the whole time, but… Damn, that ass. Damn those thighs sprinkled with black hair.
But his back. His back silences everything. Two nights ago didn’t wreck his back. Two nights ago added to the wreckage of his back. Maybe one day he’ll tell me. Or maybe I’ll be one of those girls who would do anything to know Ren’s secrets but who never will.
I sigh and avert my gaze from the mirror and take a big sip of coffee. I slather on all the lotions and potions and work my hair from the towel. No need to attempt drying it with all this steam, but I can add the serum and detangle, using the normalcy of the routine to calm my racing thoughts.
Ren apparently is the opposite of my sloth-like preparation speed. He showers, shampoos, brushes his teeth, and shaves in ten minutes—maybe less—and leaves the room. He’s leftthe house, actually, claiming he’ll be right back and not even giving me the alarm code. “No need, Sunshine. You’re not leaving and no one else is getting in.”
I use the time to blow my dark hair out in sleek straight sheets down my back, pulling a section back behind one ear and pinning it with a shimmery clip. It’s a new school look on old school glam, and I’m pleased with how it turns out.
My makeup is soft and dewy but with enough effort that it looks elegant, not underdone. Teeth brushed and coffee breath nixed, I dress, add a lovely rosy shimmer to my lips, and check the final look in the mirror.
I’d say “It’ll do” but it’s so much better than that.
It’s the sharp intake of breath that snaps my attention to the door.
To Ren in a charcoal suit with a gray silk tie.
Ren
I’m stunned. Annika is always beautiful.
Always.
But this is…
“You are stunning.”
“Thank you.”
The soft smile that melts across her face is the best reward I’ll ever receive.
Stunning.
She looks down, brushing imaginary nothings from the bodice of her dress. And the dress… It’s a shimmery peachy-pink but silvery—I don’t know what you call it. But it’s strapless and hugs every place on her body. The hem stops just above her calves, and her legs in those jeweled heels are enough to bring me to my knees.
The woman could ask me to crawl across glass in that dress, and I’d sign up to do it twice.
“Fuck me.”
