, dragging a small suitcase behind her. From

with Plumie curl

uldn't help but shake her hea

as already rubbing up against him, purring contentedly a

e to worry about how Plumie w

you brought?

"Didn't pack many clothes. I figured a high-flying fi

hopes. Are you sure my fashion sense is good en

sic Elian-still couldn't take

d plainly, taking Plumie from hi

shoulder without a fuss and cas

ll, Mrs.

had already settled into the passenger seat up fro

her but didn't star

, eyes steady and warm, like h

gaze. She turned to look out the window, ev

n order, and yet he

e finally asked, voice stiff

said lazily, a small sm

her he was already re

ng abou

eased, "You planning to get me pulled over? No seatbel

cr

e quickly reached for the seatbelt, but no

adjusted the strap, then-

ost embarrassing moments had ch

, it was like she couldn't av

ht, her forehead wa

ed, mock-d

your brain really not caught up? Or di

y-only to be met with a

apped. "Don't b

d with frustration, c

second-guessing thei

she agree to ma

nding more time like th

he merely curved his lips into a s

And just so you know, once you're married, it's not call

inked, glan

el, and with a couple buttons undone at the col

ctually looked at h

n filled with arguments or tangled

d all the time. Even before she started crush

people on Sebastian's b

d could see more clearly, she realized-Elian act

always walking around like he owned the plac

ust tone down the sarcasm, he'

g-why had she been so hung

e was being her "old self," had her sudde

at was I l

ght blinking outside the

s usually pale face now had a f

st the slightest bit, l

spaced out-unti

en l

out of it, easing hi

out about?" Clarissa a

ng about some ot

about you," he r

he followed it up with, "You

clueless. Not great at telling right from wrong.

eks and locked eyes with h

"I dare you to

eaching over to

r. You showed up to your PE exam in ballet flats-explain that. And when Sebastian decked me fo

by one, like he ha

it for a second. Okay..

the truth, even i

hamp title from col

s, Elian paused, wondering if

ly amazing. Every time you pick it up, you've g

ed. "Why a black swan

e a light

wans are everywhere. B

you're one

dn't really

Manor, she looked out the wind

a turn, and finally parked. He stepped out an

nd the other a suitcase, he raised an e

ure. Where

cket of

e married now. A week from now, they'd probably be doing s

around a little, found the key, lock

ator, Elian sai

etups, and the high-floor layouts offered killer views of the river an

i

vator s

erprint, keyed in a code, then looke

ed, wondering wh

her hand and helped her press

disposable slippers from the shoe cabinet. "No ladi

smiling slightl

s, and tiptoed over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view stole h

lace is seriou

-not the black and white mini

stepped behind her, wra

didn't pull away. Like he s

brushed aga

, he said, "Clarissa, it'

was correcting the way she'd

her cheeks tinged with pi