Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
RILEY
“You?” I stare at Kieran like he’s grown another head.
He, of course, doesn’t even flinch. He just gives me that signature scowl that I’m starting to think might be the only facial expression he’s capable of. “Don’t look so thrilled.”
“Oh, I’m ecstatic.” Apparently, sarcasm is my only defense mechanism now.
Brennan chuckles behind me.
At least someone is amused by all of this.
“I’m not doing this because I want to,” Kieran states.
“Trust me. The feeling’s mutual.”
Ronan takes a step forward, subtly placing himself between me and Kieran. “This is a strategic alliance. It will buy us time as well as give us leverage. But more importantly, it gives you protection from Sean.”
I look between Ronan, Kieran, and Cormac, who purposefully keeps his eyes down, as if hoping that if he remains quiet enough, we’ll forget he’s here. Brennan, on the other hand, continues to laugh behind me as if my life being set on fire is nothing more than entertainment.
A familiar weight presses down on my chest and stops me from taking a full breath as a mixture of panic and fear overwhelms me.
“No.” I choke, shaking my head. “No, I won’t do it.”
“This is your best option,” Ronan says gently, but that only infuriates me more.
“The evidence was meant to be enough. The whole reason I came to you was to get out of an arranged marriage, not walk right into another one!”
“It will solidify our family’s alliance with yours,” Ronan reiterates.
“But—”
“Unless you have a better plan, I think the next thing you need to say is thank you,” Kieran snaps.
I blink at him. “Actually, I do have a better plan.”
A flicker of surprise flashes across his face, but he quickly composes himself. “Go ahead.”
I look over my shoulder at Brennan, whose smile instantly vanishes from his face. “What about one of your other brothers? You know, one who doesn’t openly hate me?”
Brennan holds up his hands. “Whoa, I didn’t agree to marriage.”
“I don’t hate you,” Kieran says, and I spin back around to glare at him.
I scoff. “Could have fooled me.”
“I think you’re untrustworthy, but I don’t hate you.”
“Oh, well… So long as you don’t hate me, that makes marrying you so much better.”
“Both of you, enough!” Ronan’s voice is sharp enough to make me flinch.
I shut my mouth, but my glare remains locked on Kieran, who doesn’t even blink because, of course, he doesn’t. He probably sleeps with his eyes open just to keep an eye on whoever he thinks might stab him in the back.
“It’s Kieran or it’s nobody; that’s the deal.”
I open my mouth, but Ronan holds up a hand before I can argue.
“You want Sean to back off and for your uncle and your brother to believe you’re out of reach? Then you need to marry someone that makes them second-guess everything, someone who looks like he would kill a man just for asking the wrong question, and that person is Kieran.”
Kieran crosses his arms over his chest, his stare cold and unwavering, looking every bit the weapon that everyone says he is.
Whether I like it or not, Ronan might be right. If I want to get out of the shackles that my family has placed on me, my only option might be to hand over the key to Kieran Sullivan.
I let out a shaky breath and drop my gaze to the floor for a second as I try to collect my thoughts.
This is insane. Completely and unbelievably insane.
Ronan looks right at me. “This marriage is going to piss off a lot of people. Especially O’Keefe.”
Brennan looks between us. “But that’s the point, right?”
“Right. But if he catches wind that it’s not real… There’s no telling what he’ll do if he thinks he can still get to Riley.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek.
Every instinct I have is screaming at me to run. But where? Back to Oscar and Rion?
Hell, no. They would stick a veil on my head and march me down the aisle straight into Sean O’Keefe’s arms, and I would rather fake-marry a Sullivan than spend the rest of my life as Sean O’Keefe’s goddamn property and toy.
I sigh. “Fine. But don’t think for one second that I’m happy about this arrangement.”
Kieran mutters something under his breath, probably another colorful insult, but I ignore him.
Ronan dips his chin. “We’ll set things in motion. For now, I suggest you keep your head down, Riley. You’re in the lion’s den now.”
“Yeah. I feel very welcome.”
The brothers take their leave not long after I agree to marry into their family.
The atmosphere in the weapons bunker is awkward and tense, and I have a feeling it’s going to spread to the rest of the penthouse once Kieran and I are alone.
The five of us file out into the main living space, with Kieran and Ronan locked in a hushed conversation.
Brennan walks beside me, the light in his eyes having returned after he realized he wasn’t going to be subjected to a life of wedded bliss with me. His carefree attitude is refreshing, considering how serious the rest of the brothers are.
Cormac walks behind us like a shadow, saying nothing, but I can feel his eyes on my back the entire time.
“Have fun.” Brennan nudges me with his elbow before following Ronan and Cormac into the elevator.
I roll my eyes at him before offering him a wave as the doors slide shut, leaving Kieran and me alone once again.
Before I can even turn to face him, he stalks off without a word.
“Seriously?” I call after him.
The sound of his retreating footsteps grates on my nerves.
Against my better judgment, I hurry after him, following along until we come to what I can only describe as a man cave with a ridiculously enormous couch and TV as well as a computer setup that could rival a professional gamer.
“Luring me to your lair, I see?”
Kieran continues to ignore me, instead choosing to pour himself a drink from the well-stocked cart in the corner of the room.
I don’t miss the fact that he doesn’t offer me one.
“You know, we should probably talk about ground rules if we’re going to be living together.”
