Chapter 0037
“Come in,” I said, sitting up and straightening the covers around me.
The door opened, and Theodore stepped inside, fully dressed for the day.
“I suppose you want to get an early start on things?”
A hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips. “I don’t want you to go in and prepare and blow our cover.”
I sighed and swung my legs over the side of the bed, the chill of the floor grounding me.
“Do you know the first thing about faded mates?”
“Of course,” he said and dropped down onto the bed beside me. He reached for me and I drew back.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re going to have to practice being close to me. We’re supposed to be faded and mates, Violet. You should want to be closer to me.” He frowned at me. “Stars should dance in your eyes-”
I held up a hand. “You’ve been reading too many romance books.”
He flushed, and I found that infinitely intriguing and amusing all at once. I sighed.
“Have you actually met a pair of faded mates who didn’t end tragically?”
He blinked, and I got to my feet.
“First, I’d like to go on record, stating that it was dumb for you to say that we were fated.”
“It’s more convincing for him..”
I pursed my lips, glaring at him. “Is it? He said a Luna, not your fated mate, Theodore, and it’s a hoax of a condition anyway. I-” I cut myself off, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter now. You said it already. We just have to roll with it.”
He grinned, getting up and coming closer to me. I dodged his hands.
“Have you ever dated a woman, Theodore?”
His expression went blank. “What does that have to do with-”
“Everything.” I gestured to him. “You don’t know the first thing about how to act with a romantic partner.”
“I do!”
“Do tell,” I said.
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Chapter 0037
+25 BONUS
“Well, you have to be affectionate with me. You should be in my arms and comfortable being there. I’m just trying to get you comfortable with touching me. You should smile more and…”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop, and for a second, listen.”
He set his jaw, but he said nothing.
“We are not teenagers, Theodore.”
He looked offended. “You and Lucas
“We were married for seven years,” I cut in. “I know you’ve seen enough of our public appearances to know that I never acted like that. Ever.“.
We barely held hands in public. Some of that was my preference, but looking back, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was also his preference.
“They say a woman changes in different relationships.”
“Your arrogance is astounding.”
His jaw dropped open. “Are you saying you couldn’t be more affectionate with me?”
I threw up my hands. “I don’t know you, Theodore!”
“That didn’t stop us from fucking.”
I snarled at him “I highly doubt your brother is going to want to see our sexual chemistry! You’ve fucked half the continent at this point. That’s not going to help your objective.”
He set his jaw and crossed his arms. “I’m not asking you to crawl in my lap.”
I cocked an eyebrow at him. He flushed.
“Fine. It would be nice, but we have a show to put on, and it has to be at least as good as your appearances with Lucas.”
“You are missing the point, Theodore. You cannot force me to be something I’m not.” I thought about my parents. “Fated mates are… They’re supposed to be partners.”
Theodore scoffed lightly. It set my teeth on edge.
“Partners, sure, but my mate would be more affectionate physically. No one would believe otherwise, least of all Owen.”
Before I could retort, he stepped closer, so close that the space between us seemed to crackle with tension. His arm slipped around my waist, drawing me in just enough that I could feel the heat of his body. The gesture was so seamless, so confident, that my pulse skipped.
I kept my expression neutral, but I knew he could hear the betraying quickness of my heartbeat.
“You’re not as indifferent as you think,” he teased.
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Chapter 0037
I sighed, wondering how anyone could be this arrogant. I pushed him back.
“I never said I was indifferent. I said I’m not a groupie.”
