A Twisted Arrangement (Twisted Vows, #2)

by Jessa Wilder

“Don’t leave me.” Her plea is like a knife to my chest. “Never again.”

I deserve better than some guy who only cares about me when he wants to. I want to be someone’s everything.

“There hasn’t been a single day in the last ten years I haven’t wanted to be with you.”

“You are worth the wait. I’d have given you forever if you’d asked me to.”

His dark gaze is hooded on mine, a lazy smile curling his lip as he walks closer. “Miss me, wife?”

Matthias bows his head in an awkward show of respect. “Thank you for joining us.” She smiles wide. “Aww, you’re sweet, but I definitely came here for your wife.”

“I’ve never touched anyone since the first time I kissed you.”

Ten years. It’s been ten years since that happened, and he’s telling me he hasn’t touched anyone since?

I can’t stop the laugh from busting out. Matthias Everette, Lord of the Order of Saints, is standing in the threshold, wearing a matching set of yellow flannel teddy bear pajamas.

I hold my hand up, stopping their approach. “I can walk.” Scarlet’s not screwing around when she says, “If you ever want to touch me again, you’ll get on the damn gurney, Matthias.”

He rolls his head toward me. “You’re pretty. Do you want to go on a date?” I choke on a laugh. “We’re married.” “No way? Really? I must be pretty lucky.” Nothing prepared me for how adorable he’s acting.

“I’m pregnant.” His eyes flare wide, mouth dropping open, then closing like he’s trying to say something but can’t. He grips my arms, holding me so we can face each other. “I’m going to be a d…dad?” His voice cracks.

“You don’t need to do everything on your own. You are not alone. You’ve never been alone because even if you didn’t know it, you have always had me. I have belonged to you for so long I can’t remember what it feels like to belong to myself. Loving you has been the reason I wake up in the morning. There is nothing about you I would change. Not your past. Not your dreams. Not your family. Nothing. You are and you have always been it for me. I was a stupid fifteen-year-old kid, but even then, I would give you anything you wanted. I would wait for however long you needed me too. I was happy to sit by and watch you because it’s what you needed. But now you…” Matthias rubs my stomach, and tears pool in my eyes. “Now you both need me. There’s no end to how much I care about you. There’s no bottom to the well of my love. I want to be here for you. You don’t have to do any of this alone. So pull everything you need from me. I won’t break.”

“If I got out, I wouldn’t even think about settling down until I’m twenty-five. No men, no expectations, no commitment. Complete freedom.”

“Then I’ll find a guy, get married, and have a half dozen kids. Live in an eggshell-blue house with white trim and a wood shake roof. With a wraparound porch and a tire swing hanging from a tree. I want to be chased around my backyard by jelly-covered faces. Is that too much to ask?”

“Don’t marry me off to anyone. I don’t care how good the match is. I want to go to college, get a degree and a freaking job. I want a life of my own creation with no one telling me what to do.”