Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
L ily shifted, and I tried not to groan. My cock was already so hard it was painful. The cold bath hadn’t helped. And lying in bed with Lily’s soft, warm body pressed against mine certainly wasn’t helping either.
We were barely a few weeks into married life, and I was tired of pretending. Tired of putting on this facade that I was unaffected by my wife, when everything she did set me ablaze. If I were honest with myself, it always had.
But Lily didn’t want to mix business with pleasure—she’d made that very clear after what had happened on Knox’s yacht. And at first, I’d agreed. I liked things neat and tidy, and having sex with my temporary wife was neither.
So, I’d continued on as if nothing had happened. Or I’d tried to.
It was easier to maintain my distance in LA, with all the distractions and the demands on my time. Where we could easily retreat to our separate rooms in my large penthouse. And I could jack off in my shower to thoughts of her. Something that had happened more often than I cared to admit.
But here, in the French countryside, everything was different. Lily was different, and I could feel a shift in myself as well. I’d enjoyed the hard work and camaraderie. I’d enjoyed sharing a simple meal outside, with Prince Albert and Queen V at our feet. And as much as that ice bath had sucked, it was worth it if it meant I’d get to hold her in my arms.
So much for giving her space. All I wanted to do was keep her close.
I am so fucked.
I kept my hand on her back, despite my desire to explore her body. All the while, I answered her questions about my siblings. About my plans for the brand. My hopes for the future.
But mostly, I listened to her as she talked about her dreams for the chateau. I marveled at her vision and tenacity as she told me about the obstacles she’d faced every step of the restoration. And yet, despite everything she had on her plate, she’d put things in place for me and my dogs.
Eventually, her voice grew softer. Her thoughts more spaced out. I felt pleasant. Warm. Relaxed.
I wondered if this was how my grandparents felt when they were with each other. And I could understand even more why they’d wanted this for me. It was more than just companionship; it was…understanding. Working together toward a mutual purpose.
I pressed a kiss to Lily’s hair, filled with gratitude. But instead of telling her everything I was feeling and thinking, I merely wished her sweet dreams before saying goodnight. “Bonne nuit, mon petit poisson.”
She was quiet for so long, I figured she must have fallen asleep. But then she asked, “Why do you call me your little fish?”
“Because it bothers you,” I said, almost as a reflex. My body was at ease after a day of manual labor. My mind was calm. Surprisingly, I just wanted to fall asleep with her in my arms.
She turned to me, eyes slits, suddenly much more awake than I’d expected. “I’m serious, Graham.”
“What makes you think I’m not?” I was teasing, but I didn’t let on. It was too fun to mess with her. I liked when she got all riled up.
Her breasts brushed against me, and I could think of nothing else. She straddled me, pinning me down. “Tell me.”
All I could focus on was the feel of her body pressing me into the mattress. Her hands lightly gripping my wrists. Her breasts hovering over my face, barely concealed by her thin T-shirt, nipples begging to be worshipped.
Before I could stop myself, I arched my hips, letting her feel my desire. She gasped then narrowed her eyes at me.
“Don’t try to distract me, husband.”
“Why? Is it working?” I asked.
She ground down onto me, and we groaned in unison. “No.”
“You sure about that, wife?” I asked, captivated by the sight of her. The feel of her.
She gnawed on her bottom lip. “I…” She gulped. “I don’t know.”
And yet she didn’t stop. She kept at it, teasing herself, teasing both of us, as she rubbed along my cock. Driving me wild. Her breasts swaying beneath the shirt, taunting me. I wanted to see her. Taste her. Touch her.
“Maybe we should practice our communication skills,” I suggested, hoping she’d pick up on what I meant.
She arched a brow. “We can do that outside the bedroom.”
“We could…” I let that sentence trail off, giving her space to reconsider. “But I feel like talking now.”
She considered it, a smile playing at her lips. “I’d hate to miss an opportunity to practice . What’s on your mind?”
I loved seeing her like this—playful and unguarded.
“First, I’d have you sit on my face. I need to taste you,” I said, and I wondered if she could hear the desperation in my voice. “Make you come.”
“Graham,” she groaned, but I sensed the hesitation on her lips. Even so, she whispered, “What else?”
The words continued spilling out of me, and I didn’t try to stop them. “I know I shouldn’t, but I want you. You drive me crazy with wanting you.” I leaned up and kissed her collarbone, her shoulder, angry that there was any fabric between us. “I can think of little else.”
