Page 55 of Harbinger

“It’s okay to check me out. I won’t hold it against you.”

I roll my eyes. “Sorry, pal, I’m not interested.”

He looks up, his eyes darkening as the corner of his lips lift in a wicked smile.

And suddenly, I find him right in front of me. His hands go to my stomach, pushing me back.

“You can admit it, Sydney.”

I breathe in, closing my eyes. His scent surrounds me. Whiskey and sin. “There’s nothing for me to admit, Ronan.”

His head dips down, his eyes level with mine as he comes closer, brushing his lips against mine in a feather-like touch. “What are you trying to do?” I ask him, keeping my composure.

“I’m trying towin,” he says, and it snaps me out of my daze in an instant.

“Fuck you,” I spit as I try to shove him off, but I’m only shoved back into the wall, my breath knocked out of me.

“You’re the one who started this. I’m the one trying to finish it.”

The air is electrified with something I don’t quite understand, an unavoidable doom that leaves my brain fuzzy, my hands shaking as they press into the wall.

“I’m not one to break, Ronan. You can do whatever you want to me. There is no game.”

He scoffs. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

I meet his eyes, biting my lip as I press into him, my lips on his neck. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, husband,” I whisper. I push him off of me, heading to the bed where I sit, watching him stand there, something that looks a lot like fury flashing across his handsome face.

“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it’s not going to get to me.”

“You won’t admit that you’re attracted to me,” I start.

“Because I’m not.”

“Meanwhile, you’re ticked off that I won’t admit I’m attracted to you.” Ronan opens his mouth to argue, but I put my hand up, silencing him. “I think you need to ask yourself why you really care that much.”

His mouth shuts, and after a few seconds of staring at me, he starts buttoning his shirt, looking anywhere but at me.

* * *

“We’re here to take care of business and nothing more. I may have to talk to some people I know, but you need to keep quiet unless you’re talked to, okay? Most of the time, wives talk to each other, but most don’t mingle with the men.”

“Am I going to have to walk around with you?”

“Of course, just don’t get us into trouble.”

I feign shock. “I would never,” I tell him, pressing my hand to my chest. He looks at me from the side, smiling.

“This is really important, Sydney.”

I nod. “I know. You want to get this over with so I can go on my merry way. We have a grand divorce. I take half of your money and skip town.”

He shakes his head. “I hope you know that that isn’t going to happen.”

“You mean I won’t be properly compensated for the emotional stress I’ve endured while married to you?”

“What emotional stress?”

“I don’t know. I’m feeling pretty stressed out.” At least that much is true.

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