Page 66 of The Wedding Hoax

We were sharing a cab ride back home, but there was no sign of life inside the car. Simone hadn’t said a word to me since we’d gotten the check.

And I couldn’t think of anything to say to her, either.

Why can’t we cheat on each other?

The question was rolling around in my mind, gaining traction with each turn. There was something burning in the back of my brain, too, every time I looked over at her.

I needed to say something.

I knew that, but instead, I just pushed everything down. I didn’t want to be the first one to put their cards on the table, only to have Simone tell me that she wasn’t even interested in playing cards. It didn’t help that she hadn’t mentioned feeling anything for me, at all. Even when it looked like she was about to cry during dinner, it seemed like she was more upset about being called a cheater than the idea of actually cheating.

Shit.

I needed to apologize about that. If I didn’t say anything else tonight, the least I needed to do was tell her sorry for jumping to conclusions. I mentally rehearsed my apology, playing it on repeat in my head as we pulled up to the house. Once we were inside, I followed behind her, intent on walking her all the way to her bedroom.

As soon as we reached it, she quickly tried to open her door.

But I pulled it shut, keeping us both in the hall. “Simone. I’m sorry—”

“What if I was?”

“What?”

“What if I was cheating on you?” Simone stared at me. “How would that make you feel?”

“Simone, we have a contract. If anyone found out that you were sleeping with someone else while we’re married, it would be in violation of—”

“What if I invited him over and slept with him in my bed?”

“Simone, what are you—”

“How would that make you feel, Harry?” Simone moved closer. “If I was with somebody else in the same bed that I’ve been with you in?”

I felt something in my blood start to boil. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean just to piss me off.”

“So, that’s how you’d feel, then? Pissed off?”

“One hundred percent,” I said.

“Why?”

“Because you’re mine, Simone. That’s why. And as long as you’re married to me, no one else gets to touch you the way that I touch you.”

“Not even Jace?”

“You’re playing a dangerous game right now, Simone.” I pressed my body against hers, until her back was to the door.

“I never said I was playing a game.” Her words were low as she gently brushed her fingers along the underside of my jaw. She was quiet for a moment before she whispered again, “Show me.”

“Show you what?”

“Show me how no one else is supposed to touch me.” Simone’s hand trailed down my chest.

But I moved her hand away from me, right before I reached for her hips. A few seconds later and I’d lifted Simone high enough for her to wrap her legs around my waist in return.

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