“Look at you using your words,” she teased, and I knew she was trying to deflect. Avoid answering. Fuck that.
“Should I keep going?” I asked. She hesitated. So I added, “Nothing has to change.”
Because that’s what she wanted. And even though I wanted all of her, I would gladly take anything she would give me.
“But you know it will. It will make an already messy situation even messier.” She changed her angle, and we moved faster. Her eyes rolled back in her head.
Her mouth said one thing, but her body told an entirely different story.
“I. Don’t.” I flipped us so I was on top, taking advantage of her distracted state to take back control. “Fucking. Care.”
Her eyes darkened, and I knew she was turned on. So I continued. I kissed her cheeks, her neck, everywhere I could easily reach.
“But you like things that are neat and tidy. You li?—”
I silenced her with a kiss. “I like you .”
She smiled, beaming up at me. “I like you too. I like you here, like this. But?—”
Her words and the sweet way she looked at me sent a thrill through me. I kissed her again, harder this time. And she gave as good as she got, rolling us again so she was on top once more.
“We can’t.” She placed her palms to my chest, continuing to rock against me despite her protests. I wondered if she even realized she was doing it.
“Why not?” I asked, taking her left hand in mine and bringing it to my lips. I held her gaze as I kissed each of her fingers, lingering on her ring finger. Whether she knew it or not—admitted it or not—she was mine.
“You won’t even give me a straight answer about your pet name for me. We’re pretending to be married?—”
“We are married,” I said, smoothing my hands over her waist until I was grabbing her ass. Oh fuck. She was wearing these tiny lace panties beneath her T-shirt and nothing else. “We’re not pretending.”
God. She was perfect. And I wanted her.
“Fine,” she huffed. “We’re married for real. We’re just pretending to be in love. Which is why this is messy. Adding sex to the mix is asking for trouble.”
“We did it before.” And I was going to come again if she didn’t stop. Was she trying to drive me crazy?
Her eyes fluttered closed, and I couldn’t decide if she wanted to throttle me or kiss me. “Yes, but that was…”
Don’t you dare say it was a mistake. I gave her hips a gentle squeeze, her skin warm beneath mine. Don’t you dare.
“A momentary lapse in judgment,” she finished.
I relaxed, grateful she didn’t view it as a mistake. A lapse in judgment—fine. I could work with that. But I didn’t want to cause her regret.
“Then let’s have another lapse in judgment.” I smirked, hoping to lure her in like she had me.
She leaned forward, and the ends of her hair dusted my shirt. “Tell me why you call me your little fish, and I’ll consider it.”
I chuckled. My wife. She drove a hard bargain. And that’s why we were such a great fit.
“Hm.” I pretended to consider it, but I was more excited about the idea of driving her crazy. “Nope.”
She slapped my chest and moved to climb off me. “You’re terrible.”
I didn’t let her go far, turning toward her so we were spooning. My front was to her back, and she was trapped in my arms. “You love it.”
I was so hard for her it hurt. There was no way she didn’t feel it, feel me pressed against her ass.
She shivered then yawned. “Well—” She yawned again, and it was totally fake. Then she reached out to turn off the light. “Good night.”
So that’s how she was going to play it. The little tease.
I knew she wanted me. Just as she knew I wanted her.
I lay there a minute, trying to get my breath—and my body—under control. I remained still, willing myself to get it together.
And then I totally caved.
“You can pretend all you want, but I’d bet good money you’re wet for me,” I rasped, inhaling her scent. It mingled with mine, and it smelled like home.
“Shh,” she whispered. “I’m sleeping.”
My chest shook with laughter. “If you were sleeping, you wouldn’t be talking.”
She was quiet.
I slid my hand over her stomach, teasing the edge of her panties. “Let me make you feel good. No expectations.”
She shifted a little, squirming. I smirked, encouraged.
“You know you want me to,” I said, sliding my hand lower. She widened her legs, and I rested my hand over her mound. She didn’t stop me, so I kept going. “You want me to tease your clit.”
She whimpered, and I started massaging her clit through her underwear.
“You want me to bring you to the edge with my fingers. Building your pleasure slowly—” Her panties were soaked, and I let loose a groan. “Again and again until you scream my name.”
Oh god. I needed that just as much as she did. Maybe more. And that was terrifying.
I’d never needed anyone.
“Yes.” Her voice was shaky but clear. “Yes.” She widened her legs, giving me more freedom to move.
I moved her panties to the side and slid my hand beneath them, using the pressure from the material to add to her pleasure.
