Chapter 7 #2
I find it all very amusing. “Like I was saying, you must also attend all the functions, be present for everything that would be required of me to attend. For all intents and purposes, and to everyone else, we are married. Our deal will only be known to the both of us.”
It has to be a year for my father's men to believe that I’m married, that I can keep my own house in control. I need the time.
“This is crazy,” she gasps. “I can’t do this!”
“Well, you don’t have too many options, it seems.”
She pitches me with a pointed glare, chest jumping with heavy breathing. Her body remains pinned to the wall as though my hand and body are still keeping her there. And I would very much like to.
“The wedding would be soon,” I continue, ignoring this violent need surging up my body. “No later than a month or less. Then after a year, I divorce you, and you get to live your merry fucking life.”
She remains silent for long seconds, eyes darting all around until they land on me. “Do I get any money? I mean, anyone who has to be forced to stay married to you for three hundred and sixty-five days deserves something.”
I chuckle, just barely, before my face turns hard. I near her until her chest rises, until my lips flirt with a taste of hers, those intoxicating breaths coating my mouth.
“You want money?” My tone’s marked with callousness. “For breaking into my house? For avoiding jail time?” I reach a hand for the delicate contours of her face, fingertips drawing down the side of it. “No, little dove. There will be no money.”
Her lips part, those breaths long and scattered.
“When you’re gone, it’s with whatever you came with. And because I’m a good man, I’ll let you call your family or your boyfriend, and they can help you.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Those words make my fucking heart jump, and I shut it right off. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’m not here to fall in love with you.”
My lips graze hers, and her exhale jumps out. I’m playing with fire. That was too close.
“Great.” She practically bites my mouth off, even as the haze of her arousal marks every syllable. “Because I’ll never love you.”
“I don’t want your love.” I brush my thumb softly down her cheek. “I only want your obedience.”
“You won’t get that, either.”
With my other hand, I find her wrist, lifting it up above her head, slamming it against the wall, and keeping it there. “We’ll see about that.”
I run my nose down her neck.
“So full of yourself, Michael Marino.” Her words fade until my name is but a slight little moan, the bravery in her tone replaced with desire. She may deny it to herself, but I can practically smell it on her.
“Ah, so you know my name, then?” I pull away, enough to see those soulful eyes begging to own me.
But she never will. No one can. I won’t let them.
“Unfortunately.” She bats her lashes with a taunting look.
“What have you heard?” I cup her jaw in a roughened palm.
“Enough to know you’re not a good man.”
“All true.” I hit her with a cold smile. “So, what will it be, Elsie? Death, prison, or a year of being my sweet, obedient wife?”
She scrunches her nose, and I only chuckle.
This woman is my one shot at saving my brother. I need her, and I will take what I need to secure my father’s position. It’s the only way I can ensure that Raph stays alive. I never needed the power—I already have it—but my brother’s life, if I can spare it, is worth this woman’s freedom.
There’s no one else I can find in two weeks, no one but her. Especially not someone who excites me as much as she does. If I have to get married for a year, it might as well be with someone who puts up a good fight and burns at my touch.
“I’m not sweet either.”
There’s a glint in her eyes, and I suppress a growl, wanting her helpless beneath me, feeling the vibrations of her moans as I enter her for the first time.
Gradually, I let my lips fall to her neck, inhaling her fresh scent as those little pants grow closer together. “I bet you taste real sweet, though.”
She gasps, and fuck, I love the sound of it.
“Don’t you have to drop to one knee or something?” she breathes.
“Will that get you to say yes the proper way?” I run my lips past the ravaging pulse beneath her neck, beating with life inside her.
“Not in your dreams, Marino.” She sighs, throwing her head back, giving me more of what I crave.
My God, she makes me never want to stop being this close to her, feeling her whisper to life under my touch.
Rolling back, needing those eyes, I let my knuckles brush down the side of her face.
She may entice me with her strength and that feisty attitude, but I have no interest in getting to know the woman underneath.
I won’t allow her to get close enough. I won’t fall.
She’ll never get whatever’s left of my heart.
And there isn’t much left at all. I have no plans to keep this woman and make her mine.
A man like me learns to accept the life he’s been dealt. In my life, there’s only danger. It’s how it is. Marriage will never be something I’m after. Not the real kind, not anymore. But that doesn’t mean I can’t pursue it for the mere purpose of getting what I want.
Marriage doesn’t have to be final. They end. And this woman? She’s going to help me get exactly what I want, and after that, I’ll let her go.
Simple.
Easy.
Clean.
My father doesn’t have to know a thing about my true intentions.
“So, we have a deal, then? Because I will need to hear you say it.”
She stares at me with a tight glare. “Will I have to sign something?”
“Only to make the marriage legal. This agreement between us will be a verbal one.”
She huffs, all dramatic, spearing me with a look that says she’d love to see me dead. I can’t say I blame her.
“Fine. Deal.” She sighs. “A year. That’s it. Then you will let me go.”
I drop my hand off her, pushing away completely, and every damn muscle in me wants back on her. My hand swipes through my hair, forcing it away from my forehead.
“That’s what I said. And I don’t like repeating myself.”
“Noted.” She rolls her eyes.
“Don’t do that.” I take a step up to her, chest to chest. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, Elsie.”
“Or what?” She snickers. “Seems like you need me a lot more than I need you.”
“You overestimate your value, little dove. You’re only seeing the tip of what I’m truly capable of. Now, let’s go. We have an engagement to announce.”