Page 18 of Contractually Wed

Christina stared at her brother and Jia for long moments. After a while, she extended her hands to Jia. “Welcome to the family, Jia. I have a feeling you’re exactly what my brother needs.”

She kissed Jia’s cheeks even as her statement rang hollowly through Jia’s gut. If she let herself, she would see romantic crap in everything. Just as she was forever searching for the slightest hint of approval in her father’s words and gestures.

Apollo’s mother and other sisters followed suit, air-kissing Jia’s cheeks. Talk moved slowly to their non-wedding in New York, the hurry for it, and inevitably to Jia’s family and how Apollo was taking over the family company.

On that front, Jia couldn’t summon even a fake smile. Around her, English morphed into Greek and determined to wait them out, she stood there, like a statue frozen amidst life.

But when her father’s name came up and a flash of such intense hurt crossed Apollo’s mother’s face, all the armor Jia had cloaked herself in fell away. The sisters watched as the son and mother argued in rapid Greek and then joined in. Only Christina seemed to be arguing on his side. Finally, his mouth set into that arrogant tilt that no one could budge, Apollo stepped away.

Oh, why had he insisted on marrying one of the Shetty daughters knowing it would hurt his mother to even have the shadow of Jia’s father touch her family? What did he hope to accomplish except fill them with doubts about her and himself? Would having control over her fate go such a long way toward appeasing his thirst for revenge? Why had Jia thought this would be as simple as bearing undeserved judgment and anger from his family?

Pain was something she was familiar with and it danced in his mother’s eyes.

Impulsively, Jia reached out and took the older woman’s hands. “I’m sorry that my very presence causes you such...anguish. For what it’s worth, I apologize for all the pain my father caused your family. It was inexcusable and if I could change it, I would.”

Stunned silence met her foolish declaration. Even the fiery Camilla, it seemed, had nothing to counter it with.

Jia tried hard not to look at Apollo. She couldn’t bear it if he thought her statement was pandering to them or if he mocked and dismissed the sentiment itself.

Apollo’s mother shook her head, one rogue tear running down her cheek. “Children are not responsible for their father’s sins. Or their failures,” she bit out.

Out of the periphery of her vision, Jia saw Apollo flinch.

The older woman gently clasped Jia’s cheek and a soft exhale left her. “Christina was always the smartest of my children.” The other three protested loudly. She laughed, wiped her cheek and, leaning toward Jia, whispered, “You’re exactly what Apollo needs. Let’s hope he doesn’t realize it or he will...” She sighed.

Leaving Jia to wonder what she meant by it and why it felt so unbelievably good to be welcomed by his family when they should hate her on sight.

When they finally left—nothing short of Apollo’s promises that they would be at the family home that very night had achieved it—Jia made to follow them.

Hand at her elbow, Apollo stopped her.

Pressing her forehead to the cool door, Jia refused to turn. She was feeling emotional, and the last thing she wanted was to betray something he’d consider ammunition in this battle of theirs. God, who’d have thought being married to the enemy would be this hard on her heart?

For a man who didn’t deal in feelings, Apollo seemed to understand her reluctance to face him. His arms came around her waist gently and pulled her until she was plastered to him, chest to thigh. It wasn’t a sexual embrace but neither did it feel like a transactional kindness. It was something in between, like their relationship itself, teetering between labels.

“I didn’t marry you to punish you.”

“No? Because from where I stand—”

She didn’t finish her statement because his mouth was at her neck. He nibbled at her fluttering pulse and Jia melted into his arms, her muscles instantly loosening and tightening of their own accord.

“You were right. Whatever this started as, there’s this very real thing between us,ne?”

“Is there?” she asked, arching her neck to give him better access. Dampness bloomed between her legs when he gently nipped the spot.

“Yes, Jia. Maybe I should have said this that very night you begged me to marry you and—”

Jia knocked her elbow into his gut and grinned at his surprised grunt.

“Or maybe at our wedding,” he said, turning her to face him. His gaze held hers, something shimmering in it.

“Said what to me?” she said, hanging at the edge of a rope, desperately aching for something.

“I see you, Jia, and everything you are. And a little more that you hide.”

Gratitude and something more joined the arousal in her limbs, making her dizzy.

Bending, Apollo pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, his large hand cupping her hip, as if he already knew all the nooks and corners of her body. “So, let’s celebrate this with a real wedding night. Whenever you’re ready.”

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