Just as I expected, Kieran’s head snaps in my direction, and he shoots me a murderous glare.
“Excuse me?”
“We’re going to be married, so I assumed we would also be cohabitating.” I plop down on the couch, making a point of making myself comfortable.
“I had hoped that we would have the kind of marriage that comes with separate apartments.”
“Is that a thing?”
“It should be.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t try to redecorate your bachelor pad or anything.”
I get a grunt before he ultimately gives in and comes to sit on the couch, bringing with him his glass of whiskey as well as the bottle.
“Seriously?”
“What?” He glances at me over the top of his glass.
“You’re not going to offer me a drink?”
“No.”
“That’s not very hospitable of you.”
“Would you accept it if I did?”
“No, but that’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point, Riley?”
A shiver runs down my spine at the sound of my name on his lips.
Hearing Kieran Sullivan say my name in that rich, gravelly voice of his should not have any effect on me whatsoever. And yet, here I am, nothing more than a Riley-shaped puddle on his million-dollar couch.
I’m going to get myself in trouble if I’m not careful…
“What’s the matter, princess? Lost for words?”
“Stop calling me princess.”
“I will when you stop acting like one.”
“How have I acted like one?”
“By waltzing in here and demanding I give up my freedom for you.”
I huff a laugh. “I didn’t ask anything of you. Ronan did.”
“Don’t remind me.”
I try my best to hide my amusement. “Have I touched a nerve?”
“You want rules? Well, here they are. Don’t touch any of my things and stay in your room.”
“You’re an ass.”
“So I’ve been told once or twice.”
“Have you ever thought about a personality transplant? I hear they’re all the rage among men like you.”
“Ah, so you have a lot of experience with men like me, then?”
I snap my mouth shut as my cheeks instantly flood with color.
It doesn’t go unnoticed by Kieran by the smirk on his face.
Scowling, I lean over and snatch the bottle of whiskey out of his hand and take a long swig, trying not to wince as the liquor burns my throat. “You’ve already driven me to drink.”
“I tend to have that effect on women.”
I take another long sip. I’m not normally one for drinking this early in the day, but I have a feeling that this is the only way I’m going to survive this conversation with Kieran. “Seriously, how are we going to do this?”
“You tell me. I’ve never done this before.” He reaches for the bottle.
“What, be fake-married?”
“Well, yes. But also, I’ve never had a woman stay the night, let alone live with me.” He foregoes his glass, taking a drink from the bottle.
I blink.
I knew Kieran was a bit of a man-whore, but I didn’t expect him to be the type of guy who ran from even the slightest sign of commitment.
“We need to make this marriage convincing. But that does not give you a free pass.”
“Oh?” Kieran raises his eyebrows at me and I roll my eyes.
“I’m serious, we need to have boundaries.”
“Like?”
I tuck my feet up underneath myself as I try to think of a way we can do this without me giving up all of my morals. I’m not a virgin because I’m a prude or anything, but I’ve just been so focused on college that boys simply haven’t been on my radar.
Now it’s gotten to the point where I’ve avoided relationships altogether because I was embarrassed by the fact I’ve only gotten to second base.
So, the thought of Kieran being the one to take me to third and fourth, or however many bases there are, makes me feel like a charity case.
Though, I can’t deny that I’m curious to know what skills he could teach me. I mean, he has a reputation for a reason. The man leaves a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes and here I am, practically being offered him on a silver platter.
I’m sure if I said that the only rule I wanted was that there were no rules, Kieran would be happy to oblige. He might hate me, but I’m also a girl, at the end of the day. I’m sure I could persuade him to teach me a thing or two…
“Well, I think we start with separate bedrooms,” I say quickly before my thoughts get too carried away. “I need my space.”
“Obviously.”
“And no physical contact unless we’re in public, but even then it’s minimal touching and no kissing unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Define absolutely necessary.”
“If someone’s watching, then we can participate in very light PDA because it will help sell the lie. But don’t make a habit of it.”
“Trust me. I won’t.”
I fold my arms. “And just so we’re clear, this isn’t going to turn into anything...weird. This is fake and temporary. Once my family backs off and Sean gets the message, it’s over. Null. Done.”
“Works for me.”
We fall into silence, though my heartbeat rings in my ears as Kieran’s eyes stay on me.
I’m suddenly too aware of my hands, which are unusually sweaty. There’s one more thing.”
“Of course, there is.”
“I want this agreement in writing.”
That gets me a reaction.
Kieran’s eyes narrow as he sits forward slightly, and I catch a waft of his cologne. It’s rich and musky and completely intoxicating.
“You want a contract?”
“I trust Ronan. But you don’t trust me, and I don’t know what that means for me once I’m legally tied to you. I need to protect myself.”
Kieran’s expression is completely unreadable as he regards me, and it takes everything I have not to break eye contact.
There’s something about his dark brown eyes that makes me feel like he can see into my soul.
“You think I’m going to double-cross you?”
“I think you don’t know me, and that kind of distrust can turn ugly, fast.”
He studies me for a long moment before finally lifting the bottle of whiskey to his lips.
My eyes remain transfixed on the way his throat bobs as he swallows, my own going painfully dry as I eye the powerful column of his neck.
“Very well. If that’s what you want, I’ll talk to our lawyer.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You’re still marrying me.”
“Believe me. I haven’t forgotten.”
I’m not sure anyone is capable of ever forgetting Kieran Sullivan.