Papers Don't Lie (Lavish Love, #1)

by Maeve Hazel

For those who grew up perceiving abuse as love. There’s another kind of love that will make you bloom and not wilt.

If Blair reacted that way when she found out her boyfriend cheated with her best friend, I guess I kind of overreacted when I sent Mr. Graves the hugest dick at his house. However, it was well deserved and not at all influenced by events that have nothing to do with him.

What are you running from, troublemaker?

“Don’t say you’re his, because you’re not, troublemaker.”

“Are you just going to watch me sleep?” she asks, taking the same position she had this morning, on her elbows. “Yes.” “Isn’t that… a bit creepy?” “Not at all.”

“You’re absolutely mad for doing this, you know?” “I know.”

“Don’t try to be a good wife for me. Do whatever you feel like doing, and that’s how you’re going to repay me, by living the freedom I offered you,” I say, meaning it. “We’ll figure out the rest together.”

I’m his now. And for some reason, the thought doesn’t make me want to crawl out of my skin like it did with Carter.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t try my hardest to do it.” “Why?” I whisper. “Because you’re my wife,”

Finally, she gives me a small nod, and I don’t hesitate, leaning down and claiming her.

“But… I didn’t get you anything,” she mutters, glancing out of the window. She didn’t have to. “You married me.”

“There’s one rule I find important for our marriage to work,” Kai says, and even if I don’t see his green eyes very well, I can feel them on me. “Honesty. I want us to be honest with each other, no matter how bad or embarrassing the truth is.”

“Yeah, I know you didn’t mean to say⁠—” “Don’t put words into my mouth,” he interrupts me. “I never say things I don’t mean, Esmeray, remember that.”

“Because I don’t feel so alone anymore.” His thick voice surprises me. “My brain is quieter since you stepped inside my house.”

I smile, not able to contain it. She’s adorable all flustered, struggling to be perfect for my family and dying for them to love her.

“Thank you. Continue talking to me that way, and I’ll actually think you like me, Mr. Graves.” I place my hand on the small of her back, laughing.

I get the paper out and stop breathing when I notice it’s unfolded.

At the sight of her, all the fury that has lurked inside me since last night disappears.

“Why wouldn’t I wear it, Esmeray?” I ask, placing my hands in my pockets. Her gaze finally rises and collides with mine, her green eyes burning red for what I assume is the lack of sleep. She swallows, shrugging. “Because I chose it.” I shake my head. “Nonsense.”

“What do you mean? How should I call you if not your name?” I ask, my brows furrowed. Her eyes drop once again. “Ray.”

“You only call me Esmeray when you’re serious and apparently… mad,” she whispers, sucking in a breath afterward. I’m surprised she noticed that when I didn't myself. “I’m not mad. I simply don’t like fighting with you.”

People are very good at pretending, and the last ones whose opinions about my wife matter are surely not them.

“The entire room has their eyes on her, and I have no problem with that. I know my wife is beautiful. My only problem is you.”

No one touches my wife like that—like she’s an object, something that has to obey—not even me.

“Touch her again and you die,” I warn through gritted teeth before walking away.

“I hurt you. This is something you should never accept, no matter who’s the person doing it," he tells me, letting me squeeze his hand.

“Yes, you did hurt me. There’s no point in denying that, but I also never said I accept what you did. What I meant to say is that I forgive you, but this is the first and last time I’m going to tolerate this,”

“I’m so fucking sorry, Ray." His voice cracks, and my heart sinks. “I don’t know what I was thinking—I didn’t. All I saw was red, and the only thing I could think about was the way he touched you when I was around. What is going to happen when I’m not with you? I know I said I’m not keeping you locked inside the house, but I’m seriously considering it.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “I’ll run if you do that.” I raise a brow at him. He finally looks my way. “Then I have nothing to worry about because you’re pretty bad at running away.”

“What happened?” he quietly asks, stepping towards me. “It’s complicated.” He nods. “That’s what we do. Complicated things.”

She’s just like a damn walking tease. God. It’s going to be a long night.

Before judging me, it’s not a girly purple, it’s a very male purple, and I think it’ll look hot on him.

“But you don’t really have anything at home, Kai. I’m just breathing next to you, and I understand that you have some needs, no matter their kind. You’re twenty-six. You don’t need to be abstinent waiting for me.” He cups my cheek in his palm, a smirk stretching on his lips. “I’ll wait as long as it takes you to want me like that because trust me, Ray, you will.”

I’m not Carter, and I never will be. Her happiness tops my need for her.

Yet the idea of taking care of a little animal with Esmeray doesn’t seem so bad.

thought you said you like it.” “I do like it. That’s the problem,”

I hear Kai switching the lights off, and a victorious smile breaks free on my face when I realize he isn’t going to make Purple sleep on the floor. Esmeray: one, Kai: zero. Got ya.

“You’re my wife. There’s no point in comparing you with some face whose name I can’t remember when you’re my everything.”

“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs through our kiss, and I shake my head, not wanting this to end. “Tell me to stop because if we continue, I won’t be able to stop myself.”

“You’re so damn sexy,” he murmurs. “You’re a fucking goddess, Ray. Do you know that?”

“You’re stunning,” he murmurs, licking the blood away. “And you drive me crazy, so don’t overthink this as me not wanting you. Believe me, that’s not the problem.”

“Don’t hide from me, Ray, and listen to what I have to say,” Kai tells me, and I take a deep breath, deciding to at least give him that. “If I didn’t make that clear until now, I want you, but that doesn’t mean you’re ready for it. I’d break you in a second,” he murmurs, putting a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I promise you one thing—I’m not the type to leave things unfinished, and that’s something you’ll see on our wedding day.”

“No, my beautiful wife. It’s not your fault,”

“It’s not your fault I care about you so much.”

“Take your clothes off, but keep your boxers on. I’ll be right back,” I tell him and leave for our closet, Purple following me. “Yes, ma’am. Keep demanding ‘cause it’s hot.”

“At first, I thought I cared about you because of my condition, but now I realize it’s more. You consume my entire existence, Ray.”

“I feel for you too,” Esmeray whispers, her shoulders shaking. “That’s why it hurts so much knowing that I’ve done this to you.”

I completely forget any other woman exists now that I’m waiting for my wife.

“You once asked me why I call you Ray," I say and continue when she nods. “Do you know why? It’s because since you busted into my life like goddamn dynamite, you’ve been a ray of sunshine."

never left and Ryker never closed himself off. I wish we were a family again, that miles weren’t breaking us apart. I wish mine and Esmeray's relationship would have started in a better way, and that we would’ve built a real relationship. I wish I didn’t say those words to her.