Page 20 of Contractually Wed

Chiara, whose husband had failed at several businesses, had three children, and Apollo was more than happy to support her and her family.

And yet, he hadn’t visited the estate more than twice, and not once in the last two years.

As he walked the gravel path heading up to the mansion, he felt a strange elation in his gut, as if his return this time was more significant than it had ever been before. Was it because he had finally reached his goal of defeating the man who had ruined his family’s happiness? Or was it simply a need to see the woman who had occupied his thoughts for the last two days?

Whatever it was, Apollo decided he would accept the feeling, as another gift after his long struggle.

As soon as he crossed the threshold and walked into the large living area with its high ceilings and exposed beams, he heard her laughter—deep, husky and without reservation. Pleasure drenched him, a fist of need tightening his gut.

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, dappling the light furniture and dark hand-stained wood floors in beautiful contrasts. The scent of delicious food emanated from the open kitchen, where he could see his mother, Christina and Chiara fighting and shouting and slaving over the stove. Chiara’s husband was chopping vegetables.

Apollo had to take a small detour to see past the pillars into the cozy great room. Up on the opposite wall, the huge plasma screen TV showed off some role-playing game in high-definition color. And standing behind the coffee table with controllers in hand were Jia and Camilla’s sons on either side of her, whooping and squealing and shouting as they killed some many-pronged creature on the screen.

A short distance from them, caught between the kitchen and the living room, was Camilla, watching the trio with naked envy on her face. Apollo remembered his mom telling him that Camilla was having a hard time connecting with her sons, who were now sixteen, and were starting to ask more and more questions about their papa.

As if aware of Camilla’s gaze on her back, Jia turned and beckoned his older sister, holding out the controller. One of Camilla’s sons joked about his mother not knowing anything except handling a spatula in the kitchen. Jia paused the game and told him off with no hesitation.

Only then did Apollo allow himself to look at her properly.

His wife, it seemed, had an allergy to clothes and,Christos, he was determined to fix it. Cutoff denim shorts that covered her ass, thank the saints, but showed off her long, toned legs. Paired with a teeny-tiny crop top that left inches of flesh between the hem and the shorts, she looked like she could be an older girlfriend that one of his nephews was forever trying to show off.

Under the anime T-shirt, which Apollo realized belonged to his nephew, her colorful tattoos peeked out. Her hair was in a messy bun again. Stubborn strands kept falling into her face, which she pushed away with the back of her hand. Sunlight picked out the golden highlights in her hair, just as it shone on her skin.

She looked good enough to eat, and he was ravenous for a bite.

He walked into the lounge and landed a soft slap over his nephew’s shoulder. The monster thingy that Jia had almost killed on-screen ate her little elf avatar in one quick gobble, while she watched horrified, unmoving.

His other nephew groaned and burst into broken English about how they’d almost had him and why had Auntie Jia suddenly lost focus.

Grinning, Apollo leaned his head over her still, tense shoulder and grabbed the controller from her. She jerked as if his touch scalded her. He threw the controller to his nephew who caught it with nimble fingers. Then Apollo grabbed her hand and tugged her behind him.

She stumbled once as they passed the enormous kitchen and his mother and sisters called out greetings to him. He waved at them, barely adjusting his stride.

When they reached the open, hanging stairs past the corridor, Jia seemed to come to herself and dug in her feet. “What happened? Where are we going?”

“Which one is our bedroom?” he said, going down one step so that he could look at her. The steps were made of wood and hung unsupported on one side, opening out into the other living room, while the glass walls on the opposite side gave magnificent views of the wild gardens outside.

Industrial-size pendant lights cast a soft glow as evening slowly gave way to pitch-black night.

“The big one with the attached suite on the second floor,” Jia added almost automatically. “Your mother said they saved it for you and your wife.”

“Perfect. Come.”

“Why?” she said, watching him with wide eyes. Her mouth was soft and pink and reminded Apollo of how much he liked sweet and tart strawberries.

“There’s something I would like to show you.”

Doubt shone across her face. “In the bedroom?”

“Ne.”

“And it can’t wait?”

“Ohi.”

“Well, I’m not in the mood to see anything. You send me here with them, ignore me for two days and then show up here, demanding I...pay attention to you?No!I was in the middle of a game and then Maria was going to show me how to cook this dessert I love, and Christina and I planned to watch a horror flick, and Chiara said she’d do my nails. I’m not pushing all that off because Your Arrogant Highness has decided he wants to show me something.”

“Fine,” he said, leaning closer.Christos, just the scent of her was enough to twist him into a mass of need. The red rose undertone to whatever she used...it had begun to linger on his clothes, around the sheets and towels, and damn if he hadn’t begun to chase it all across his penthouse like a junkie. “I’ll simply order them to not do any of those things with you until you attend to me.”

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