Page 55 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

“After that, the part with my brother.” The wide 'O' of my mouth is immediate. I start to wiggle out of his hold, never mind that I’m wet and my nipples are hard this close to him. Never mind that I can feel his manhood pushing against my stomach, or the fact that our bodies are crying out to each other, almost melting into each other, despite the anger emanating from him and my resistance. Yep, never mind all that.

“Yes, OH, that part about my crazy brother,” he sneers.

“Forget I said anything. I’m hungry.” I try to pull out of his arm. He releases his hold but grabs my wrist and drags me with him to the bedroom.

“Sit,” he commands in a stern tone. I flinch at the deep anger in his voice.

I sit and fold my arms on the chaise, watching as he paces the room.

“First, I want you to tell me why you said ‘Lily.’” I turn my face away in a pout. He turns it back to face him.

“Tell me,” he says, in a subtle snap, holding my face so it remains facing him.

“I know you guys are still together, which is fine. I’ll be sure to stay out of your way and stick with the signed agreement.” I pull my face away from his hold. He sits next to me. I shift, and he does the same, until I’m backed into a corner.

“New rules: we tell each other the truth. I won’t lie to you, and you won’t lie to me.” I scoff, as if I was born yesterday to believe that. “I promise to always tell you the truth, and I expect the same from you.” Sincerity bleeds from his voice. I want to scoff again, but I nod.

“I broke up with Lily after our balcony kiss. Yes, she calls me because we have business together. She works with her dad, and their company works with Blythe Enterprises. Does she use thatexcuse to call me? Yes. But I assure you, my business with her involves the respective companies and nothing more.”

“Okay,” I respond dismissively, attempting to get up, but he pulls my ass back down with a swift move.

“I need more than just ‘okay.’” I shrug.

“Fine, I believe you. Can I go now?” I attempt again, and he pulls me back onto the chaise. I turn a frown on him.

“What did Osei tell you?” he asks. I begin looking at my feet. He lifts my face to make me look at him.

“What did he tell you about Lily and me?” I want to lie that he didn’t tell me anything, but his eyes bore into my soul, pleading and commanding the truth simultaneously.

“He said you were going to marry her, and you probably will once our contract is over, but he doesn’t know why you decided to make the arrangement with me now, and you always go back to her.” His palm is on my cheek, and I involuntarily rub my cheek in his palm.

“If I had married Lily, it would have been a good business transaction. I didn’t want to come home to a business transaction. Besides, I met you, and there was no way I was going to sign up for a good business transaction.” I chuckle.

“We are a better business transaction,” I snicker.

“No, Dele. We are a couple, not a transaction.” My eyes widen. Before I can process his words, his lips are on mine. My mouth opens wide to take all of him.God, I have missed him so much. My vjayjay is happily soaking and expectant. Luke pulls away fast, and I’m left staring at him, dumbfounded.

“I have told you the truth. I need the truth from you. What did you say Osei was going to do?” Damn, I was hoping he would forget I said anything.

“If you were hoping I would forget, sorry to disappoint you.”Great, he reads minds now, too.

“I was kinda hoping you would forget I said anything.” He smirks.

“You got jokes, Dele. Start talking before I call Osei.” I stare meekly at him, hoping he’ll back off. Instead, he returns a stern face to me.Fine,I summon the courage to speak.

“When I asked Osei about you and Lily, because she was calling you non-stop in Hawaii, he told me what I said earlier and suggested I start dating, too, and that he had the right guy for me. I was supposed to meet him last night at the club, but he couldn’t make it.” I fall silent as I watch his stern look shift to anger. I feel the flare of his nostrils and the intensity of his darkened hazel eyes.

“You wore that dress to meet the guy?” His voice booms. I shake my head.

“No, he canceled earlier in the day. The dress fell out while I was trying to decide what to wear. I just picked it up as a last resort.” I watch him relax a bit. I didn’t think he would be jealous about me dating someone, but I was a hundred percent wrong about that. He gets up and goes to the laundry basket in my closet. I follow him, clueless about why he’s digging through my dirty laundry. Then I hear it — the rip. He rips the dress into shreds. My mouth falls open in shock as I stare at him.

“You are not wearing that dress ever again.” I wasn’t planning to, but I certainly didn’t want him ripping the dress.

“Are you out of your mind? That dress was a gift from my friend, Jax.” I shout, “Why would you rip it?” I facepalm and exhale my anger. “I can’t believe you ripped my dress.” I scorn at him.

“I can’t believe you would think I would stand by and watch you wear that dress ever again. God knows how many men ogled you in that dress. A good thing I can’t press charges for their salacious eyes. But I can keep you from exposing your body to them.”This is madness.

“I’m not your property!” I shout at him. He can’t be going nuclear over a dress and a guy I haven’t met yet.

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