Chapter Eight
Jared steered her through the living room and down the hallway.
“Here’s my office. I’ll show you how to get onto the computer later.”
Sky glanced around the masculine room. She’d never seen a place like that before.
Dark cherry wood shelves stacked with thousands of books filled two sides of the room.
One side had a massive fireplace with a large TV mounted over the top, with smaller shelving on either side.
There were three large floor-to-ceiling windows behind his desk.
His desk was massive like him and held a lamp, stacks of papers, and a computer monitor and keyboard.
Behind the desk was a huge dark brown leather chair.
The room also had a large soft leather sofa that would be perfect for naps, with tables and a chair on either side and one long table in front.
“For what?” she asked.
“I don’t know, maybe keeping in touch with family and friends, or shopping.”
“No, but thank you. I don’t need to know that. I would like to help you in any way I can, though.”
Jared let go of the questions racing through his head. There was plenty of time for them later.
“I don’t want you to worry about helping me right now. I want you to settle in and rest.”
Jared pulled her farther down the hallway into another room.
“This is the TV room. I like coming in here to watch movies and relax. Would you like to do that?”
“Very much.” Her gaze slid around the room, taking in the large L-shaped leather sofa, the pool table, and other assorted games and entertainment. “Your house is so big.”
“This house has been in my family for three generations. Our children will make the fourth.”
A crimson hue flooded her face as Sky pulled away and walked toward the large window. Something inside her twisted when he said our children. She had dreamed about having a family of her own. She couldn’t believe her dream could actually come true.
But she didn’t understand why she was there. Why did he choose her? She gasped when arms wrapped around her from behind.
“What are you thinking about?” Jared asked.
Sky looked at his shadowy reflection in the window. Her gaze moved toward the darkness outside. There was a yard light on the other side of the house, but it didn’t reach this side, making it easier for her to be able to see the night sky full of millions of stars.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Jared turned her and kept his grip on her shoulders when she tried to move away. “You can ask me anything, Sweetheart, but I would like it if you looked at me when you ask.”
Sky took a deep breath and gathered what little courage she had. “How many women applied to be your wife?”
A frown puckered his brows. “Three. Why?”
“I just can’t figure out why you chose me?”
Jared frowned. “Mainly, it was because you were the youngest and looked sweet.”
“You needed the youngest woman to be able to give you children.”
He stayed quiet for a second. “That was one of the reasons I put out an ad for a wife. I don’t have time to drive the three hours there and back to the nearest city to meet women. A friend of mine did the same thing, and he’s been happily married for six years.”
For some reason, a spike of anger raced through her.
“Besides being a broodmare, what did you want a wife for?” she asked a little harshly.
He slid one of his hands up to curve around the back of her neck and used his thumb to tilt her head back. “You need to watch your tone of voice.”
Sky pushed down the fear that tried to rise into her throat. Even though he kept his voice lowered, there was a hard edge to it that hadn’t been there before.
“Another important reason I want a wife is I want to have a warm, sweet body in my bed every night and a sexual release anytime I want.”
Oh, my God. She was not used to the things he was saying. Sky put some space between them and took in a shuddering breath as heat ran through her and landed in her midsection.
“But any one of us would have worked?”
Jared took a step toward her. He tried not to grin when she took a step back for every one of his. He slowly moved her against the wall next to the window. He curved one arm around her waist, and his elbow landed next to her head on the wall.
“No, they wouldn’t.” His voice deepened. “You were the only one I would have chosen for my wife.”
Sky kept her eyes locked on the open V at the top of the shirt where she could see his tan skin.
“But you acted angry when you saw me the first time. You had a picture of me. You knew I wasn’t attractive.”
He really wanted to deal with her misconception right now but decided to put it off. “Yeah, I had a picture of you, but it didn’t show how beautiful you are. I was angry because the picture didn’t really look like you. I was looking for a mousy woman to show up today.”
