Page 137 of My UnTrue Love
Because he was a considerate husband, he hadn’t even suggested sex. She’d been a virgin just twenty-four hours ago. Her body was probably still sore from their wedding night. Not to mention the rest of her was bruised from Johnny’s attack. She needed comfort and care.
Also, Bill knew his wife would balk at doing fun activities that the kid might overhear.
It was hard to focus on anything but her soft body pressed against him, though. Real, real hard. Clementine was lying half on top of Bill. She smelled like blueberry flapjacks and she was wearing one of his t-shirts. It pulled against the swell of her breasts, in all kinds of interesting ways. His palms itched to explore under the taut fabric.
They were getting a bigger apartment, just as soon as they could afford it. Someplace where Luke’s room would be a good distance from theirs and Clem would be okay with making some noise.
In a way, it was a shame they had to move. Their current complex would soon be improving. There was that potluck thing that Clem was organizing. Whatever it was. And she was talking about finding somebody to clean up the swimming pool. The woman would look real fine in a bathing suit. And what with his upcoming tax audit, Woody would be too busy to be his usual annoying self. Red River Valley’s local government sure did appreciate knowing that the manager of the Westward Arms Apartments was keeping two sets of books.
And Bill reallyhadn’tappreciated the way the landlord leered at Clem.
Clementine took a deep breath, like she needed to brace herself to ask her question. “Why did you marry me?”
His hand stilled on her golden hair.
She kept on staring at him. “I thought it was at least partially to help your career.”
He shook his head in frustration. “Yousaid that. Not me.”
“Because I thought it was what you wanted.”
“Why the hell would I want to marry you for my career? You’re already my muse and my manager. You’d help me, whether we were married or not.”
“So then what was your reason for marrying me?” Clementine pressed.
Because he’d wither into nothing without the spotlight of her attention.
Because he’d loved her from the moment they’d met.
Because he needed her.
Vulnerability clawed his insides, even though he didn’t want to acknowledge the emotion. Everything in Bill’s head told him to keep his barriers in place. It was a matter of survival. He had to protect himself. …But his coyote knew he was safe with Clem forever.
Clementine kept watching Bill, her gaze steady.
He opened his mouth…
“Clem!” Luke burst into the bedroom, the door slamming into the wall. “Bill, come quick! The building’s on fire!”
“Fucking Johnny.” Bill leapt out of bed, dragging Clementine to her feet. Breathing deep, he could now smell smoke over the distracting, intoxicating scent of his mate. “Didn’t I suggest we get a hotel room tonight, darlin’?”
“Because you thought I’d be traumatized returning to the apartment. Only I’mnottraumatized and we don’t have the money for a hotel room.” Clem fumbled for her glasses. “Do you really think that it’s Johnny?”
“It’s Johnny.” There wasn’t a doubt in Bill’s mind that the derivative hack had committed arson for the second time in one night.
Bill should’ve gone hunting for that prick like he wanted to, instead of listening to Hank about letting the law handle things. If the law had the slightest clue how to deal with dangerous men, Bill would be in jail himself.
“Get your boots.” He didn’t wait for Clementine to comply. He gathered them up for her, along with a blanket to wrap around her body and their framed wedding picture right off the wall. “We gotta go.”
“This building had better not burn down. We have three months of prepaid rent.” Clem automatically took all the stuff Bill handed her. “Luke, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just pissed off.”
The kid had his binder filled with sheet music clutched to his chest. It reminded Bill to get Clem’s father’s notebook from the dresser. He detoured over to grab it and tossed it to Clementine, too. His wife, that book, and the photo of their wedding day comprised all of Bill’s valuables.
Time to leave.
He hustled Clem from the bedroom and into the hallway, which was already filling with smoke. “Let’s go, Luke.” He supposed the kid counted as a valuable, too.
