Page 44 of Misconducts & Temptation

"I wasn't sure if you'd show up," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.

I ignored the way his fingers found my wrist again, how he tugged me in the direction of the other seat.

I sat, shooting him a frown.

He ignored it.

"Well, here I am," he said, leaning back in his chair. "And I've got some things we need to discuss."

Chapter 14

Keaton

Iwas late.

Typical, really. My father would have a field day with that one. He always did.

As I stood there, I glanced at the drink in her hand. A three-dollar fruity thing. The thought made me want to buy it for her, not that she would care. She seemed too grounded for that. And somehow, that made her unpredictable.

She intrigued me.

Elodie Winters, the scholarship kid. She was pretty, stunning even, but she hid it well beneath baggy clothes and bad posture. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face, like she couldn't decide whether to tame it or let it run wild. Her eyes, though, they were sharp and observant. Eyes that saw through bullshit and pretenses.

There was something innocent about her, something untainted by the world I lived in. It made me want to corrupt it.

Her presence bothered me in a way I couldn’t quite pin down. Maybe it was because she didn’t seem impressed by the things that usually worked on people—money, status, control. No, Elodie looked at me like I was just another guy in a room full of sweaty jocks and stale air.

And for once, I didn’t mind being seen like that.

The cafe was almost empty now; only summer class kids were on campus. Most were traveling around the world or lazily sun-bathing by a luxurious pool. I should be preparing for a wedding—my wedding.

Instead, I found myself studying Elodie.

“Well?” I said, my voice slicing through the thick silence between us. “You wanna go first?”

Elodie shifted in front of me, discomfort written all over her face. I liked that. I liked making her feel uncomfortable. I liked making her feel anything at all.

“I don’t know what to do,” she mumbled, her eyes darting everywhere but at me.

“You tell me what you want from this marriage,” I said, leaning back against the chair, arms crossed. “Like a business arrangement.”

“And you’ll just agree to it?” she asked skeptically.

“Depends on what it is,” I replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “I mean, there’s no way in fuck I’ll be your husband and let you have a goddamn boyfriend. Or see anyone for that matter.”

Elodie almost choked on her drink, eyes widening in shock.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “What?”

“You think I’ll get a boyfriend?” she asked, like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

“Being my wife is going to elevate your status,” I said, my voice taking an edge. “You’ll find not everyone likes me. They're going to want to embarrass me."

Elodie nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a newfound resolve. “All right, then. Here’s what I expect from you as my husband.” She took a deep breath. “Fidelity. Respect. And no lying.”

I raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “You realize you’re going to be wealthy for the rest of your life, right? You can’t expect loyalty from me on top of that.”

She didn’t flinch. Instead, she met my gaze head-on. “Fine,” she said, her voice steady and firm. “But then I’m allowed the same right to see other people as you are.”

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