Page 26 of The Reluctant Wife

I might have to settle for an arranged marriage, but this way, I was making sure I had some control over my life. Plus, it was also the ultimate FU to the rules imposed on me.

I make a face. “I won’t be able to do so again. Ryot insists I have a chauffeur drive my car. He’s part of Ryot’s team. No doubt, he’d go running back to Ryot if I asked him to drive me somewhere. Which is why I’m stuck here in this hotel room."

"Aww, I’m sorry, Aura. But it is safer for you not to go traipsing around at night."

“You’re right.” I worry my lower lip with my teeth. “Whoever sent the note, they mean business.” The stakes are high, and I’d be stupid to ignore the security measures Ryot has set down.“But if I don’t get out and do something soon, I’m going to go crazy,” I half mutter to myself.

“Perhaps, the girls and I could go out to dinner with you. Why don’t you speak to Ryot about it?”

13

Ryot

"No, you can’t go out with your friends," I say through gritted teeth.

We’re standing in the living room of the suite. It’s my self-designated neutral area and the only part of the suite I allow myself to enter.

Seeing her belongings strewn around the bedroom, not to mention the sight of her unmade bed, makes me want to throw her down on it and cover her body with mine. Her scent is overpowering in the space, and I have this primitive need to jerk off on her to mark her as mine. The result? I don’t trust myself to be alone with her. I’ve made surenot to be alone with her since the day she undressed in front of me.

On the positive side, there have been no notes left in her room. Given I booked out the entire floor and have my team staying in all the rooms, as well as having two of them guard the entrance to our suite around the clock, no one should be able to get to her. I’ve also employed some of the best investigators inthe business to track down the person who left the note in her previous room. I will not rest until I neutralize this threat to her. I’m doing my best to keep her safe.

I managed to avoid her all day until she finally cornered me.

“I’m tired of having my meals by myself in the restaurant downstairs. And if I’m forced to have another late-night drinkalonein the empty hotel bar, I’ll scream.” She pouts.

Damn!That ‘O’ shape of her pink lips makes me wonder how it’d feel to have it wrapped around my cock. I shove the thought out of my head and focus on the princess.

“You were by yourself because we cleared out the space for your safety,” I say in my most professional tone.

“Whatever.” She tosses her head, then fixes me with a regal look on her face that makes me want to kiss it right off.

My cock hardens further.Down boy. Get your head back in the game.The one at the top of my neck, I mean.

“My point is, I need some time away from this hotel.” Her tone turns pleading. “Besides—” She widens her gaze. “You have an entire battalion guarding me. Surely, I’m safe on an evening out at a restaurant? Nothing can happen to me when you’re around, can it?”

And now, she’s trying to appeal to my pride in a bid to have me loosen the reins on her. I’m not falling forthatgimmick.

"I will not compromise on your safety," I growl.

"Exactly. If you’re there, I’m sure you’ll stop anyone from coming near me. So, I have nothing to fear, right?" She flutters her long, thick eyelashes at me, and my chest squeezes.

Goddam, this woman’s a witch. There’s no other explanation for why I lose my composure around her.

"There’s a limit to my effectiveness. If I take you somewhere public, it raises the chances of the person who wrote that note tracking you down. I’m trying to ensure your security."

"And I can’t spend all evening cooped up in here?—"

"You have the gym and the pool, and the salon within the hotel?—"

"I need to go somewherenotwithin this hotel. If it weren’t for the work events, I'd've gone crazy by now." She throws up her hands. "I can’t believe I said that. Do you know how much I hate most of those commitments? But being cooped up here, I actually look forward to being out there and on display."

I knit my eyebrows. "I thought you liked being out and about, meeting people?"

"Oh, I do. Especially when it means I can read to kids in school or meet children in the hospital and raise funds for them; it’s very fulfilling. But it can also grow tedious, you know? After a while, it gets tiring to put on another dress and go to another society event."

"So, why do you do it?"

She rubs at her temple. "It’s my responsibility to represent Verenza overseas and create awareness of it as a tourist destination." She shrugs. "It probably seems like I’m complaining too much. After all, anyone would want to be in my shoes, wearing designer clothes and cavorting around with important people. I’m sure I seem spoiled to you." She looks uncertain.

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