She frowns. "What?"
I touch her without realizing I have, trace my fingers along her jawline. She tenses and I hear her heart beat a little faster. From anger, no doubt. "You must dislike me very much. This arrangement. Our marriage."
She trembles, her chest rising. "It isn't even real—"
"You see," I whisper, sliding my hand around her neck to cup it firmly, the other gripping her waist tightly. "That is the wrong mindset. You keep thinking it isn't real and everyone else will begin to think it, too. If we're going to make this work, it'll have to seem real." I lean over her, nuzzling her cheek.
I can't help it. She smells so good.
Her ear. Behind it. Her neck. I bury my nose deeper, unable to stop a growl from vibrating in my chest as I catch a whiff of fear, rage, and something els
