“Do you have rings?”
“Yes!” I triumphantly hold mine up, and Charlie chuckles.
My fake fiancé scoops up my hand in his warm palm and slides the tiny gold band onto my ring finger. I follow the same steps, experiencing a strange rush of ownership as I push the gold over his knuckles.
For the next year, Charlie Keller is mine.
CHAPTER 22
CHARLIE
Luna is the most gorgeous fake wife a person could ever hope for. The plum color of her suit sets off a warm glow under her skin and somehow makes her hair appear even darker.
Add all that to the ring on her finger, and I know my mind will forever save this image.
“You are now husband and wife.”
Since we’re in a courthouse, there’s none of the usual flair, nothing like what Marianna put on for Paige and Dash’s wedding.
But there is a contractual obligation.
One requirement Luna’s grandmother dictated was that a photo of Luna and her husband kissing on their wedding day must be submitted to the executor.
I wish I could have met Tsai Shu-fen. She’s a tricky woman, and I’d like to shake her hand.
My wife slides a cell phone out of her pocket and turns to Margaret.
“Would you mind taking a photo of us?” Luna clears her throat, then powers on. “Kissing?”
The two lovely women chuckle.
“Of course. First kiss as a married couple is something you’ll want to remember.”
First kiss, period.
But I don’t correct them. Instead, I focus on not getting too excited about this. About not reading too much into it.
This is fake. All temporary.
“Let’s do this.” Luna is all business, clasping my shoulders. She has on heels that give her a few extra inches of height, which means I don’t have to bend over as much.
“All ready!” Margaret calls.
Then Luna’s lips meet mine.
The universe shimmers around me like a heat flare has hit this courtroom.
“Oh darn. I accidentally closed the camera. You two keep going! I’ll have it back up in a second.”
The flustered little old woman can take as long as she wants if the result is me continuing to kiss Luna.
No struggle here.
And to my surprise, Luna doesn’t seem interested in stopping either. My newly legal partner lets her hands creep up until she’s wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body closer to mine. It’s all I can do to keep from groaning. I want to be closer. I want to consume my wife. Without thinking, I let my hands slide from her waist to around her back, and then I’m standing upright. But I don’t leave Luna behind. I pull her with me, lifting her entirely off the ground, clasping her flush against my body. All the while, our lips meld together until we share breath. I smell her bright mandarin scent as I breathe deeply of her. Luna’s as exciting as the fruit on my tongue, with a sharp, almost-spicy flavor. And so damn refreshing.
As my individual thoughts trail away, every inch of my body rejuvenates and comes out on the other side, cleansed.
Luna is joy and need and home.