Page 87 of Dex

But we aren’t newlyweds.Not really.

Exhaustion and frustration cling to me like the heavy beading of my wedding gown.Dexter, however, looks annoyingly unbothered.The second the door clicks shut, he yanks off his tie and tosses it onto a chair, rolling his shoulders like a man who just closed a deal and is already thinking about the next one.

I stand in the center of the room, still in my gown, watching him unbutton the top of his shirt.

Waiting.

For what, I don’t know.

He doesn’t say a word.

Instead, he heads straight to the minibar and pours himself a drink, quickly draining the glass dry.He lets out a deep sigh.“I needed that.”

“Our wedding day was that stressful for you?”

“On the contrary, I quite enjoyed it.You?”

“It was an unforgettable wedding day.”

Silence falls and stretches out like a lazy yawn.

“Are we going to talk?”I ask, wanting to know what’s going through his head, this mercurial man who seems to like playing games.

“About?”He pours himself another drink then lifts his glass, taking a slow sip before finally turning to me, that lazy, insufferable smile back in place.

This isn’t the man who danced with me, and held me, then kissed me in front of our guests.Not the man who held firm and possessive when Oscar Ramos came over and made my stomach turn.

He seems casual and unbothered.

My stomach twists.Is he serious?

“About the surprise honeymoon your father has unexpectedly gifted us,” I snap.I have been preparing myself for life with Dexter when I move in with him in New York.I’ve calculated that he’ll be in the office for most of the day, and I’ll work from home.We only have the evenings and weekends to navigate, but I plan to visit Raquel a few times, maybe even arrange a few girlie weekends away.I also want to get to know Cari better.But the thought of this honeymoon, and nights cooped up with this man makes me nervous.

“My father is a man who makes many unexpected moves.Get ready for it Daniela.And, welcome to the family.”

Something sharp pierces through me.He keeps on saying that.I already feel like I’ve stepped onto a field filled with landmines, and now I’m terrified that every move I make is laced with the threat of my next move blowing up in my face.“What is that supposed to mean?”

He moves closer, swirling his amber-colored drink around in his glass as he stands before me.

“It means …” His voice dips lower, “that this is a business transaction and we must play the part.My father is doing this for optics.Nothing more.Maybe your father also needs things to look right, which might be why we’re here.”His arm sweeps around the room.“This is all probably part of the act, too.Just play along with the charade.I am.”

I lift my chin.“Are you?”I’m not so sure.That kiss at our reception was as unexpected as it was passionate.It also didn’t need to happen, so, why did he kiss me?I need to find out.“What was with the kiss, when we were sitting on the thrones?It wasn’t necessary.”

“We had to play the biggest part today, when all eyes were on us.”Dexter’s voice is as infuriatingly smooth as ever.“Kissing you and making it believable were all part of the act.”

It stings when he says the words out aloud.

Part of the act.

He leans against the wall, watching me with a glint of amusement.“Just go along with the pretense.Unless…” He sniffs under his arm, then lifts his hand to his face, inhaling dramatically.“Do I repulse you or something?”

He’s baiting me, and I refuse to take it.

“Not repulsive, Dexter.Just annoying.”

His gaze narrows and he watches me, tracking every shift in my expression like he’s reading something between the lines.Then, with infuriating ease, he reaches out, dragging a single finger down my bare arm.A slow, deliberate touch.I feel a spark, a sizzle, and try hard to hold firm.

“Just annoying,” he muses.“I’ll take that.After all, we barely know each other.”His eyes flick toward the bed, hard-to-miss and the cause of my palpitations.“And now… we have to sleep together.”

---