“I’d put my hands and my mouth all over your body.” Her hips started rocking, and every brush of her ass against my hard-on had me nearly exploding. “I’d make you come so hard and so many times that you forgot your name.” I nipped her ear. But I’d make damn sure she’d never forget mine.
I kept that one hand working her clit, while I slid the other up to tease her breasts. I groaned. My god, her tits were glorious. Two full handfuls that were incredibly sensitive to touch.
I leaned my forehead against the back of her head, needing to be closer. Needing more.
If the way she widened her legs, parting her thighs for me, was any indication, she did too. I slid one finger inside her.
“And then, when you didn’t think you could take any more, I’d have you sit on my cock.”
She groaned, and I could tell she was close. Her body was squeezing me like a vise, and her movements were wild, desperate. I wanted to ruin this woman like she’d ruined me.
She placed her hand over mine, guiding me to the spot she wanted me most. “There.” She let out a garbled sound.
Even now, she couldn’t resist taking control. But I didn’t mind. All I cared about was her pleasure.
“Tell me what you need.”
“Faster. More pressure,” she instructed between pants.
I’d planned to drag this out, to torture her, but instead, I did as she asked. And then she was coming, crying out as she fell over the edge. Falling apart in my arms.
“ Oui , mon ange,” I said, coaxing every ounce of pleasure out of her . “Voilà, c’est ca ,” I coaxed. There you go. That’s it. I kissed her shoulder. “Donne-toi à moi. ” Give yourself to me.
Her body relaxed in my arms, all the fight going out of her. She turned her head, kissing me. “ Merci .”
“ Ton plaisir est ma recompense , Madame Mackenzie, ” I replied, letting her know that her pleasure was my reward.
Giving her pleasure brought me pleasure.
She reached back with her hand, wrapping it around my shaft over my pajama pants. It was so tempting to give in. It felt so good.
But I’d told Lily that I had no expectations, and I’d meant it. I didn’t want her to think that everything about our relationship was transactional. So I grabbed her hand in mine and wrapped them both around her. “Sleep.”
“But—”
“Shh,” I hushed. “Good to sleep, mon bijou. ” I kissed her hair and tried to will away my hard-on. “Ton plaisir est tout ce dont j’ai besoin ,” I whispered. Your pleasure is all I need.
* * *
“You’re late,” Sloan said when I answered her call a few days later. “And—” She leaned forward, likely to get a better look at her screen. “You’re a mess.”
This was certainly a change. Usually, I was the one critiquing my siblings, not the other way around. I wondered if Sloan’s shortness had something to do with pregnancy hormones, though I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut.
“I’ve been busy.” I set my respirator aside and headed outside into the fresh air.
After we’d finished removing the tiles on the second floor, Lily was working on prepping a room for wallpaper, and I’d been tasked with removing lead paint from the front hall. It was tedious but satisfying. And it gave me time to think. About Lily, about her dreams for this place, about what I’d do with the garden if I were given free rein.
“Doing what?” Jasper asked. “And what are you wearing?” He frowned. “Is this some sort of kinky honeymoon role-play for you and Lily?”
I narrowed my eyes into slits.
“Okay. Okay.” He held up his hands. “Forget I asked. But seriously, what are you wearing?”
“It’s a paint suit.” I removed the hood and ran a hand through my hair. “I’ve been stripping the lead paint off the ceiling in the main entry.”
Jasper and Sloan blinked at me.
“What?” I barked.
“I never thought I’d see the day that Graham fell in love,” Jasper said. “But it’s happened.”
“What does that have to do with paint stripping?”
Sloan smiled, resting a hand on her stomach. She’d gone back to London, the city’s skyline glittering in the background. “Everything.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked Sloan, eager for a change of subject. “How’s my future niece or nephew?”
“They’re great.” She beamed. “I’m finally less nauseous. And baby is doing well.”
“I’m glad,” I said, feeling as if a weight had been lifted. Even so, I knew I’d be on edge until the baby was safely delivered.
“And Jasper?” I turned to him. “How’s everything in LA? How are you?”
He froze as if surprised I’d asked, and I made a note to make more of an effort. To try to treat him as more of an equal. To communicate more, as Lily always suggested, and not just in the bedroom.
“It’s…fine.” He cleared his expression, reverting to something more neutral. “I can’t believe you’re not going stir-crazy. You’ve barely logged in to the company server.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m on my honeymoon.”
