Page 52 of Secret Husband
He closed his eyes, leaned into my palm, and I let him because giving him this small comfort was a balm to me. The devil knew why, because everything was going well for me, right? The list was a constant in my head … boyfriend, business, boo yah.
This mess with Alexei had the potential to bring it all crashing down. Yet I couldn’t stay away. Which made what happened next completely my fault.
Moving like a panther, he curled a hand on my hip and kissed me.
Oh. Warm, pressing, urgent. That’s what I felt in that first hot second. The shock of it took me to a forbidden place where the past fused with the present. My husband was kissing me, his erection was pressed against my stomach, and …
But he wasn’t my husband. It was just a piece of paper, and I had Thad.
I pushed him away, yet my hand lingered on his chest …
I snatched it back.
“Don’t.”
He looked furious, as if I was in the wrong here. And maybe I was.
“I can’t do this with you. You know I can’t.”
“The attraction is still there, Silver Eyes.”
I growled. “The attraction is still there between me and cupcakes, but it doesn’t mean I should be eating them all day long.” I was still close to him, the sheer vitality of him making me want and my mouth water …
This wasn’t me. I didn’t hurt people like my father did, and I wouldn’t do that to Thad.
I stepped back.
But he wasn’t finished with me. “Has he proposed yet?”
So he knew. Good. “Not yet, but when he does, I’ll be saying yes, husband or not.”
And then I left, with the feel of his lips imprinted on mine.
Chapter Nineteen
Lauren
* * *
I wasn’t great in the kitchen, but I could make a decent shrimp and thyme-lemon linguine. Was I cooking a return-home meal for my boyfriend because I felt guilty?
You betcha.
I wanted him to know he was the first person on my mind. Not anyone else.
Fucking Nazarov. I was so pissed at him. Not only had he blindsided me with that kiss, he had yet to return those signed papers, and just the sight of him this morning, wearing little more than an erotically thin towel and that know-it-all smirk told me all I needed to know: I had to exit this mess as soon as possible. First order of the day: be honest with Thad.
The doorbell rang and I jumped out of my skin. He stood on my threshold with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine.
“Hey, babe!”
“Hi! How was your trip? You must be so tired.”
“A bit.” He leaned in to kiss me, a quick peck, which made me feel … guilty? Oh, this would not do. I had pulled away as soon as I could from Alexei’s firm lips. I was not the criminal here.
I took the flowers and wine and led him to the kitchen.
“I couldn’t believe it when you said you were going to cook.”
