LOGINCole's povI stood up immediately, the movement so sudden that my hip brushed right against Xavier's bare body as I rose to my feet. I came face-to-face with him, my chest heaving as pure indignation flared through my veins.What the fuck is he doing?! I thought, my fists clenching at my sides. If I didn't have to protect my real identity and risk my life, I would be punching him right in his smug face right now! Clara definitely didn't mention this part in the rulebook. Fuck her!My heart was hammering against my ribs at a terrifying speed. As a direct result, the little black heart-rate monitor strapped to my wrist let out a sharp, angry beep.Across from me, Xavier’s monitor beeped in sync.I didn't bother checking mine. It was obviously reacting to my boiling anger, but Xavier glanced down at his own screen. His eyes gleamed with a dark, knowing amusement for a split second before his face smoothed back into an unreadable, dangerous mask."You look upset, wifey," Xavier said smoot
Xavier’s pov "Nothing," I said smoothly, letting out a soft chuckle as I finally pulled the zipper straight up to the top. "Can't I kiss my own wife?"Cole cleared his throat, his whole body tense as a board. "Yes... yes, of course.""You sounded all lovely earlier," I murmured, leaning in slightly closer to his neck. "Calling me 'honey' through the bathroom door, making sweet little requests... and now you're questioning me just because I kissed your back?"I couldn't help myself. Watching him sweat out of his mind, trying so hard to keep his fake composure together, was way too entertaining to stop now."I want you to call me honey from now on," I added, stepping around him slightly. "All the time.""But... but we're getting a divorce," Cole stammered out, backing up half an inch until his spine hit the closet wall. "The court papers—""That is not a certainty, my darling... Co..." I trailed off deliberately, letting the first syllable of his real name hang heavy in the air between
Cole's pov "Shameless, shameless, shameless..."I slapped my palm against my forehead, glaring at my pale, sweating reflection in the bathroom mirror. I leaned over the sink, taking short, ragged breaths to calm my racing heart."I had to do it," I muttered to myself, shaking my head violently. "I had to do that to survive! There's nothing shameless about surviving. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?"I turned around on quiet toes and pressed my ear flat against the cold wood of the bathroom door.Silence.Why hasn't he said anything? I panicked internally, my knuckles turning white as I pressed harder against the frame. Why isn't he talking? Is he going to get them or not? Man, I just need you to walk out of that bedroom so I can run to the closet, grab a fresh set of clothes, and hide my body before you come back. Just go already!When the silence dragged on for five more agonizing seconds, I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowed my pride, and forced out the fake, sugar
Xavier's povI lay back against the dark leather headboard with my arms folded casually behind my head, staring at the locked bathroom door.The sound of rushing water had cut off five full minutes ago, but Cole was still stuck inside, completely silent."What on earth is he doing in there?" I mumbled to myself, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.I hadn't smiled like this in a very long time. My days were usually packed with cold boardrooms, high-stakes contract negotiations, and endless corporate warfare, but somehow, this guy was making me laugh without even trying. Watching him sweat, stammer, and scramble through five different panicking excuses just to keep his identity hidden was the most entertaining show I had seen in years.Suddenly, I heard a sharp, nervous clear of the throat from the other side of the heavy door frame.I sat up straight on the mattress, resting my elbows on my knees as I stared
Cole's povWhat the fuck?!My eyes went wide, and I shoved him away hard, scrambling backward and leaping straight out of bed."No... no, hell no!" I blurted out, my voice cracking in pure panic.Xavier’s brow furrowed, a dark look crossing his face as he watched me scramble across the mattress. He crossed his arms over his bare chest, looking completely unimpressed."Why?" Xavier asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low tone. "Are you saying I can't touch my wife? We are still legally married, you know."Oh, God... I'm dead, I screamed inside my head, staring at him like he was holding a loaded gun. He's actually going to try it. He's going to find out I have a dick and a pair of balls, and then he's going to feed me to the sharks."Yeah... of course you can," I forced out, my smile looking more like a grimace. "You... you definitely can, it's just—""Good," Xavier cut me off smoothly, taking a slow step forward. "Now, where would you like us to start?"I opened my mouth, clos
Cole's povNo, no, no... what the fuck!Panic flared through every single nerve in my body, hot and blinding. I held my breath, trying to slowly, millimeter by millimeter, slide my leg out from under his heavy thigh. But the more I squirmed and wriggled, the harder it became. The sheets kept tangling around my ankles like a trap.Everything in this damn house is against me!I couldn't make any sudden moves. I couldn't just leap out of bed like I had been shot. If I woke Xavier up right now, he would immediately get suspicious about why I was so desperately trying to break away from him. A normal wife wouldn't act like she was lying next to an active bomb.Then, as if the universe decided I hadn't suffered enough, I felt Xavier shift in his sleep. He lifted his heavy leg, dropping it right between mine and yanking me even closer against his warm, broad frame.My knee bumped into something remarkably solid and thick. My eyes went wide as saucers in the dim morning light, a wave of sheer