“But you did, and why would that have made you happier?”
“Because then I knew I wouldn’t be thinking about her all day or get obsessed with being inside her as much as possible.”
Sky shuddered as heat tightened her stomach. “So, when you saw me...?”
Jared bent forward until his lips were against her ear. “When I saw your sweet face and hot little body, I knew I was screwed.” He slid his mouth against her neck and smiled when she shuddered. “Now you’re going to be screwed, Babe. Every chance I get, I’m going to have you underneath me.”
“Mmmm.” Sky’s eyes slid closed as hot lava slid through her body. She looked up at him when he stood tall but didn’t move back.
“Let’s go. I want to show you the rest of the house, and then you need to go to bed. You look exhausted.”
“I am a little tired, but I feel too wired to sleep.”
“Come on, I’ll help you.” Jared gripped her hand and started to pull her up the stairs.
Sky held tight to the hand.
Jared showed her the other guest rooms before opening the door across the hall from hers.
The first thing she saw was a massive bed.
Two comfortable-looking chairs sat by the window, and a large dresser against another wall.
Off to the right was a door that led into a large bathroom, and next to that was another door she assumed went to his closet.
Jared leaned against the wall next to the door and watched as she walked around the room. She turned toward him and gave him her attention.
“In a few days, this will be the only bedroom you’re going to be in for the rest of your life. Do you think you’ll be able to handle that?”
Sky gripped her hands together in front of her and was unable to meet his eyes. Too many questions and feelings were scrambled inside her head to answer.
“Come here, Sky.” He was pleased when she came to him without any hesitation.
His hands landed on her hips and pulled her in between his spread legs.
He smoothed her hair from her face. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m going to take care of you.
Just put your trust in me, it will be easier for you. ”
She concentrated her gaze on a shirt button in the middle of his chest. “I’ll try,” she said quietly.
Jared tilted her head up with a finger under her chin.
His eyes roamed over her beautiful features.
Her light gray eyes stayed locked on his dark ones.
He lowered his head, going slow, and giving her a chance to pull away.
Her eyes closed before his lips took hers.
At first, he pressed kisses over her mouth before moving over her face, then going back for a taste of her.
He slid his fingers through her hair, gripping it, controlling her movements. Her mouth opened under the pressure of his tongue. A moan tore from his throat when he deepened the kiss.
She whimpered and clung to his shirt. One kiss led to another until she tore her mouth from his to draw air into her lungs.
Jared picked her up with his arm around her waist and walked them across the hallway to her bedroom. The hand in her hair tilted her head to retake her lips. He pulled her away from him but kept his arms around her.
“Baby, I need to let you go before this gets out of control. I don’t want to push you into anything before you’re ready.”
Sky nodded and let go of his arms. She was relieved he’d put a stop to the kiss, because she hadn’t known if she’d had the strength to.
“Good night,” he said and placed a hard kiss on her lips before he walked out of her room and shut the door behind him.
Sky pressed her fingers to her swollen lips. She could have kept kissing him forever. He was addictive.
She stared at the door. She’d been angry when her father had done this to her, had put her in the situation.
But now, she thought it might be a blessing.
She smiled. Her father would be furious about the situation, because she guessed he hoped to intimidate Jared.
She suspected her father wanted to be able to control him, the situation, and, of course, her, always her. That is why he’d sent her to him.
Her father had talked about Jared being a backward country boy. Gullible, dumb, and trusting. Everything he needed to control her marriage and what he could get from Jared. He never told her the reason he pushed her into the situation, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before she found out.
Sky tugged on her nightgown and brushed her teeth. She turned off the light, lay back against the pillows, and pulled the blankets up to her chin.
She couldn’t seem to catch one of the thoughts racing through her mind. She assumed it would keep her from falling asleep, but her eyelids started to droop, and within a few minutes, she was dragged down into a deep, restful sleep.
Sky was vaguely aware that Jared was her last thought.