Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 74487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
* * *
I stand and rest a hip against the dresser. “I have a proposition for you.”
* * *
He raises his eyebrows. “We went through that already. Two months ago. Our business arrangement has already been settled.”
* * *
“I’d like to renegotiate.”
* * *
“With what?” He moves closer, his eyes sharp on mine.
* * *
“With my name. It appears that I have sole control over the funds in that account. I am happy to help you access it, but I want something in return.”
* * *
“And what would that be?” He moves another step closer, and I forget how to breathe for a moment, the scent of him too familiar, bringing to mind too many memories of slick, bare skin and a hard, demanding cock.
* * *
“I want out. A divorce, or annulment, whichever is appropriate. But I need you to continue providing for my father. And I’d like a little bit of money to start fresh, somewhere other than Sammy’s.”
* * *
He frowns. “That’s asking for a lot in exchange for two months of your time.”
* * *
“And what was your original plan, after you got the money? Dump me with ten grand? Send my father back to the city hospital?” My body tightens in sudden anger. “You want to fuck with my life for three months and then toss me aside? I think that’s taking a lot considering what you are getting in return.” I reach forward to poke his chest and he grabs my hand, his grip tight on my skin.
* * *
“It’s my money, Candy. I’m just getting it back. I’m not taking something that I don’t deserve.”
* * *
“You haven’t answered the question,” I glare. “What was your plan for after you got the money?”
* * *
He releases my hand. “I wasn’t going to leave you. I was going to stay married.”
* * *
“What?” I say, baffled. “Why?”
* * *
“What Drew said earlier is correct.” He meets my eyes. “We’re hoping a wife may provoke Cecile to return.”
* * *
“Wouldn’t a wife make her less likely to come back?” I would certainly write off an ex who remarried, the wedding proof positive that he had recovered, and gotten over me.
* * *
He gives me a wry grin, a casual gesture that makes my heart stop and my knees weaken. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him smile when it wasn’t for the cameras. “You don’t know Cecile. She is very competitive, very possessive. The thought of me with a young, beautiful woman … it can’t hurt.” He shrugs. “I’ve tried everything else.”
* * *
“So you want to stay married?” The last few hours, my mind had been making plans for Life After Nathan. Staying married … it was a thought that had never crossed my mind.
* * *
“Yes. Assuming, of course, you are willing.”
* * *
I sit, wanting, more than anything, to put some distance between us. I can’t function properly when he is close to me, his scent too sexual for me to ignore.
* * *
I block out his sex appeal and force myself to remember that I am miserable as Nathan’s wife, the rules too constrictive, the control unbearably tight. I shake my head. “I don’t think I can do that. At least not with how things are now.”
* * *
He cocks his head. “What do you mean?”
* * *
“The rules … how you are with me. I understand it now; you were keeping things from me and trying to keep me from having feelings for you … but I am miserable.”
* * *
He frowns. “Is it the sex or everything else?”
* * *
I hesitate. “Both, really. The sex …” I blush, despite myself. My face should be immune to blushing, especially in the area of sexual conversation. And Nathan certainly doesn't seem uncomfortable. I swallow. “The sex is great, at least for me. I don’t mind exhibitionism so much, but not in front of Drew—that bothers me.” I try to say the words casually, try to not give away anything more than what I intend. "And … that night." I shudder. "With that guy." I look up at him, my face resolute. "I will never do something like that again."
* * *
He nods, his eyes on mine, our gazes locked in a stare that I can't pull away from. "I'm sorry for that. I thought …" He shrugs.
* * *
"I'd love to know the rest of that sentence."
* * *
His eyes harden, my tone one I have never used with him. But things need to change, our playing field to level.
* * *
"There were two reasons for that. One was because it turns me on seeing your mouth wrapped around another man’s cock." His blunt words make me blink, the heat behind them causing a curl of desire in my belly. "Second, I did it to keep distance between us. To remind you that I was in control, and to stop you from harboring any illusions of romance."