The smile she’d pasted on her face dropped away. “My bracelets, Bastian?” she whispered. Then a lone tear fell from her eye. Then the real smile, the one I really wanted shone across her face.
That was the real reason for those crystals in that ring, you dumbass.
I took the jewelry and slid it on her left ring finger.
The crowd clapped. The cameras went off. The news was made.
Our arrangement had officially begun.
She gripped my hand, hers so small in mine as I thanked everyone who congratulated us and steered us toward where our coats were checked.
“Your date gone for the night?” I asked her, knowing I’d sent Elizabeth home.
She nodded, apparently not willing to engage in any sort of conversation with me. She was probably shocked with the night’s events. Or embarrassed.
And I knew that was on me. I should have been embarrassed too for fucking her in the library of someone else’s home. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to find much remorse in it.
We drove home, silent for the first half of the ride. She turned that engagement ring on her finger over and over again.
“Thank you for the crystals,” she murmured finally.
I nodded. “I figured you’d need them in times like this when you decide not to wear your bracelets.”
Her hands folded into her lap. “I’ll get you a ring too.”
“Not necessary.” I tapped my gold ring on the window, the one that held such weight and responsibility. “I have this one. It’s just fine.”
“That’s not a wedding ring.”
“It’s for my family. It’s what I’m truly dedicated to.”
“Well, you’re dedicated to seeing this marriage through for a few more months to get these shares, aren’t you? It means you can wear a wedding band from me.”
She wanted to give me back something that I didn’t need. I didn’t even want it. “I don’t need a reminder, Morina.”
“A wedding band isn’t a reminder. It’s a symbol of trust or something. We need that. We need something after what just happened tonight.”
“And what just happened?” I eyed her in the dark of our SUV.
Goosebumps popped up on her arms. “You fucked me in public like you owned me, Bastian! The night was a shit show. You don’t even want to fuck me. You were the one that put the brakes on it in the first place.”
I hmphed and kept tapping on the window. “Your friend knew we were involved.”
“So what?”
“So he shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“The whole point of going with other people was for us screw them discreetly before we were engaged and release our sexual tension.” She slapped the leather of her seat.
“I don’t think that’s an option for me when I see you with other men who know you belong to me.”
She screamed in frustration, balling up her fists. “You wouldn’t even kiss me a few days ago!”
I nodded, knowing I sounded insane. “I still don’t think we should. It’s fucked up that you’re in my head this much, that I’m around you and can’t seem to feel, smell, imagine anyone else, Morina. Do you know I considered checking my horoscope today?”
“You’re insane,” she grumbled. “I can’t talk to you right now. You’re so fucking insane. I just want to go to sleep.”
“Great.”