Page 25 of Kinks of a Billionaire
As my heart thundered in my chest, the dawn song of birds drifted through the air and the rising sun cast a rosy hue across Lisbon. The city streets started to hum with activity, and the hustle and bustle of early risers began waking the world up.
A marriage. To Royce.
It should have been a dream come true, yet something akin to disappointment settled heavy in the pit of my stomach when he agreed to my platonic demand. Warning bells rang in my ears, but my heart decidedly ignored them.
I’d do this for my baby.
Aside from my father, there was no man I trusted more than Royce. I was jobless, and unless I planned on moving in with my parents, I was homeless too because I canceled my lease in preparation for the wedding.
“Stop overthinking,” Royce instructed. He exited the car as I watched him come around and open my door, then effortlessly scoop me up into his arms. He was really taking this no-walking-on-his-way-to-teach-Stuart-a-lesson thing seriously. “We’ll behelping each other, and the best part is we already know we’re compatible,” he added, striding his way to the hotel entrance.
My heart leapt.
We got along great, but I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to keep myself in check if I was around him all the time. Royce was a gorgeous specimen, but add to that mix his kind and generous character and it was going to be impossible to resist him.
“But…”Can we have sex?“People will know it’s fake if we’re seeing other people.”
He stilled, his steps pausing mid-stride.
“What other people?”
“You… Well… We…” I was making a major ass out of myself. I should have really thought this through. I shifted in his arms, my arms tightening around his neck before I met his gaze. “Royce, you’re a known playboy; women fling themselves at you everywhere you go. There’s no way I can expect you to stay celibate.”
He resumed walking, a small smile flickering over his mouth.
“We’ll both be celibate in this marriage.”Ouch. With his stubble, dark wavy hair, and even darker eyes, he looked devastatingly handsome. And hard to resist. “Unless you’d prefer being tied up and…”
The insinuation wrapped up in his tone sent heat curling low in my stomach as I imagined what it’d feel like to have him for one night. Just one night.
Curiously enough, Royce and I had never ventured into discussing our sex lives. Though, thanks to his public persona, plenty of speculation had leaked regarding his kinky interests, fueled mostly by the female population.
“What do you mean?” I asked in a husky voice, a rush of heat coloring my cheeks.
“I mean like50 Shades of Grey.” There was something in his voice—reverence, a soft drawl—that lit me up from the insideout. And damn if Royce as Christian Grey didn’t sound exciting. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Willow. I’m joking.”
I scoffed.
“Fine, celibacy it is.” I tried not to sound disappointed. “Should be easy enough,” I lied, surprised that lightning didn’t strike me right then and there.
Royce entered the hotel, walking through the lobby with the confidence of a billionaire that always got his way as he carried me bridal-style. Ironic, considering today was supposed to be my wedding day.
“How can I help you, sir,” said the concierge, eyeing me warily, likely taking stock of my bandaged face and wondering if we were about to cause a scene.
Royce ignored the man and kept walking, then stopped and spoke over his shoulder in a way that brooked no argument. “The Auclair-Harris wedding won’t be happening. The almost-bride has had a change of heart. She’s decided to elope with me.”
Royce’s delicious, masculine scent flooded my lungs and sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“But not the priest,” he added.
“Sir?”
“Keep the priest here and I’ll make it worth your while.” Royce’s eyes returned to me and he continued toward the elevators. “I’ll notify your parents and friends.”
It didn’t surprise me that he knew of the plan for my family’s priest, the very same man who married my own parents, to marry me off. The Harris family wasn’t very religious, but my parents had insisted that he be present and bless the union.
I couldn’t help but comment. “Elope, huh?”
A smile danced in his eyes despite his grim expression. “I guess we’ll have a busy day before disappearing.”
