Page 85 of The Marriage Narrative
“Time,” he echoed. “Okay.”
“And I know you’re the opposite. I’ll come right to you as soon as I can.” Just like she had when he fought with Lulie. During and after and still came to his sister’s rescue.
Zinnia wasn’t interested in falling in love, but never said he couldn’t. She never even asked him not to—that loophole made his side of their marriage-merger fair game.
Technically, he wasallowedto be madly in love with his wife, and he’d fallen hard.
Now, telling her about his feelings? That absolutely crossed the line. Good thing he was great at keeping secrets.
Jordan set her down on the underwater bench seat, but she crawled back over him the moment he was next to her—this time her back to his front. He used his hands to help her balance as she tried floating.
“Okay, that’s enough.” She sat back on his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. “I don’t want to drown.”
He chuckled as he hooked his chin over her shoulder. “You know I also asked because I missed you, right?”
For an answer, she kissed his temple and then his cheek over and over and over. Each kiss felt like running across hot coals, right on the edge between torture and exhilaration.
“How about this?” he asked. “We leave our doors open at night. If, at any time, you wanna join me, you have a lifetime pass. Come to my room whenever you want. Forwhateveryou want.”
She pressed her forehead against his. “Deal.”
Chapter 21
Zinnia
When Jordan suggestedthat they start coworking, Zinnia fully expected production to overrule their plans. That didn’t happen.
They immediately began alternating between the pocket forest and his office. That morning, she was sitting in her favorite spot—the plush, pillowed window nook where she could just make out the valley—while revising another old webcomic from her dead projects file.
Jordan suddenly closed his laptop and spun around in his chair. “Have you ever playedGrand Theft Auto?”
“No.Animal Crossingis more my speed.”
“Do you want to?”
“I don’t think I’d be any good at it.”
“Sure you will. Let’s go.” He was smiling at her like he had a trick up his sleeve.
She couldn’twaitto find out what it was.
Jordan led her to the game room…and continued straight past it, escorting her outside and to the garage. They decided to steal a shiny purple sports car with full leather interior, two seats,and a purring engine. It was so low to the ground, her back hurt getting into the damn thing.
“Are we allowed to do this?” she asked. Their camera pods idled nearby, still filming and likely radioing for guidance.
Jordan chuckled as he shifted gears. The car surged forward—Zinnia squeaked and grabbed the door handle. She watched through the back window as the Zaffre estate’s front gates grew smaller and smaller at a borderline terrifying pace.
Because her husband was a speed demon.
The idyllic wooded scenery began morphing into a green-and-brown splotchy smear. She glanced at the dashboard and instantly wished she hadn’t. “Maybe we should slow down?!”
“Private road. No cops.”
Oh. Right. Tickets were only a suggestion when you had money! “We’re surrounded by trees! Not trying to be wrapped around one!”
“I’d never let that happen.” He grinned like the devil himself, barely slowing down as the car hugged a winding corner at a dangerous angle. “You don’t feel that?”
“You mean my stomach falling into my ass? Yeah, sure, it’s great!” In no time at all, the speedometer was back up to triple digits. She pressed back against the seat, determined to ignore the nausea rolling in. “I can’t believe you had the nerve to tease me about skydiving once every four years when you drive like this!”
