3
Itossed an aspirin into my mouth and downed it with a swig of water. My head still pounded from the cry fest I’d allowed myself last night. Two of my girls were dead, along with Felipe. But I had to pull it together. Being a contract assassin came with its risks, and we all understood that. We gave ourselves a moment to grieve, then moved on. I still felt the distant burn of tears in the backs of my eyes, but I had no time to fall apart.
Maybe later. At the moment, there were more pressing matters—like possibly killing my future husband for already disappointing me.
Late.
Thirty-five minutes late. I’d told him to be at my office at exactly 8 a.m. Last night, emotions were running high, so I postponed our talk for the morning, giving him strict instructions. I had a small window to make sure we’d ironed out details, the logistics of our relationship, and everything this contract entailed.
It was bullshit. All of it. They could marry me off to whomever they saw fit to be the most beneficial to the family. But if it were my choice, then it had to be a genuine relationship, or the union would be invalidated. My hands were tied, and no amount of kicking and screaming, slit throats, or rolling heads would get me out of this. Not unless I forfeited the estate and a bulk of my inheritance.
I stalked forward toward Kai’s room, my boots tapping violently against the polished travertine. The fact he hadn’t had the decency to inform me he’d miss our appointment wasn’t a good sign. How could I expect him to convince my family we were in love if he couldn’t even…
The words raging in my thoughts disintegrated when I tore open the door and found him laying clothes over his bed, with nothing but a white towel tied low around his waist. Water droplets from a recent shower dotted his glistening, tanned skin. Tattoos shadowed most of his upper body, like fine art carved onto hardened muscle.
He whipped around when the doorknob slipped from my hand and subsequently slammed against the wall. Our eyes locked for a beat longer than I was comfortable with. But I found myself unsure of where else to look. While I was never one to be shy or subtle around men with whom I had every intention of taking to bed…Kai Cain, however, was a different case.
“I know this is your home and everything. But knocking is a common courtesy. And I was just about to drop this towel.” The cocky tone of his voice and the grin on his face made me want to slap him. “I don’t mind in the least, but I’m not sure that’s something you want to get into...yet.”
Like a bucket of ice water, I suddenly remembered why I found the man aggravating. Rolling my eyes, I jarred myself out of the muscles and ink stupor that had momentarily clouded my judgment.
“I thought we had an agreement. You were supposed to meet me nearly an hour ago. I don’t like being stood up or kept waiting.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was that serious. I hit the gym this morning—nice, by the way—and was just about to head over.”
Kai motioned to the clothes on his bed and turned toward me. It took every ounce of strength not to stray from his gaze down to the broadness of his chest, swollen from his recent workout.
“Would it have killed you to give me a heads up?”
“Come on, it’s not like it was a business meeting.”
I huffed an exasperated breath. “Everything about this is business. Might I remind you that you and I aren’t friends? We sure as hell aren’t lovers. There’s a lot at stake here, Cain, so I expect you to hold up your end of this deal. Starting with punctuality.”
Kai folded his large arms across his chest and regarded me, one eye narrowing. “Okay,” he said with a sarcastic edge to his tone. “I’m listening.”
“I can’t speak to you like this.”
“What, naked? You put a bullet through a man’s head yesterday while completely disregarding your own safety. Me in a towel shouldn’t faze you.” Again, that maddening grin was fucking with me. Only, he didn’t know who he was up against.
“You don’t intimidate me.”
“Oh, I know that.”
His blue eyes darkened, and we found ourselves in another stare-down. I wasn’t sure what it was about this man, because I didn’t tolerate insolence from anyone, let alone a practical stranger. But I needed the bastard, and killing him would leave me without options.
“Good. So now that we have that clear—”
“Speak, Amalia.”
Call it a sizzle, a spark…something I hadn’t quite felt before rippled deep in my belly when the command rolled off his tongue and straight to my pussy. I instinctively clenched my thighs and looked away, trying my best to act casual.
“Cain, my parents and my little brother do not know that this a sham. They wanted to marry me off to some asshole I barely know—”
“You don’t know me at all.”
My eyes snapped to his and that infuriating smirk reappeared. “No, but I’m in control. I made the choice, and to me, that’s what matters. And like I said, he’s an asshole.”
“I can’t promise that I’m not an even bigger one. In fact, I can guarantee he’s a saint in comparison.”
His amusement was gone, replaced by a heated gaze.
I didn’t hold back this time. I let my eyes roam his torso and muscled arms, following the ripple of his abs down to the V of his hips and where I could see the outline of his cock.
“That may be true,” I whispered, my eyes traveling back to his lips. “But let’s just say, I like my assholes a bit prettier.”
“So you think I’m pretty?”
I hadn’t noticed when Kai stepped closer until he lifted my chin.
“Amalia, if you want to convince your family that what we have is real, sleeping in different rooms would probably raise some flags.”
Going into this, I had no intention of sleeping with this man, but now, I wasn’t so sure. I’d never denied myself in the past. A good fuck was a good fuck. As long as we both went into it on the same page as far as expectations and boundaries.
“We’re Mexican, Cain. I’m not married—yet. My parents wouldn’t delude themselves into thinking I’m still a virgin, but tradition is tradition. And until we say our vows, they’ll be happy you’re willing to respect me. Whatever that means.”
“Then what? We sleep in the same room and play house?”
