Wife (Betrothed Book 1) Page 17

  “You’re leaving?” I sat up in bed, still feeling the heaviness between my legs.

  “Yes.” He looked out the window as he pulled on his jacket, his back turned to me.

  “You’re still mad at me?”

  “You tell me.” He turned around and faced me, his eyes no longer lustful like they had been before.

  I held the sheet over my chest even though he’d seen me so many times. “I thought we were okay…”

  “I hold grudges—and I hold them for a long time.”

  “Well, I don’t know what you want me to do…”

  He approached the bed then sat beside me. Without warning, his hand reached for my neck and he grabbed me, made me feel like property he possessed. The deed was in his pocket, and he owned me for all time. “You’re coming to my place for the weekend. Pack a bag and get comfortable.”

  “I have to work on Saturday.”

  “Then go to work and come back.”

  “You’re mad at me, so you want me to sleep over?” I asked incredulously.

  “No. I’m mad at you, so you’d better make it up to me.” He pulled me in close and kissed me, giving me a hard embrace that would leave my lips swollen for the next few hours. When he pulled away, he opened his wallet and tossed tons of bills onto the bed. “Your bag better be full of lingerie.”

  15

  Hades

  I’d just risen from my desk to leave the office when Damien walked inside.

  “The new cook is good.”

  “I know—I picked him out.” I left my laptop and documents behind, intending to take care of it after the weekend. The bank I’d founded wasn’t competitive in the market. There were a lot of other places that offered better returns. But mine had special services those other banks couldn’t provide. The government would have to be stupid not to notice the red flags, but since my establishment held money for a lot of high-profile criminals, it was smart to look the other way.

  It was a war they couldn’t win.

  “You want to hit a strip club tonight? Or better yet, a brothel? Throw some cash around and make two women roll around together.” A dreamy look came into his eyes. “Man, I love being rich.”

  I adjusted my watch under my cuff link and rounded the desk. “I have plans this weekend.”

  “Good.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You found someone else.”

  “No.” I leaned against the desk and faced him. “Same woman.”

  The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “She came back?”

  “On her knees,” I said with a nod.

  “Good for you. Make her work for it?”

  “She still is.” She was the one who’d had all the power when this relationship began, but she’d fucked that up when she left me. Now, I was in control—and I wasn’t going to let go. Once she laid her cards on the table, I beat her hand and would never let her forget it.

  “Ooh…that sounds hot.”

  “She’s coming over this weekend.”

  “Good. Now you’re headed in the right direction.”

  I shrugged. “She still wants the same thing. But now that she can’t walk away from me, I’ll just change her mind.”

  “Not a bad plan. You can pull it off.” Damien would normally tease me for being so hung up on a woman, but since he knew this was real, he was only supportive. He was all jokes most of the time, but when I was serious, he was serious. “I don’t know how to make a woman fall in love with you, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

  Damien was with me that day the gypsy read my future, but he didn’t hear a single word of her message. He’d been outside the tent, and when he asked me what happened, I’d never answered. I’d been thinking about that night often, paranoid that the superstitious bullshit could actually be true. “Remember when we went to Morocco eight years ago?”

  “For your twenty-first?” he asked, his eyebrow raised. “Absolutely. I got my best blow job there—and it was dirt cheap.”

  “Remember that gypsy we saw?”

  “In the purple tent that smelled like a skunk’s ass? Definitely. Why?”

  “You remember your fortune?”

  “Uh…I think so.” He squinted his eyebrows as he tried to remember. “Something about me being rich…which did come true. And then some bullshit about a woman loving me for me…but then I leave her? I can’t remember it word for word. Why do you ask?”

  “Has that happened to you?” I was a grown-ass man who had made my own path in life. I wasn’t successful and respected because of destiny. I made this shit happen—it didn’t happen to me. So I refused to believe that some supernatural force in the world was actually punishing me for all the crimes I committed to get here. That I wouldn’t have the woman I loved because the universe wouldn’t allow it to happen. But then Sofia came into the picture…and made me question everything.

  “Well, you know I’m rich.”

  “What about the other thing? About the girl.”

  “No,” he said with a laugh. “Come on, that’s all bullshit. You don’t actually believe that, right?”

  Maybe it just hadn’t happened yet.

  “Hades?” he pressed. “What’s this about?”

  “I’m just curious, that’s all.”

  “What was your fortune?”

  I lowered my gaze to the floor. “It doesn’t matter. You’re right. It’s all bullshit.”

  “Hades.” He stepped closer to me, cocking his head to the side so he could see my face. “I’ve never seen you like this before. I’ve never seen you scared of anything. But now you’re scared of something, and I don’t even know what it is. I’m your best friend…so tell me.” He grabbed my shoulder and gave me a squeeze. “Come on.”

  My hands gripped the edge of my desk as I lifted my chin once more. I didn’t make eye contact, choosing to stare at the closed door to my office. “She told me that I would be punished for everything I’d done.”

  “Be punished how?”

