Page 23 of Ruthless King

Nico glances up at me and goes still. “I haven’t seen you wear that before.”

“We’ve only been married for two days,” I whisper.

“True.” He sets the paper in his hand down and leans back in his chair. “So, what are you doing in here, Aurora?”

“I thought …” I gulp. I thought I could seduce you, but I’m shaking too much for it to be convincing. My hands pull at the end of the dress, but it doesn’t move down. It remains at my upper thighs, exposing my entire legs to him.

“Do you want me in your bed?” he ask.

“Yes.”

He leans forward, his eyes darkening. It does something strange to my body, and a flutter forms in between my legs. “You look absolutely terrified. You should go and only come back when you’re ready for me to fuck you.”

I flinch, any heat from my body evaporating. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. But don’t pretend with me, Aurora. If you want me to fuck you, I will, but only if you really want me to. I can smell your fear a mile away. So, what are you playing at?”

My vengeful aunt told me to seduce you.

“I thought this was what you wanted.” I motion towards my nightgown. “You didn’t seem to want to talk to me today.”

“I do like talking with you. But I’m a busy man. You can leave.” He picks up his paper again and goes back to reading it.

I’m dismissed.

Hurrying back to our bedroom, I quickly change into something less sexy. A simple top and pajama bottoms. Then I get under the covers, my face on fire.

I can’t believe I tried to seduce Nico. It obviously did not go as planned.

He said he likes talking with me, but he barely makes the time for it. I can’t have sex with him when I’m still a little scared of him.

So, what am I supposed to do?

How do I get a man like Nico to fall in love with me?

Nico invites Andrew over for dinner, which means I have to listen to them talk about stocks and bonds and other boring monetary things. I never had to worry about money growing up. And now that I’m married to Nico, who’s incredibly wealthy, I still don’t.

The only question is—what became of my father’s money? Is it still in his accounts? Or did Beatrice move it?

No one knows my father is dead, but it’s been over a week now, and surely, someone will notice him missing. He had employees. Friends. The truth will come out sooner or later.

I just hope I can deal with Nico before then.

Nico is busy talking with Andrew and doesn’t even look at me as I leave the table. Enzo once again follows me as I clean up my plate in the kitchen.

“Shouldn’t you be guarding my husband and his guest?”

He huffs and walks back out into the dining room. My hands seize up, and my plate clatters into the sink. I have eyes on me everywhere. Even if I weren’t trying to plan Nico’s murder, I’d still go crazy.

Then I realize—I’m alone.

All the men are in the dining room, so I use the opportunity to listen to their conversation.

At first, it’s still the same. More financial stuff.

But then I hear Andrew ask, “How’s married life treating you?”

“Aurora is good. She knows how to keep to herself. She’s not needy or demanding. Exactly what I wanted in a wife.”

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