A Tempting Arrangement (Twisted Vows Book 1)

18. Damon

“Isn’tit a bit early to be drinking?” Bash asks, snickering. I glare at my brothers through my computer screen. Apparently, Matthias had enough of my shit and put together a little intervention after last night’s stunt.

“No.” I take another sip, not even feeling the burn anymore. I returned to my office after leaving Misty’s, knowing there was no chance I’d be able to sleep.

I’d tried to be a decent man and give Misty the space she needed to process the fact we’re getting married. I love that my Little Nymph’s charming to everyone else but has no problem showing me all the fire she buries deep inside. That’s how I want her—open, free, real.

She’s been burying her feelings, but not with me. Never with me.

Which is why I thought I’d give her some space to come to the only possible solution on her own.

She will be my wife.

When the alarm I had set up on her door beeped last night, I said fuck it and pulled up my surveillance app.

I know I shouldn’t have gone over there, but the second I saw that asshole walk into her building, my mind had whited out in rage. I don’t remember leaving the office or getting into the car. I’d been overcome with the overwhelming need to show her that even if she doesn’t admit it to herself, her body already knows she’s mine.

“What’s with the family meeting, Matthias? News on who’s been picking off the Unsainted?” Xander cuts in and runs his hand through his hair.

“Fuck, I wish that’s why I called you here.” Even through the screen, I can tell my brother is looking right at me. “Seems our older brother has lost his fucking mind over his girl, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but we need to rein him in before he fucks it up.”

I hate that he’s right. I have no idea how Misty will react to what happened in her kitchen. She’d been wet and pliable, the air filled with her moans, but that didn’t mean she didn’t turn to pure fire the second I locked that door.

Bash chuckles and leans forward, his chin propped up on his knuckles. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

Matthias shared his screen and played the video of me crashing through her building, storming up the stairs, then nearly taking her door off the hinges with how hard I slammed it open. Fear took over Carter’s face as he took in my rigid stance, veins popping out of my neck, fist clenched at my sides. He’s not a small guy, several inches over six feet tall, shoulders meant for checking opponents into the boards.

But he looked at me like I came straight out of his nightmares as I closed the distance between us.

I turn my attention to Misty, suddenly hating the idea of her looking at me with that same fear, but when my eyes land on hers, a slow satisfaction heats my abdomen. She’s watching me with flushed cheeks and dark eyes. It’s not fear but interest in her expression. Fuck, my cock’s growing hard just watching her reaction.

My brothers are completely silent as they watch until the video cuts off right before I pin Misty to the counter.

“Fuck, man,” Xander says on an exhale. “I thought you wanted to marry her, not make her hate you.”

I look right at Matthias, and I know he knows my attention is on him. “Fuck you.”

He shakes his head. “No, don’t take your shit out on me. Someone’s got to step in before you screw everything up. No one wants to deal with your grumpy ass when this all blows up in your face.”

“No wonder you’re drinking whiskey at 9:00 a.m. You just went all caveman in front of the first girl I’ve ever seen you actually interested in.” Bash is smiling ear to ear, fucking loving every second of this. “Does that video finish the way I think it does?”

“It does,” Matthias responds.

Anger curls in my chest. “You watched?”

“No, I didn’t fucking watch. Not that you weren’t putting on a show. Pretty sure that pretty-boy hockey player had the show of his life.”

My skin prickles at the idea of anyone seeing Misty’s bare skin. It was one thing for someone to know I’m fucking her. It’s another to let them lay eyes on her. “He didn’t see anything. I made sure of that.”

Bash whistles low. “Can we just roll this back a second? Are you telling me you had her date watch you fuck her?”

“Watch how you talk about her,” I warn.

I finish my whiskey and pour another one before speaking. “I told her we’re getting married, and she took off from my office. I was just waiting for her to come around. Then she invites that asshole over.”

“You told her you’re getting married? Jesus Christ, Dam.” Xander’s voice is full of disappointment. “To think I looked up to you.”

I rub my hand over my face. My brothers are the only people I’m willing to show weakness in front of, and even then, it’s rare. “I fucked up.”

“You think?” Xander sighs, collapsing back into the couch he’s sitting on. “You’re going to be fucking unbearable when she tells you to fuck yourself.”

“Maybe we can convince her it was temporary insanity?” Bash adds.

Matthias shakes his head. He looks fed up with this entire conversation. “He tried to manipulate her into marrying him, then proceeded to break into her home and fuck her in front of her own date. Yeah, I’m not sure there’s any fixing this.”

“Send her flowers?” Xander winces, knowing that’s not an actual solution.

“I’m sorry, brother, but I think you may actually be fucked on this one. Cut your losses.”

My muscles stiffen as a darkness crawls up my veins. “Not an option.”

“Well, unless you plan on drugging her before marrying her—” Xander’s mouth falls open. “No, that wasn’t a suggestion.”

“If you want this girl to be anything but terrified of you, you need to back off,” Matthias hisses. “She’s never going to agree?—”

He cuts off when my door slams open, and a whirlwind of color flies through it. Misty’s looking down at where I’m sitting at my desk. Her chest rises and falls in rapid succession, and her hair is a wild storm of colorful curls.

“I’ll marry you. But I have my own conditions.”

Fuck. She’s beautifully terrifying. I raise a solitary brow. “Is that so?”

“First, we keep this private. I don’t want it splashed all over the news. You can tell your lawyers and your family to meet whatever requirements you need to.”

“People will notice if I’m not actively looking for a wife.”

“Which is why you’re going to keep going on dates.”

The muscles in the back of my neck leading into my hairline clench, hating the idea she’d be okay with me dating other women. I’m not fucking okay with it. I rein myself in. “What other requests do you have?”

“They aren’t requests. If you want me to marry you, this is the way it will be.”

I unclench my teeth. “Alright. What’s your second one?”

She straightens, lifting her chin, but I don’t miss the way her hands fidget in the pleats of her skirt. “No sex.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Nymph, that’s not possible?—”

“Do you want to marry me?”

“Yes,” I answer immediately.

“Then make it possible.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and I wonder if she realizes how fucking adorable it makes her.

“As you wish,” I respond, standing from behind my desk and stepping toward her.

She doesn’t move as I eat the distance between us, not stopping until the leather of my shoes touches hers. “I agree not to fuck you until you beg for it.”

She sucks in an audible breath, a pretty pink flush covering the tops of her breasts.

“That’s not going to happen.” There’s a tremble to her voice, and I don’t believe it has anything to do with fear.

I run my thumb along her cheek and lift her chin with my fingers until she looks at me. “We’ll see.”

“My last condition is that it’s over in one year. That’s long enough to meet your grandfather’s condition. Not a minute longer.”

I bite the tip of my thumb, watching as her ears turn red. I want to fight her on this, but it’s not like she can get away from me anyway. “Fine. Anything else?”

She leans into my palm for a millisecond before snapping herself out of it and taking a step back, breaking the contact. “Can you make it happen this afternoon?”

“I’ll see you then, wife.” I nod and let her flee.

I return to my desk and throw back the remainder of my whiskey. I can’t help my smile.

“Fuck, man. How blue are your balls going to be?” Bash breaks the silence.

I’d forgotten about my three brothers, who are now all smirking at me.

“Are we invited to the nuptials?” Xander adds playfully.

“No, thanks. He probably wants to bond her in blood.”

I end the call with them and lean back in my chair, a thrill glowing in my chest.

A few more hours and she’ll be mine.