  I sighed before I answered, letting all the air out of my lungs. “That I would only love one woman…and she would never love me back.”

  Damien didn’t laugh even though anyone else would have. My words sounded ridiculous as I said them. He must have thought the same thing. But he respected me too much to make me feel stupid for saying that out loud. “And you think Sofia is the only woman you’ll ever love?”

  My eyes shifted back to the ground. “Yeah…that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Helena let Sofia inside, and I met her in the entryway.

  A black bag was over her shoulder, and she examined the art pieces on my wall, the sculpture in the center of the room that had a vase of flowers on top. Her hand gripped the strap of her bag, and she visibly looked uncomfortable standing there, like she was being marched to prison for a crime she didn’t commit.

  I’d spent the afternoon convincing myself that my future wasn’t already written, that this was just a coincidence. I didn’t love her. I was just obsessed with the chase, fascinated by this woman’s indifference. Everything else in life was so easy to attain…except her. That’s all it was, nothing more.

  But as I watched her standing there, the same feelings swept over me. My lips ached to kiss her curved bottom lip, to suck in her breath until it filled my lungs. My fingers ached to feel those strands of hair, to fist them so hard that she couldn’t move away. My dick ached to be inside her. The rhythm of my heart suddenly changed, going from a slow and steady beat to a rapid sprint. My neck suddenly felt warm from a rise in temperature, and every part of my body suddenly felt sensitive, as if I could feel her energy as it pulsed in the room.

  Maybe it wasn’t about the chase.

  I halted in front of her and didn’t kiss her like I usually did. I noticed the way she took a deep breath and slightly parted her lips, like she expected a smooch right off the bat. My fingers moved to her shoulder and lifted the strap from her body. “Did you get what I asked?”

  She gave a nod.

>   I took her hand and guided her up the stairs.

  The top floor was my private area, where I had my gym, my office, and my bedroom. The other two floors were Helena’s domain, where she cleaned and kept the place tidy for potential guests. The only time she ventured into my quarters during the day was while I was at work.

  And I’d told her I wanted my privacy this weekend.

  Sofia had seen my home before, but she’d never spent any extended time there. She walked beside me and examined the beige curtains, the artwork that lined the walls. She peered into the open doorway that led to my office but didn’t ask any questions.

  Then we entered my bedroom, the largest room in the house. I had a huge balcony that overlooked the city, a bathroom with a tub big enough to fit several adults, and a walk-in shower with two showerheads. The whole place was more than enough for several people, not just two lovers.

  I set her bag on the end of the bed. “Change.”

  “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  I turned to her, annoyed with her dark jeans and sweater. “Is that lingerie?”

  “No…”

  “Then change.”

  She took her bag into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

  I stripped down to my boxers then lay on the bed, my head propped up on a pillow. My hand rested on my chest as my dick got hard in my shorts. Just imagining how she would look made me want to blow, to come in my shorts like a teenage boy.

  She came out a moment later, wearing a one-piece bodysuit that was so lacy I could see her skin underneath. It was virgin-white, and she had matching garters up her slender thighs. She’d volumized her hair and added a bit of mascara to make her eyes pop. It had a crotch that unfastened, so I could fuck her without taking it off.

  Good.

  I propped myself up and stared at her, my expectations met. I preferred black, but the white looked so sexy on her dark skin. She had the perfect body to pull off something so slimming. The deep plunge in the front showed off her perky tits, and her legs looked so sexy in those lacy garters.

  Damn.

  I pushed my boxers down so she could see my stamp of approval. “Get over here.”

  She crawled onto the bed then moved toward me, on all fours.

  My hand slid into her hair, and I pulled her in for a kiss. Her body slowly molded into mine as I ran my hand up her thigh, feeling the lace under my fingertips. My lips kissed her neck, her chest, and the shell of her ear. Then I kissed her again. She was so fucking sexy, but I wasn’t in a hurry to fuck her.

  Just wanted to kiss her.

  “You really want me to dress like this while we have dinner?” She wore a black teddy with garters.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m practically naked.”

  “That’s the point.” I sat across from her and poured two glasses of wine.

  Her tits were pressed together, and the lacy fabric wouldn’t protect her if something hot fell into her lap. But she looked sexy in lingerie, and I liked having all the power.

  Especially since she gave it to me.

  I cut into my steak and ate, pairing it with the red wine Helena had picked out. My phone kept vibrating and buzzing because work never stopped, so I put it on silent to keep it from ruining our dinner.

  “You don’t have to turn it off because of me.” Her hair was done in big curls, and she wore enough makeup to look like a stripper. But I liked her that way, as a woman who willingly became my prisoner.

  “You’re much more interesting.”

  “I find that hard to believe…” It was one of the rare times we’d shared a meal together, and it was clear she didn’t eat much. Whenever food was in front of her, she took a few bites of then lost interest. It was probably why she had such a nice figure—because she didn’t care about food.

  Wine, on the other hand…was a different story.

