Page 360 of The Christmas Wife

"Once you marry me, you can’t leave me. You’ll be mine for the rest of your life."

"So, I marry you and that’s it. I’m stuck with you?"

"Don’t overwhelm me with your enthusiasm," I drawl.

She flushes. "You know what I mean. One day, I don’t know you. The next, you’re my boss. And now, you’re saying you want to be my husband, but not in the true sense of the word."

"There are worse options out there."

"So you keep saying."

"I’ll make sure you have your independence. You can continue to work for me."

She frowns. "But wouldn’t that be conflict of interest?"

"It’s my company." I raise a shoulder. "Besides, we’ll be married only in name, so?—"

"So—" She swallows. "No sex."

"None."

"And I can stay in my own flat?"

"You’re my wife; you’ll have to move in with me. We’ll share the same suite?—"

"But—"

"We’ll have our own rooms."

"So we won’t share the same bed?" she says slowly.

"I sleep best on my own."

She locks her fingers together. "Can I think about it?"

"Afraid time is running out." I pull back the sleeve of my shirt and look at my watch. "My grandfather wants me married within the week."

"The week?" she squeaks.

"Is that a problem?"

"It’s just… Things are moving very quickly, and I haven’t said 'yes' yet."

Not that she has a choice, given her father has already committed her to the marriage. She knows it. I know it. But I’m enough of a gentleman to play along...for now. If an illusion of having a choice is what it takes for her to say yes, then I’m more than happy to humor her.

I tap my fingers on my thigh. "What are you waiting for?"

"I... I have some questions." She shuffles her feet.

"Shoot." I settle back in my seat.

"Why did you bring me to this club?"

"So you’d be aware of the inclinations of the man you’ll be marrying."

"You mean BDSM?"

Not bad, she managed to get out the words without fumbling over the vocabulary.

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