“Yeah, but…” He shook his head, his expression one of disbelief.
“I thought you’d be happy,” I said, confused.
“I am. I’m just surprised, that’s all,” Jasper said.
“ Pleasantly surprised,” Sloan chimed in. “Though the board has been grumbling about your absence.”
“What’s new?” I asked. If I were there, they’d claim I wasn’t a devoted husband. If I were gone, they’d whine that I didn’t care about the company. There was no winning. “Fortunately, they no longer get a say in our lives.”
“That’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about,” Sloan said, looking to Jasper. I wondered what was going on. What was I missing?
Maybe I should’ve checked in more frequently, but I was supposedly on my honeymoon. Okay, that was a lie. Now that I’d signed off, I was actually enjoying myself. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually taken a break. Especially not to do something solely for pleasure.
I think I’d always clung so tightly to the reins because I feared that if I stepped back, everything would fall apart. But I should’ve had faith in my employees, in my family. I hired the best and paid them handsomely, and I needed to trust them to do their jobs.
My siblings were more than capable of running the company themselves. Something I’d only recently admitted to myself, thanks to Lily. Perhaps it was time to stop viewing them as my baby brother and sister in need of my protection and start seeing them as the capable, intelligent adults they were.
Instead of demanding answers, I waited for Jasper to speak. He sighed. “There have been rumors. Questions about your relationship with Lily.”
I’d expected as much, but his tone gave me pause. “What kinds of rumors?”
“About an improper relationship. Reporters sniffing around.”
“The fuck?”
“I want to loop Pierce in on this. We need to get our story straight before the next board meeting,” Jasper said, sounding entirely too responsible. I was coming to realize that maybe I didn’t give him enough credit.
“Pierce will tell you the same thing I will. There is no story.” I gripped the phone tighter, wondering why this was the first I was hearing of it. “Lily and I reconnected long after her employment with the Huxley brand ended. We fell in love and got married.”
Jasper and Sloan shared a look.
“Yeah,” Jasper said. “You see…” He scrunched up his face. “That doesn’t sound terribly romantic.”
Maybe not, but those were the facts. “I don’t need to justify my relationship to them.”
I was already calculating ways to take them down. Lily was my wife, and if they insinuated anything improper, anything that would hurt her or her reputation… I clenched my fists, seething. I would put their publications out of business faster than they could say “Lily.”
Jasper rolled his eyes. “Here we go again.”
“What?” I asked. What had I missed? I’d been so focused on protecting Lily that I hadn’t paid enough attention to the conversation.
Sloan groaned. “This is just like the cold, heartless billionaire thing all over again.”
“How?” I asked. “Doesn’t my marriage prove that I’m warm and loving?” That was kind of the whole point. Well, that and securing the additional shares.
“You’re telling us to feel a certain way without showing us why. It would be like saying Scrooge had suddenly decided to become generous and loving without showing us his donations or his visits with his family. Or his generosity toward Tiny Tim and his family,” Jasper said.
“So now I’m Scrooge?” I dragged a hand through my hair. Fuck me.
“It was merely an example,” Sloan said, as if she hadn’t just called me a selfish, uncaring bastard. Was this truly what my siblings thought of me? “Jasper’s merely trying to say that you can’t just slap on a wedding ring and tell everyone you’ve changed. You have to show them.”
“What do you want me to do?” I seethed, feeling attacked. “Fuck my wife on the conference table in front of the entire room?”
“Is that an option?” Jasper asked.
“No!” Sloan and I shouted in unison. I tried to take a deep breath, desperately resisting the urge to reach through the screen and strangle him. Thank fuck Lily was still inside the chateau. No way I wanted her hearing this conversation.
I dragged a hand through my hair, though it snagged on all the dirt caked in it. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know how to prove that our relationship is real. I don’t see why I should have to. Nobody questioned your marriage to Jackson, and it was fast.”
“Graham.” Sloan softened. “Jackson and I had history. And our marriage didn’t have the ability to drastically reshape the company.”
I sighed. This again? “She’s my wife. And I prefer to keep my private life private.”
“We get that,” Jasper said. “But we’re your family. You can’t keep shutting us out.”
Was that how they felt? Was that what they thought I was doing? Was I?
“Give us something to work with,” Sloan said. “We know this is difficult for you, and we’re willing to do the heavy lifting. But if we’re going to present a united front to the board, you’re going to have to give Jasper and me a little more to go on. Especially, if you want to dispel any doubts about the legitimacy of your relationship and put them to bed once and for all.”
