Page 15 of Conveniently Theirs

Plucking at the silky fabric of my dress, I bite back a disparaging comment about myself. “Thank you. It’s the dress.’

He sills my restless hand. “It has nothing to do with the dress. Or the makeup. It’s you. I don’t know how I can ever properly thank you for doing this. We should have… uh… probably talked more about how this is going to affect your life.”

I shrug one shoulder and wrap my arm over his abs. The tight muscles twitch and he inhales sharply. His heartbeat is strong and steady under my ear. I could stay like this forever. “I’ve been wondering why your uncle came up with this marriage idea. When I’ve been around he’s never made any indication he doesn’t approve of you and Devin.”

“That’s it. He doesn’t. I asked but he wouldn’t say anything except he wanted me to get married to a woman. Thank you again, darlin’. I’ll come up with some way to make all this up to you.”

“Don’t stress over it, Josh. Hopefully the certificate will beenough proof.”

I sense his confusion and sit up. “You know. Like in the middle ages or with royalty.”

His grin is soft and the confusion lingers in his eyes. “What are you blathering about?

“Oh, you know. How someone had to watch to make sure the marriage was consummated.” Heat rises to fill my cheeks. The thought of consummating our marriage—for just about any reason I could imagine—hasn’t really left my mind since we said, ‘I do’.

“Or,” I continue, “Someone had to inspect the sheets for virgin’s blood. Although maybe that was more virgin important than marriage proof.”

“Kendall.”

Needing to cover my reaction to the topic, I simply keep talking. “I suppose there must have been other ‘tests’ but I have no ide?—”

Josh’s mouth covers mine in a sudden but gentle kiss. I’m frozen in surprise until the soft searching movements of his lips invite me to join in the kiss. As though sensing my emotional surrender, he eases away.

I lift my fingers to the tingling of my lips. I wouldn’t dare touch the other tingles dancing through my body. Not in front of Josh anyway.

His expressive dark eyes are—hell, if I didn’tknow better, I’d say they’re filled with passion. Probably just reflecting what I’m attempting to control within myself. “Josh?”

He clears his throat and fiddles with his rings, a sure tell of his nerves. “Kendall, I need to tell you something.”

nine

Josh

Ishouldn’t have kissed her like that. But her beauty, her talk of consummation, the movement of her full, plump lips captivated me. I want her. Need her with every fiber of my being. And she’s pulling away.

“You don’t need to tell me, Josh. I know you’re in love with Devin. I’m so glad, so happy for that love. I’m more than willing to do anything—even fake marry you—to keep the two of you together. I’m willing, so you don’t owe me anything.” Her gaze drops to where she’s twisting the fabric of her dress again. “You don’t need to pretend.”

I press my finger to her lips to stop her fromsaying more. “Yes, darlin’, I really do need to tell you this. Will you listen without interrupting?”

There’s a shimmer of tears along her lower lashes. Dear god, I don’t want to make her cry. What if she freaks out? A deep breath helps clear the negativity from my thoughts. No matter what her reaction, at least my secret won’t stand between us any longer.

She nods, makes the closing zipper signal across her lips, and focuses on me.

This is more difficult than I anticipated and I realize I’m actually coming out. Again. Never thought about it in this way before. “Keni, darlin’, you’ve always known me as a gay man.”

Another nod. Her lips twitch like she’s fighting not to speak. She won’t be able to keep that unspoken promise for long.

“And for most of my life, that’s how I saw myself as well. You’ve always been my best friend. Yet there were times… are times…even back in high school when I wanted more than that with you. I didn’t understand how that could be and I fought the feelings. When I met Devin in college, I thought everything would fall into place. Until those strange feelings reappeared.”

Her brows are low over the question in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I have to ask. What are you talking about?”

“Devin helped me realize that I’m bisexual. That I can also feel love and desire for women. No, I take that back. I love and desire only one woman. Once I admitted to myself I’ve been in love with you since forever, well that’s when life just seemed right.”

“Me? But, what about Devin?”

“Why does love need to be limited to only one person? I love Devin with all my heart. He’s in permanent residence there. He is themanI love. I have a heart as big as infinity. Kendall, you are also a part of my heart. You, darlin’, are thewomanI love.”

“Does Devin know?”

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