Page 388 of Now and Forever

His words echoed in my head. Once we’re married, we’ll go on as usual. We’ll both lead separate lives, even though we’d be in the same household. Could I possibly live under the same roof as him, watching him from afar while he quietly carried on with mistresses?

Nervously clearing my throat, I asked, “So, does this mean separate bedrooms? I mean, what do you expect from me as your pseudo-wife?”

“There won’t be any sex involved. I just have to make that clear. I would try to be fair and say that you could carry on in your affairs with male consorts, but you’re pregnant, so that’s irrelevant. Also, I’d like to keep this private as much as possible. I don’t want anything to tarnish my name or my company’s brand. I’d carry on with my lifestyle and ensure that none of it would be a nuisance to you.

“And, since we’re already discussing terms, you’re more than welcome to state yours and what you expect from the pre-nuptial agreement, spousal support, and so forth. I’m more than willing to accommodate your wishes as long as they’re reasonably in my limits. I want you to be taken care of and not want for anything when married to me.”

What a heart-warming speech. It simply made me want to jump for joy. He had basically explained in an intricate manner that he was going to carry on with his women while I secretly kept to myself in his household, spoiled rotten and pampered like a bloody fool. And, oh, I would brilliantly get monthly stipends for being Mrs. Chambers. How smashing. Totally. Truly.

Just pure, utter madness.

“Listen, Reiss. Let’s pretend this conversation didn’t take place. You’re drunk, and I’m utterly exhausted. My capacity for tolerance when conversing with madness and lack of common sense has reached its limit. I beg of you, please change your mind about this.”

“I can’t—I gave him my word.”

“You can very well un-give it.”

He let out a breath, shaking his head. “His lawyers and my team are already drawing up the contracts.”

Bloody Hell.

“No, Reiss. Don’t do this,” I begged, feeling even more unworthy to become his.

The whole situation mocked me, making it blatantly obvious that he would never see me differently or fall for me again. It was tragic to keep being reminded of it. What’s more, each time, the blow seemed like it was brand new. My hurt kept growing. Even though I felt I should be numb to it, it would always prove me wrong.

“It’s already done.” He breached the gap between us by rounding the side of the bar, approaching me at a speedy rate. “I’m merely here to convince you to say yes to my proposal,” he whispered quite close to my face, caging me in with his body. It was a cruel torture to be this close to him and know I should resist him, or I’d lose my stance on the subject.

His hand touched my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. “Say yes, Ava.”

Thisclose to him, I felt utterly powerless. My body was bound to him, and it was only a matter of time until my resistance would cease to exist. Until then, I shouldn’t give him the liberty.

“Go home. We’ll talk tomorrow,” I pleaded. “I promise.”

My breathing hitched when I thought he was angling his head to kiss me, but instead, his lips brushed my ear.

“I don’t trust you…” he spoke into my ear, making me effortlessly shiver as I felt his body heat almost touching me, “so I’m not leaving this room until you’ve given me your word.” He strategically pressed his chest against mine, teasing the tips of my nipples against my silk robe, making me bite back a moan from the severe pleasure it gave me.

“Reiss … stop,” I groaned, frustrated at his machinations. “Seducing me into marriage isn’t right.” Though I wouldn’t protest much if he did decide to follow through. I wanted him like no other. And at times like these, I was willing to settle this for the moment.

“But it’s working, isn’t it?” he taunted, roving his magnetic gaze over my body as if he was seeing me naked. “I look at you, and you immediately respond to me. Ten years is a very long time, Ava, yet it hasn’t changed. Not. One. Little. Bit.”

“You’re not being fair. You can’t use this against me.”

“Oh, can’t I? But I love watching you. You’re so responsive. It makes my cock hungry just thinking of it.” And to punctuate his point, he nudged his hardness against the slit of my thigh, warming my sensitive skin with his arousal.

My retort came out as a moan. I softly parted my lips, gravitating towards him as he started to rhythmically thrust into my thigh, inches away from my hot folds.

“Aren’t you hungry for this, Ava?” Thick though was his yearning, his amusing laughter immediately dampened my mood. It wasn’t a cruel laugh, but it somehow sounded halfway between mockery and arrogance that I couldn’t get enough of him.

I was convinced he was used to this—treating women like his playthings while he mastered being such a complete, callous bastard. Or maybe it was just me, and he treated his other women differently. Maybe he still made love the way he used to yet only shared his cruel side with me.

Images of him plunging into his girlfriend played before me, creating such poisonous jealousy it completely took hold of me.

“What if I tell you that I’ve been already fed, and I’m very much satisfied at the moment?”

His jovial manner rapidly died. Sharp breaths hit my neck as his breathing came in short pants. He hadn’t said a word, yet I could feel his anger rolling off him in waves. I wished I could’ve said something to dispel it, but I had run out of excuses. The longer the time stretched with his silence, the more it made me nervous. His body was tensed like he was holding back something.

I was starting to panic when I barely heard him ask me something. “Are you…?” he paused, breathing unevenly. “Are you lying to me?”

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