That was what I wanted, wasn’t it? And I could see how patient my siblings were with me. How hard they were trying.
I thought about what Lily would do. Tie me up and make me use my words. I almost groaned aloud at that image, because god, I was so hard for her. All the fucking time.
We hadn’t had sex again—yet. But it felt like we were working up to it. And honestly, waiting—painful as it was—was kind of fun.
I was a patient man. I’d play Lily’s game. I’d work on my communication skills every damn night if that’s what she wanted.
“Graham?” Sloan prompted in a gentle tone.
I shook my head as if to clear it. “Right. Okay. What do you recommend?”
“Let’s do a test run. Go over some of the questions they might ask you,” Jasper said.
Sloan nodded. I grunted. That sounded like fucking torture.
“How long have you been together?” Jasper asked.
“Long enough.” When he glared at me, I said, “It feels like forever and a moment.”
Sloan wore a soft smile. Okay. Clearly a good answer. Vague but romantic. I’d try to stick to that.
Sloan asked another question, then another, alternating with Jasper as they continued their rapid-fire interrogation. Asking me about Lily’s favorite color. The reason we were splitting our time between France and LA. On and on and fucking on it went.
I knew they were doing this to help me prepare, but I also suspected they were secretly curious about my relationship with Lily. My feelings for her.
“What do you love about Lily?” Sloan asked.
“Everything,” I snapped, unable to take it anymore.
“Graham.” Sloan narrowed her eyes at me, but I realized it was true.
Lily was smart and passionate and tenacious, and I admired her. There weren’t many people I’d say that about, but that didn’t mean I loved her . I couldn’t. Could I?
“That answer isn’t going to cut it,” Sloan continued. “You have to know that.”
“What I know—” I gnashed my teeth “—is that I’m married, and the board can’t do jack shit about it.” So what if there’d been rumors? Reporters? It wasn’t ideal, but it would blow over.
“Actually…” Sloan grimaced. “They can. And they are.”
I gripped the phone so hard I thought the screen might crack. “What are you talking about?”
“Some of the board members hired an attorney to contest the marriage provision of the will.”
“Good luck to them. We all know that provision was valid.”
“Yes, but we also know what they’ll come after next.” Jasper gave me a meaningful look.
Lily. My stomach clenched with dread, but I had to project strength. Certainty. My siblings looked to me for leadership and guidance, and I would not—could not—let them down.
If my siblings weren’t convinced, the board wouldn’t be either. I needed to put a stop to this now. If not for me, then for Lily. I refused to see her torn apart in the board’s quest to take me out. It was not happening. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Let them come,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“Maybe not, but you need to be prepared. No one even knew you were dating Lily, let alone seriously. And now you’re conveniently married six months before the deadline to inherit the shares. If we’re asking these questions, everyone else is too.”
“She’s right,” Jasper said. “You always talk about how important family is, but then you go off and get married in secret. It looks odd.”
Ouch. I’d underestimated how upset my siblings would be about my surprise marriage. I felt bad, but I reminded myself that I was doing this for them. For my grandparents too. And now, for Lily and the chateau.
Sloan met my eyes, her expression solemn. “I know you think you’re the big brother and you have to do this all on your own, but you don’t.”
Did she know the truth about my marriage with Lily? If nothing else, she certainly had her suspicions.
“She’s right,” Jasper said. “We’re a team.”
I was tempted to confess, but I couldn’t. I would never put my siblings in that position.
“And, Graham,” Sloan said. “You know this has nothing to do with Lily, right? She’s lovely. And if you’re happy, we’re happy. Yes, we’re pushing you, but we see how much you care about Lily. I mean—” She blew out a breath. “The fact that you left LA. That you’re shifting your schedule so dramatically every month so you can be with Lily at the chateau speaks volumes.”
Spending time away from LA certainly hadn’t been the hardship I’d feared. In fact, I found that the more time we spent at the chateau, the more I dreaded returning to LA. I was growing more invested—not just in the project, but in Lily.
We spent our days restoring the chateau, and I was constantly in awe of my wife. She always had dust in her hair and a smile on her face, and she was the most beautiful woman to me. Then, after a simple dinner on the stone bridge that spanned the dry moat, we’d go for walks through the grounds with Prince Albert and Queen V, brainstorming ideas for the gardens. We spent the nights in bed, talking as we held each other.
It was the first time in a long time that I could remember being content. I thought about Lily, and how it no longer felt like an act. It felt…real.