  She looked out the large windows to the patio, probably enjoying the view just the way I did. Normally, I’d sit outside, but now that December was almost upon us, it was far too cold. But we still got to enjoy the view. “How long have you lived here?”

  “You can ask me anything, and that’s what you decide on?” I’d noticed she picked questions that would never have substantial answers. Even now, she was keeping everything sterile, doing her best to make us strangers.

  “I’m genuinely curious. This place looks like it was remodeled recently.”

  “I moved in eight years ago.”

  “You like living in the city?”

  “Prefer it. Tuscany is too vulnerable.”

  “It’s beautiful…”

  “Yes, but you become an easy target.”

  “So, you feel safer in the city?”

  “It’s a lot easier to keep eyes stationed everywhere—out of sight.”

  “So, you have men watching your property at all times?”

  I nodded. “If an enemy comes too close…” I squeezed my forefinger like it was on top of a trigger.

  “Well…good thing they knew I was friendly.” She drank her wine again, preferring the drink over her meal.

  “Beautiful women are always welcome in my house.”

  “We can be evil too.”

  “That makes them even better.” I took another bite of the steak, enjoying the tenderness. Helena had been working for me for a long time, and I would employ her until she was physically unable to keep up with me.

  “So…you aren’t working all weekend?”

  “Damien has it covered.”

  “How did you get guys meet?”

  “University.”

  “Really?” she asked, visibly surprised by the revelation.

  “Yes, I’m smart enough to attend college.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly. “The two of you just don’t seem average… That’s all.”

  “We were in school for one year when we decided to drop out. The classes were a joke, and there was nothing we were interested in besides becoming rich. There seemed to be quicker ways of doing that, better ways.”

  “So that’s all you care about? Making money.”

  I didn’t want to be stripped down to a superficial person, but maybe I was a superficial person. “Yes, it’s important to me. And anyone who tells you it’s not is a liar—including you.”

  “Me?” she asked in surprise. “No…you’re mistaken.”

  “I’m right on the money,” I said coldly. “You don’t want to be married because you want to retain your independence. You want to own your hotels so you can control them. You want to be completely self-sufficient so you never have to need anyone’s help. That’s exactly the same thing. Financial security is freedom. So, don’t make assumptions about me unless you’re prepared to make them about yourself.”

  When she didn’t have a rebuttal, she must have internalized what I said. “I’m not obsessed with being rich, but I guess the rest of that is true.”

  She was ambitious like me. She wanted control over everything, so she would never have to answer to anyone. If I got to control her every day of my life, I’d be a happy man. But she wanted the exact same thing…to live without tyranny.

  I would be a fucking tyrant.

  “There’s nothing wrong with feeling that way,” I said. “The better you understand who you are, the more you’ll understand what you want.” I continued to eat my dinner even though she was already finished.

  “You and Damien seem close.”

  “We are.”

  “Is he your brother?”

  “No.”

  “Just your friend?”

  I nodded. “My only friend.”

  “I’m not your friend?” she whispered.

  The last thing I wanted to be considered was a friend. I’d take lover, but I preferred something better. “No. Friends don’t fuck the way we do.” I refilled my glass with wine and took another drink.

  “I should have asked this sooner, but when we were apart…were you with anyone else?
”

  I wanted to blurt out the truth, but that would be stupid. It would make me seem weak, like I was sitting home alone wondering what to do about her. “That’s none of your business. The second you left this relationship—”

  “It’s not a relationship.”

  I set down my glass and leaned forward. “It is a relationship. When you get on your knees and apologize, that’s a fucking relationship. It’s you and me…figuring this shit out.” I sat back again after my tone sank into her flesh. “I’m clean. That’s all you need to know.”

  “By your logic, you should tell me if you did or didn’t. Because that’s a relationship.”

  “Good. So you finally agree that’s what this is.”

  “Never said those words. But according to what you just said, telling me the truth would be the right thing to do.”

  I hated that she was smart. But if she weren’t, I probably wouldn’t be so infatuated with her. “Why do you want to know so badly?”

  “For my own health. Isn’t that reason enough?”

  “Or you’re jealous.” My eyes burned into hers, wanting her to admit that fact. It would be a pleasure to think about, to know she was home alone missing me, worried I was fucking some other enthused woman.

  “I’m not jealous. I just know you like prostitutes, so…” She rested her fingertips on her glass, displaying the best poker face I’d ever seen. It was possible she was telling the truth, that her curiosity didn’t stem from possessiveness.

  “I told you I’m clean. What does it matter? The only reason it would is because you’re jealous.”

  She dragged her fingertip across the surface of her glass.

  “If you really want to know, admit the truth. But if you aren’t…then my results should be good enough.”

  Her finger kept dragging in circles, and she watched her movements. She was quiet a long time, bringing the conversation to an end.

  I hid my disappointment. When we were together, it seemed like there was something more there on her part, that she needed me more than she realized. I swore I could see it, swore I could feel it. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe this woman really didn’t give a damn about me…and never would.