If he touches me, I thought with profound longing, I’ll most likely set myself on fire.
“Your father came to see me today. He’s demanding that I marry you, his ever precious only daughter,” he stated as a matter of fact, making me snap out of my daydreaming.
“I beg your pardon?” I shrieked, reddening from head to toe. Gone was my horniness and in came immense mortification. “My father said what?”
Still expressionless, he carelessly said, “You heard me right the first time, Ava. There’s no need to repeat such words. It does nothing to alleviate the wretched mood I’m in.”
“Marriage …” I muttered to myself, thinking my parents had certainly lost their damn minds. My father, whom I had yet to confront, was acting like a complete ogre. “That’s hardly an option.” Meeting his eyes once more, I nervously licked my lips. “I’m still married, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
He snorted, placing both hands in his pockets. “If you’re planning to raise this child while you’re married to Ashton, then you and I are going to have some problems, Ava. I don’t want my child to be around him, not if I can help it.”
Well, he certainly did have strong opinions when it came to Ashton.
“I mean to divorce him. I do, but he isn’t willing to cooperate.” The bugger had been ignoring me for a couple of days, which had only made me wonder if my father had stepped in and taken care of it. If there was someone who could get it done, it would be him.
“Your father would hate for his first grandchild to be a bastard. Apparently, your bloodline doesn’t take to bastards.” He threw me a pointed look before continuing, “To appease him since he threw a lot of things that he had ‘provided’ for me to start my education, I agreed to his demand.”
“No!” I yelped. “I don’t want a marriage like that.”
I had wanted to be his wife yet not under these circumstances. More importantly, he wasn’t in love with me. He loathed the very sight of me. What had possessed him to agree to my father’s ludicrous demands? It was pretty archaic. He definitely didn’t look pleased with my answer, however.
Stepping closer to me with the bar still between us, he appeared calm and collected, as if he had already decided it was going to happen. “We can get married just to get your family off my back. Don’t reject it just yet. Try to listen to my reasoning before you make a decision.” He paused, making sure I understood what he was asking of me.
I gave him a nod, telling him to go on.
Hands intertwined, he rested them against the bar. “Once we’re married, we’ll go on as usual. We’ll both lead separate lives, even though we’d be in the same household. The main priority is the child you’re carrying, and that he or she will be legally mine. After everything is settled, you can do whatever you like—divorce or whatever you wish. You call the shots.”
“Oh.” He meant a fake marriage. I wasn’t sure what was worse—him loathing me on sight or that he was offering me a fairytale that didn’t involve him.
His words echoed in my head. Once we’re married, we’ll go on as usual. We’ll both lead separate lives, even though we’d be in the same household. Could I possibly live under the same roof as him, watching him from afar while he quietly carried on with mistresses?
Nervously clearing my throat, I asked, “So, does this mean separate bedrooms? I mean, what do you expect from me as your pseudo-wife?”
“There won’t be any sex involved. I just have to make that clear. I would try to be fair and say that you could carry on in your affairs with male consorts, but you’re pregnant, so that’s irrelevant. Also, I’d like to keep this private as much as possible. I don’t want anything to tarnish my name or my company’s brand. I’d carry on with my lifestyle and ensure that none of it would be a nuisance to you.
“And, since we’re already discussing terms, you’re more than welcome to state yours and what you expect from the pre-nuptial agreement, spousal support, and so forth. I’m more than willing to accommodate your wishes as long as they’re reasonably in my limits. I want you to be taken care of and not want for anything when married to me.”
What a heart-warming speech. It simply made me want to jump for joy. He had basically explained in an intricate manner that he was going to carry on with his women while I secretly kept to myself in his household, spoiled rotten and pampered like a bloody fool. And, oh, I would brilliantly get monthly stipends for being Mrs. Chambers. How smashing. Totally. Truly.
Just pure, utter madness.
“Listen, Reiss. Let’s pretend this conversation didn’t take place. You’re drunk, and I’m utterly exhausted. My capacity for tolerance when conversing with madness and lack of common sense has reached its limit. I beg of you, please change your mind about this.”
“I can’t—I gave him my word.”
“You can very well un-give it.”
He let out a breath, shaking his head. “His lawyers and my team are already drawing up the contracts.”
Bloody Hell.
“No, Reiss. Don’t do this,” I begged, feeling even more unworthy to become his.
The whole situation mocked me, making it blatantly obvious that he would never see me differently or fall for me again. It was tragic to keep being reminded of it. What’s more, each time, the blow seemed like it was brand new. My hurt kept growing. Even though I felt I should be numb to it, it would always prove me wrong.
“It’s already done.” He breached the gap between us by rounding the side of the bar, approaching me at a speedy rate. “I’m merely here to convince you to say yes to my proposal,” he whispered quite close to my face, caging me in with his body. It was a cruel torture to be this close to him and know I should resist him, or I’d lose my stance on the subject.
His hand touched my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. “Say yes, Ava.”
This close to him, I felt utterly powerless. My body was bound to him, and it was only a matter of time until my resistance would cease to exist. Until then, I shouldn’t give him the liberty.
“Go home. We’ll talk tomorrow,” I pleaded. “I promise.”
My breathing hitched when I thought he was angling his head to kiss me, but instead, his lips brushed my ear.
“I don’t trust you…” he spoke into my ear, making me effortlessly shiver as I felt his body heat almost touching me, “so I’m not leaving this room until you’ve given me your word.” He strategically pressed his chest against mine, teasing the tips of my nipples against my silk robe, making me bite back a moan from the severe pleasure it gave me.