Part 26 (1/2)
”Let me check my list.”
”List?”
”I made a list of questions I wanted to ask you. Back when we were separated and I was in London. Let me get it and you can pick one.” I climbed carefully off him, then made a detour to the bathroom before I got my laptop.
James made a trip to the bathroom as well. ”Let's get in your bed now. No wet spot.”
”True.”
He slid under the covers and patted the s.p.a.ce next to him. I sat cross-legged on top of the covers and looked up the file. ”Here it is.” I got under the blanket next to him and showed him the list.
Why did you abandon me at the party?
Why didn't you tell me not only your name, but who you were, sooner?
When had you planned to tell me, if not then?
Is there some reason you're so hung up on secrecy?
What's the story with Lucinda?
What was art school like?
How did you meet Paulina and Michel?
Were you rivals with Damon Georgiades?
Why don't you ever talk about your father? Did you know him?
When can I meet your mother?
How did you become Lord Lightning?
Why did you keep your artist ident.i.ty a secret, too?
What drew you to gla.s.s art?
How did you get into the society?
How did you know you were into BDSM in the first place?
Why do you love s.e.x in public places so much?
Are you proud of me for turning in Renault?
Why didn't you shut off my phone?
Have you had your heart broken (before)?
”Karina,” he said. ”I've answered nearly all of these now. The only one we haven't touched on is... well... what drew me to gla.s.s art.”
I scanned the list. ”Well, nearly all is not the same as all.”
He gave me a quick kiss. ”Yes, I'm proud of you for turning in Renault. I didn't shut off your phone because I couldn't actually bring myself to cut you off when I knew I'd made a huge mistake.”
”And the heartbreak question?”
”Oh, there was puppy love and disappointment but... I never let myself love someone enough to get my heart broken, Karina.” He kissed me again. ”Until now, that is.”
”Let's talk about gla.s.s later,” I said. ”I'd rather make out than get a question answered.”
His answer was another kiss that went straight to my soul.
Fifteen.
Nothing Seems to Make a Dent Ferrara waited twenty-four hours before she made her next move. By then Chandra had located the marriage license and it looked, unfortunately, legit, right down to James's signature.
We were gathered around the table in the suite, James, me, Stefan, Chandra, and Ty, who I had been seeing around but hadn't really gotten to talk to, looking at the copy of the license.
Chandra gave James a stern look. ”You're absolutely sure she didn't slip you a roofie and take you off to get married at one of those drive-through places?”
”If I had any blackouts I think I'd at least remember that,” James snapped. ”More likely this is a forgery. My signature isn't that difficult to fake, and she has it on my recording contract. She could have copied it from there.”
”Or got you to sign this when you didn't know what it was?” I asked.
”What, like signing my room service bill? I have a different signature for that.”
Of course you do, I thought.
”What about the witnesses on the certificate?” Stefan asked. ”Who are these other two?”
”Probably employees of the wedding chapel,” Ty pointed out.
James shook his head. ”And of course they don't know what I look like. So they had no way to know she was marrying an impostor. Presumably someone she taught to forge my signature. For f.u.c.k's sake.”
Chandra shook her head, too. ”I knew there had to be a drawback to total secrecy.”
My phone chimed with a text then at the same time James's rang. He picked his up as I checked my message.
It was from Becky: OMG Karina have you seen the video? What is going on please call me ASAP!!!!!
James was saying into the phone, ”What video?”
I called Becky immediately. ”Becks, what's up?”
”Karina! Oh my G.o.d, I don't know what to do. You know how I'm the webmaster of the NYC Lord's Ladies website?”