Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
corinne
The heavy paper of the non-disclosure agreement as well as the marriage of convenience contract feels unnaturally thick between my fingertips. High-quality bond paper, the kind of stationery that screams old money, corporate power, and binding authority.
A lot like the man in front of me.
And while the documents may seem perfect and neat, beautifully formatted, it also feels like I’m signing my death to my independence. I stare at the blank line at the bottom of the page.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I whisper, my hand hovering to sign.
The expensive Montblanc pen feels heavy.
“I’m sure I could start on OnlyFans to make money, but this seems faster.
Besides, I don’t see any other choice to keep my mom where she is, and the nursing home will only take half payments for so long.
” Dom stays quiet while I prattle on. It doesn’t make his presence any less demanding.
The ticking in his jaw tells me he doesn’t like the idea at all. Same, so much same.
“This is faster,” Dom agrees. His deep voice is smooth, lacking any judgment. His posture is relaxed, but his eyes are intensely focused on me. “And far more lucrative. I promise you this, Cory, your mother will be taken care of forever. You have my word, and you have this contract.”
“Fine.” With a sharp, decisive exhale, I press the tip of the pen to the paper and scribble my signature.
Corinne Pierson. I draw a swoop at the n at the end with a definite stroke, flip to the next document, and do the exact same thing there.
It’s done. My freedom for my mother’s peace of mind, well, and to be debt free.
Why does it feel like I’m trading one kind of stress for a different kind of stress?
Before I can fully process the weight of what I just signed, Dom leans across the small space separating us.
“To seal the deal,” he mutters. His hand reaches out, and long, thick fingers cup the nape of my neck, gentle yet with an undeniable presence of possession.
He tilts my face up and kisses me. It’s not gentle or reassuring, it’s searing, a deliberate claim, and I’m his willing victim.
His lips are warm, demanding, and taste of dark coffee and expensive ambition.
He wedges in closer, his other hand going to my lower back, pulling me in until I feel the solid heat of his chest. The parting of my lips with a slow deliberateness sends a sudden spike of heat straight between my legs.
I press closer, trying to find the release that’s building inside of me.
I forget about the contract, my mother’s medical bills, and the sheer absurdity in my life.
There’s only this heated moment, the need to feel Dom like this, minus our clothing.
The outside world doesn’t exist. God, do I want more.
I want so much more, and when Dom breaks our kiss and his thumb brushes over my tingling lower lip, a whimper escapes.
I blink, forcing my brain to reboot. The haze of Dom’s kiss slowly evaporates and is replaced by the reality of the situation and sheer volume of logistics we have to work out and have yet to actually discuss.
“Okay. First of all…” I clear my throat, putting my hand between us and pointing my finger in his direction. “We have logistics to work out.”
“Tell me the problem you’re conjuring up in that pretty head of yours, and I’ll handle it.” He looks thoroughly unfazed.
“I have to work tonight and tomorrow. I’m pulling a double.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’d say you don’t need your job anymore, but I like my balls tucked safely between my legs. Clearly, moving in here tonight is off the table.” Dom’s smirk does little to calm my frazzled nerves.
“Since we’re on that, I can’t move in tonight or tomorrow, but I’m off work on Monday. I’ll pack my things. Deal with my landlord. The last thing I want is for you to go through my panties or nightstand drawer to pack my life away into boxes while I’m gone.” My eyes narrow at him.
“Going through your nightstand drawer, Cory?” His dark eyebrow quirks upward.
The professional, calculating businessman vanishes within a millisecond, replacing him with a man looking at a woman who’s thoroughly amused and aroused.
Pure unadulterated want consumes his face, darkening his eyes until they’re nearly black.
“Now you’re giving me ideas. What exactly are you hiding in there that you’re so worried I’ll find? ”
“None of your business. Which reminds me, what exactly are the sleeping arrangements in this massive place?” Never mind the blush I feel creeping up my neck, I refuse to look away first.
“There’s only one arrangement. You’ll be in my bed.
Day in and day out.” His eyes drop to my lips, he sucks in a sharp breath, and just as I’m about to open my mouth to protest, his expression softens.
“Sex isn’t on the table. Not yet at least.” His last statement hangs heavily in the air between us, like a promise.
“I’m leaving that entirely up you. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, to anyone who might come into this apartment, we’re a new couple, honeymoon phase and all. We share a bed.”
“Fine.” I swallow roughly, my heart hammering in my chest. The thought of sleeping next to his large, imposing form every single night without touching is going to be a form of torture I didn’t anticipate. “What about our friends? What do we say to them? They don’t know about my financial state.”
“And they won’t.” Dom’s voice is form. “You won’t tell them about any of this, and truthfully, they don’t need to know about the debt or that the facility is bleeding you dry.
We’ll play this up. You can’t tell your friends, and I won’t tell mine, not that they haven’t seen the way I look at you.
The fewer people know, the better. It protects you, it protects me, and it keeps the press out of our business.
Any other questions?” He’s got it all figured out.
I should have known. A man like him doesn’t come unprepared.
“Only about a dozen.” Mostly how I’m supposed to act, look, and succeed as a billionaire’s wife, but looking at his sleek watch, I realize what it is.
“I can’t think of all of them now. My brain is fried, plus I need to get back to my place and get ready for work.
” I stand up, smoothing my shirt into place, and look for my purse only to realize it’s on the ground near the elevator.
“I meant what I said, Dom. You are not packing my things. That includes a team of whoever you can pay to do the heavy lifting.”
“You’re stubborn.” He moves with me, tucking his hands into his suit pants’ pockets.
“I’m independent, there’s a difference,” I correct.
“Monday, I’ll pack everything. As for tonight, I won’t be home until late anyways.
It’ll do you good to have to wait a bit.
” I step closer to the handsome man who has my emotions in a tailspin.
A playful smirk touches my lips and a surge of confidence overrides my anxiety.
My hand touches his chest, and I close the distance between us until I can smell his expensive cologne and uniquely male scent. “Be a good boy and wait.”
“I’m many things, Cory. A good boy isn’t one of them.
” Dom’s reaction is instantaneous. Before I can pull my hand back, his captures mine, pulling my flush against his body.
I’m given a reminder who I’m dealing with, not just with his words, but with his body.
I can feel him, all of him. His cock lies thick and heavy between us, the layers of clothing doing nothing to conceal exactly how big he is.
Another time, when I’m far more brazen, I’d do something I wouldn’t usually dream of, like cup him and feel just how big he is.
He slants his mouth over mine, this time not to seal a contract.
It’s a punishment and promise all wrapped into one delicious package.
It’s a searing, deep kiss, stealing the oxygen right out of my lungs.
His tongue parts my lips effortlessly, tasting me with a fierceness that makes my knees week.
I find myself gripping his firm, solid shoulders in order to stay upright.
“See you Monday, wife,” Dom murmurs when he releases me, stepping back with a dark, satisfied smile.
He brushes his lower lip with the pad of his thumb, and as much as I want to give him a smart remark, I don’t.
I stay silent, turning on my heel, scooping my purse off the floor near the elevator, and practically bolting out of the penthouse.
I’m really going to have to up my game if I’m going to be living with the walking, talking wet dream in a tailored suit.