Page 43 of Unbreakable Vow

“That’s the point.” I smile. “It’s comfortable.”

“Hmph.” He pushes the shirt up to my stomach. “And these pants?”

“They fit fine,” I argue.

The left side of his mouth kicks up. It’s not a smile, but it’s closer.

“Yes, but they’re on,” he counters.

“Did you want me to walk down here without pants?” His men litter the house during the day, and I’m not sure how many are here overnight.

“My men know better than to let their eyes wander where they don’t belong.” He hooks his hands into the elastic of my pajama’s bottoms. “And if they ever dared touch what is mine, they’ll never touch anything again.”

The intensity of his vow shakes me a little.

“Yeah, but I’m not yours. I mean, not really. Right?” My voice trembles a little, and I’m sure it has to do with how my body reacts to him. My skin craves his touch, and all he’s done is touch my clothing so far.

“What did you say?” He cocks his head.

“I just mean, yeah, we’re married, for whatever your business thing is, but it’s not real. This thing with us, it’s not, it’s just business, so I wouldn’t think you’d do anything to anyone who you know, if someone took an interest, I’m just saying.”

He jumps to his feet, towering over me in an instant and slaps his hand over my mouth.

“You’re rambling again.” He lowers his face to mine, until his nose brushes against my cheek, and he whispers into my ear, “Do I make you nervous?”

“No.” I’m pretty sure the little squeaking sound I make completely obliterates my answer.

“We’ve been over this. You’re mine, Cora.” He trails his lips across my cheek in the faintest touch until he’s able to look me in the eyes again. “Only mine.”

“For a month or two.” Why does my voice keep shaking like that?

“For at least a year,” he says, dropping his hand from my waist and taking a step back. “We have to remain married for at least a year.”

“What?” I grip the desk. A full year. “That’s not what you told me.”

“It’s what I need to do in order for all of the businesses to remain in my possession.”

“The ones you inherit from your grandmother?”

“Yes.” He nods. “If we are not married in one year, everything reverts back to her family. My cousin, to be exact. She hates him more than me, apparently, since she cut him out completely.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?” I’m here for an entire year? It was one thing when this was make believe for a few months, but a full year? It’s too much.

“I found out this morning.” He shrugs. “The judge was already here, and what’s a year?”

“A year is different than a few months.” I slide out from between him and the desk. “It’s a whole year.”

He looks at me with that hardened stare of his. “You’ll be taken care of. More than I originally promised.”

My mom. He’s taken my mom in, and instead of it only being for a few months while I get the paperwork all worked out, it’s for a full year.

The expense of that… I’ll never be able to repay him.

“That’s why you brought Mom here? So, I couldn’t say no and leave? Because she’s here now.” My hands fist at my sides. “I knew if you knew about her, you’d use it against me.” Knowledge is power. I knew this!

“Cora.” His tone drops. “I should have told you, but it’s only a year.”

Ten months more than I thought.

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