I slapped his hand away and put distance between us. Being close to him was growing increasingly dangerous and confusing.
“Business. There are terms to this deal, and you and I aren’t anything more than two people with a mutual interest.”
“The benefits here seem a little lopsided, don’t you think?”
I shrugged and shuffled toward a window, parting the long white curtain. A group of men were putting together a gazebo in the east courtyard, while others tended to the landscaping, prepping the space for a ceremony. My wedding.
Our wedding.
Chills skated up my body when I realized I’d be married to the man standing just feet from me—someone with an expiration date and who I didn’t love. But when had I ever expected to find such a thing?
“They’ll only be here for a couple of weeks. I need you to try—”
A warm body pressed against my back, lips at the junction of my neck. Kai placed a hand on my waist and used his thumb to rub circles into my hip. He was like a damn furnace, heat emanating from him and threatening to set my skin on fire.
“I can assure you I won’t have a problem pretending you’re mine.”
The low rasp danced across my flesh. My nipples hardened, and I closed my eyes briefly, clamping my lips closed as some traitorous noise fought to claw its way up my throat.
Mine.
That word had never evoked the feelings now buzzing through me.
And I hated it. The loss of control when it came to this stranger. Was it because he’d saved my life and also placed himself between me and his brother twice? Did my subconscious feel like it owed him something?
Whipping around in his arms, what was meant to be a grin faltered when I found myself face to face with his strong, inked body. He tipped my chin again, a gesture that proved he was already a little too comfortable touching me. I wrapped one hand around his wrist and pressed an open palm to his chest. Fortunately, he didn’t resist when I shoved him back.
“Cain, don’t fuck this up.”
“I’m not sure I’m the one you have to worry about,” he said, leaning against the bedpost. “Though I do have a question.” With a sigh, I motioned for him to proceed.
“Does this contract include sex?”
Straight to the point.
“We don’t fuck. Got it? You don’t fuck—anyone.”
He scoffed. “Okay, let’s say I humor you. How long?”
“Three years.”
Kai turned and shook his head as he made his way back to the clothes on the bed.
“That’s funny.”
“What? Can’t keep it in your pants?”
“If you think I’m going to be celibate for three goddamn years, you might as well call this off.”
“I think you’re forgetting you’re not here of your own will. Debt is debt. You volunteered to fill in for your brother. So, looks like you’re the man for the job.” I crossed the small distance between us. “Are you in or not?”
“Okay, so you and I don’t sleep together. Fine.” Shrugging, he tugged on his t-shirt. He didn’t need to elaborate. I knew exactly what that statement implied.
“No, you’re not understanding. My family is well known here. People will know who you are. That you’re my husband, and you won’t embarrass me by hooking up with random whores.”
He laughed. “You’re crazy if you think I’m agreeing to that.”
“You will because you have no choice.”
“I thought you said there was always a choice.”
I flashed him a wry smile. “My words still stand.” Stepping forward, I put a finger to his chest and poked him out of spite. He looked at the digit, then back to my face, his eyes simmering with anger. “You made a choice yesterday, did you not?”
“I don’t follow.”
“You saved my life, even though you had other options. You had the perfect opportunity to rid yourself of this obligation, but you chose to be here.”
His jaw ticked.
“If you’re going to be my wife, then I expect you to act like it.” He traced a slow hand up the side of my cheek, cuffing a tendril of hair and tucking it behind my ear. “Maybe you’re the delusional one here. You think you have me by the proverbial balls, but you couldn’t be more wrong.” I wanted to push him away when his lips feathered against my skin. “You need me just as much as I need you, because you’re out of options and out of time.”
I gripped his bicep, digging my nails into his skin. The edges of his mouth pulled into a grin. “If you dare to—”
“I don’t have to coerce a damn thing out of anyone.”
“Oh, of course you don’t. You just flash those baby blues, and I’m supposed to fall to my knees and worship your cock.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, mischief written all over his face. The towel that had once been wrapped around his waist lay on the floor between us. The urge to glance down was almost overwhelming, so I did the next best thing, thoroughly enjoying the way his eyes widened in surprise when my hand wound around his thick and rock-hard dick.
It flexed in my palm, and I gave him a squeeze.
“You think I’m intimidated by cock?”
His hand closed over mine, the other tugging me closer and settling like a branding iron over the small of my back. “Not yet.” Kai’s soft lips brushed the crest of my ear. “But soon you’ll be on your knees begging for it.”
“I like your confidence, Cain. You’re going to need it.”
“Sure.”
If I throat-punched him, would he heal in time before my parents’ arrival?
Giving him another forceful shove, I turned toward the door. “You have twenty minutes.”
“Amalia,” he called, his voice surprisingly tender. I stopped walking. “You’re forgetting something important.”
“What would that be?” I asked, returning to where he was standing.
Kai pulled a small black object from the top drawer of his nightstand. And again, he took the liberty of grabbing my wrist, turning my hand over, and placing a small object in my palm.
My heart was traitorous. It wasn’t supposed to be impressed with small gestures. I wanted to kick myself for overlooking this one minor but very important detail.
The ring.
It was gorgeous. A black band with a black solitaire diamond.
Kai attempted to reach for the band again, maybe to slip it on my finger, but I jerked my hand away, refusing to give him power over me.
“Eighteen minutes,” I said, my tone harsh as I walked out the door.