Page 126 of Strictly Business

“The contract?” He holds it up, and without another word, he rips it to shreds, the paper falling to the floor like confetti.

“What are you—”

“Is that enough proof for you that I don’t give a fuck about the deal or the contract oranythingelse except for you?”

I shake my head, confusion flooding my thoughts.

He takes a step forward, throwing the shredded paper onto the ground, his hands reaching for me. His thumb rubs along my jaw. “I don’t want to end this,” he breathes, shaking his head. “Not now, not in two weeks. Notever.”

I suck in a breath, my chest tightening at his words.

“I want you, Amara,” he continues, his eyes softening as he looks into mine. “I want you and Pumpkin and everything that comes with the two of you. How could you ever question that for a single second?”

My breath hitches in my throat, my mind reeling at the sincerity in his eyes. But my mind floods with the reminder of the recording. “But what about—”

“I did not say that,” he interrupts, shaking his head. “I swear to you, Amara. At least not about you.”

My brows furrow in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”

He exhales sharply, stepping back just enough to rake a hand through his hair. “When I was eighteen, my dad was trying to land some investors. His business partner had a daughter. Candace. He wanted her to be set for life, taken care of. So, he made a deal with my father. Alexander wasn’t interested in anything that wasn’t getting drunk and high out of his mind, so my dad came to me. Told me what was at stake, how much it meant to him… and I agreed. I made her think we had a future together to keep her father happy.” He shakes his head, his expression tightening. “But it was never real for me. Not even for a second. It was all for my dad’s business. And I’m pretty sureCandace knew that, too…” His jaw clenches. “Which is why she slept with my brother.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Alexander?”

He scoffs, the muscle in his jaw ticking with tension. “He thought I’d be pissed. Thought he’d be hurting me by sleeping with her. But I didn’t care. She could’ve married him for all I cared. Once the deal was done, I ended it with her. And since I didn’t want her, neither did Alexander.” He shakes his head, frustration coursing through him. “The whole thing was his way of getting back at me. And he tried doing the same to you. That recording you heard…” He pauses, his jaw tensing. “He twisted it. Took bits and pieces and made it sound like I was talking about you. But Ineveronce said we weren’t real.”

He reaches up, brushing my hair behind my ear, and my eyes flutter shut at the touch. He lifts my chin gently, his gaze piercing mine. “Of course it’s fucking real. This thing between us has never once been fake to me, Amara.”

I search his face, my heart hammering in my chest. “Really?”

He nods, his eyes softening as he moves even closer. “You could tell the world I was lying about you being my fiancée, I could lose the deal, and I wouldn’t care as long as I had you.” He cups my face, his touch warm and tender. “I love you, Amara.”

My eyes snap wide open, my stomach dropping.Did he just say—?

“I. Love. You,” he repeats, making my chest pound. “I don’t know when it started, but you’re all I think about. You’re all I want.”

The ground beneath me shifts as he kisses me again, his hands cupping my face like he can’t bear to let me go. “I know it with every sense in me.I love you.” His lips find mine once more. “I adore you,” he murmurs against my jaw, his breath warm on my skin. His hands slide down to my hips, and before I can even process what’s happening, he lifts me off the ground, wrappingmy legs around his waist. “I want you to stay. Forever. Please don’t leave me.”

His kisses trail down my neck, his hands gripping me tighter, pulling me closer. “Please don’t ever leave me.” The urgency in his tone makes it impossible for me to breathe, let alone think.

And as he walks us… somewhere, I feel everything shift, the walls I’ve built crumbling under his admission.

“I can’t imagine my life without you.” He lowers me to my feet, his hand brushing against my stomach as he lifts my shirt over my head. “I can’t imagine sleeping in this bed without you. I don’t want to.”

My shirt flies off, leaving me completely braless, and Nicholas groans when he cups my breast. “Mine,” he groans, leaning down to flick his tongue over my nipple. “Myfucking woman.”

“Nicholas. Oh god.”

“Need these off,” he groans, pulling down my pants and panties all in one go. “Need you bare.” He keeps his lips on my body as he pulls his own pants down, freeing his cock. I whimper when he pulls away, tugging his shirt off. His hand curls around his length as he pumps it slowly, his eyes roaming every inch of me. “Need to be inside you.”

Spreading my legs with one hand, he kneels between them and positions his cock against me. His eyes lock on mine as he thrusts inside me to the hilt in one smooth motion.

I let out a moan, throwing my head back, his thick cock stretching me open.

“Tell me you’re mine, Amara,” he grunts, his hand wrapping around my throat, squeezing gently, making my eyes flutter. “Tell me I won’t lose you. Tell me you feel the same.” He begs with each kiss, breathy noises leaving his throat every time he pumps inside me.

“I’m yours,” I tell him, every part of my body aching for him. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promise him, running my hand over his hair. He closes his eyes, melting into my hand. “I love you.”

He pauses, opens his eyes, staring at me for a while as if making sense of my words, and then groans, kissing me as he thrusts inside of me even deeper.

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