A Tempting Arrangement (Twisted Vows Book 1)

19. Misty

The tires rumble over intricately laidbricks as Nicholas pulls into the mansion’s roundabout. Oh my dear God, there’s a freaking ten-foot-tall marble fountain depicting a horse in the middle of it. I swallow hard as I look through the back-seat window at the home that could be called a castle. It has marble pillars and stone and mortar walls. There’s even ivy growing up the walls. It’s something out of a movie.

Everything is perfectly manicured, not a single leaf out of place, and I suddenly can’t get out of the car. I don’t belong here. I don’t belong in this world with its perfect lines and white walls. I tug at the skirt of my silk slip dress.

I’d dip-dyed the bottom a brilliant shade of green that I thought played nicely with my eyes, but all I can see now is how inappropriate it is for a place like this.

My door opens, and where I expect to see Nicholas, Damon stands, his hand extended to me. My breath catches in my throat as I take him in. His hair’s been styled back off his face, and he’s wearing a perfectly tailored tuxedo. There’s no doubt in my mind he belongs here, that this place is meant for him.

When I don’t take his hand, he crouches and meets me at eye level.

He looks apprehensive when he asks, “Are you okay?” His tone is so soft, tinged with worry that has some of the bands tightening around my chest loosening.

“I don’t belong here, Damon,” I say honestly. I’ll just have to find another solution for my visa.

He reaches in and cups the side of my jaw, drawing my attention. “Listen to me. There isn’t a place where I am that you don’t belong beside me.”

I huff, ignoring the tingles running down my neck left over from his words. “I’m not even dressed appropriately.”

His dark eyes roam over where the dress cowls low on my chest, revealing the top of my cleavage, and travel to the colorful hem. He looks back to me. “You look divine.”

I bite my lip and peer around him at the house. It looms above us. It’s perfection, and I have to steel myself to get out.

“Do you not like my house?” Damon asks, a lightness to his voice.

“No! Of course not. It’s…it’s stunning. Anyone would love to live here.”

He searches my face. “But not you?”

I wince, knowing my expression betrayed me.

“Stay here,” he commands, then stands up, disappearing through the grand entrance. My throat grows thick, and there’s an annoying burning at the back of my eyes, knowing he agrees with me. How could I let myself get into this mess? I knew this was stupid. When did I let him get into my head? And why does it feel like my ribs are tightening around my heart?

I’m struggling to get myself together when Damon emerges with an older man in a black suit. It’s not tailored perfectly, and the wrinkles tell me he’s also not from here.

Damon approaches me and holds out his hand. “He’s agreed to wed us out here so you don’t need to come inside.”

My mouth falls open on a gasp. “I don’t have to go inside?”

“No one’s ever going to make you do anything you don’t want to do, Misty. Never again. I promise you that.”

His words wrap around me like a security blanket that I want to clutch and never let go.

I place my hand in his and let him guide me out of the car. “Aren’t you making me do something right now?”

He turns to me, his expression serious. “You chose this. I gave you the motivation, but no one forced you to say yes.” He takes a deep breath, and a muscle ticks in his jaw before he says, “Do you want out of our arrangement?”

There’s an unexpected vulnerability to him, one I’m sure he didn’t intend for me to see. Bubbles form in my stomach and float up in my chest. I shouldn’t be feeling like this about him. I can’t deny that my body responds to him, but it’s not safe to open my heart. I take a deep breath and let it out. “I still want to follow through with our deal.”

He nods once. “Let’s go make you Mrs. Everette.”

“You may kiss the bride.”

Damon’s hot mouth is on mine, stealing my breath away. My fingers bury into his shirt, anchoring myself to him. Everything is happening so fast, but right here, in this moment, with his mouth on mine and his arms wrapped around me, he makes me feel grounded. Like he’s anchoring me to his shore. His hand slides down my back and grips my ass, giving it a tight squeeze.

I break the kiss. “There are people here.”

He drops his mouth to just below my ear and places a delicate kiss there. “They’re paid to look away.”

“Damon.” I laugh and push at his chest. “Don’t forget my rule.”

He groans and nips my neck. “Stupid fucking rule.”

“I don’t have a ring for you yet,” he says, a look of pure annoyance on his face.

I huff out a laugh. “I wouldn’t wear it anyway.” I lower my voice to a fake whisper. “It’s a secret.”

His dark gaze bores into me as he adjusts his pants, then points at the car. “Let’s go.”

I look at the entry to the house. “We’re not going in?”

“No,” he replies simply and takes my hand, leading me into the car and following after me.

Nicholas climbs into the front seat. “Where are we headed, boss.”

“Back to her apartment,” he replies absentmindedly, like this is a totally normal situation.

“My…my apartment?”

“Ours now, Nymph.” He smirks, then brings his phone to his ear. I can only hear half the conversation, but it’s quickly apparent that he’s having all of his things brought to my place.

I grab his arm and tug the phone from his ear. He raises one brow in question. “Yes?”

“You can’t move in with me. My apartment is tiny. You’re a freaking billionaire!” My voice rises with each word.

“I’m aware of the state of your apartment. I was there.”

My cheeks flame red at the memory, and I push it to the back of my mind. There are other things I need to worry about right now.

“You don’t have to live with me,” I say.

He snaps his attention to me, no longer paying attention to whoever’s on the other end of your line. “It’s one of the requirements you agreed to.”

“Yeah, but we could just pretend. You don’t have to stay in my shitty apartment.”

“Is it that you don’t want me to stay with you, or you’re embarrassed?”

It should be both, but right now, I’m still overwhelmed by how different our worlds feel. He must read it on my face because he leans in and kisses my temple, his mouth brushing my ear.

“It would be inconvenient for you to sleep in my bed each night if we don’t live together. Or did you forget that’s one of my requirements?”

His breath tickles my skin and sends shivers down my neck. I swallow hard. “I didn’t forget.”

He pulls away and goes back to ordering his employee to move all of his things. I have no idea how he expects to fit it all in my small space.