her body sore, and there was no chance she would ever stretch out on the f

he floor," she suggested, though her gaze

What kind of man would stand by

hope. She waited for hi

o the only fair choice is

e'd just declared. That was the las

, though his expression remained unchanged.

a rush of warmt

thing to say, he had already disappeared

Kiera gathered her nightclothes and wasted nearly an hour

d back against the headboard in the gray loungewear she had chosen for him, legs st

e bed like it was forbidden ground

ifted his head, eyes meeting her

straight through her

orced herself onto the space beside him-

er uneasy around men, and with Brad, she had never gone beyond allowing him to wrap her

his tone rough and low. "Strange, isn't it? It's o

, bold and deliberate. Just those few words, and her hea

eamed warnings as she edged back, eyes wide with worry. "W-wasting i

my wife on paper. Tell me, how does that make me a

red. She yanked at her collar as though to shield herself, her ga

she carried a little boldness, but not enough to match

at because our marriage isn't built on love, we need an ag

leaving her breath lighter than before. She had n

she drew in a slow breath. "Then wha

not asking for much. But the first condition is clear-you keep y

s. I'm done with my ex

never force anything from you. But if the day comes when you

hat was wrong with him? Why

more?" s

r's expression hardened. "How long are

ard-once the shares were in her hands, she

ad already brok

d softly. "But it won't take forever. Tell me...

Jasper, though he had respo

y end," Kiera said, almost in a

is arrangement meant to her. Without saying it outright, J

Take your time," h

it up in relief. "I re

s gaze linger for a second longer than he should before pulling away and

er, Kiera offere

s in her smile, Jasper relea

mmed, silence sett

r awake with Jasper so close, yet sl

he spot where he had crashed on was already

rt the furniture off to a resale market. She doubted buyers there had the me

ketplace seemed buried under her belongings.

r this couch? Does

rand," Kiera replied

u serious? That's daylight robbery." He scoffed,

four hundred grand when it was brand new. Asking

the same miserable pattern-snickers,

igh. Maybe she would have to call the

-familiar voice slice

e made yourself damn

his expression dark, and Madd

every word dripped with satisfaction. "Brad told me you stripped his house bare, and I thought he was exagger

would I cling to the past? I'm married no

d you really pretend to be with some random

se. "I guess Maddie hasn't fill