Page 56 of Master of Fortune

I’d wondered the same damn thing.

Who was I kidding?

I couldn’t see Nyx wearing anything traditional or what every other socialite would have worn on her finger.

Then I’d remembered Mama’s ring and known it was perfect for Nyx.

Mama had caused a stir when she, a lowly, opinionated librarian, had married Papa. From my memories of her, she’d taken no one’s shit, even when keeping quiet would have made life so much easier for her.

It made sense to give the ring of a rebel to another rebel.

It was crafted with a combination of a rare fancy intense blue diamond and flawless white diamonds, worth a small fortune. From what I remembered my father telling me, he’d won it in a game of poker.

Definitely a fitting ring for Nyx.

“As far as the world at large knows, this is the real thing,” I informed her. “Giving you Mama’s ring makes it believable.”

She grew quiet again, curling her fist and thumbing the white and blue diamonds before she said, “That sounds reasonable.”

“Now we need to return to the previous conversation.”

Twisting her body to face me, she grinned at me. “You mean about showering me with diamonds?”

“No, about making you earn my cock.”

The flush on her face deepened, and a crease formed between her brows, telling me she was up to something. “We need to get something straight.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. I don’t need to earn anything. You came here for a purpose. Either get to it or get lost. I took care of myself before you. I can do it again.”

I grabbed hold of her hair, jerking her head back, and a low whimper of desire escaped her lips. “Well, before I get to it, as you put it, let me remind you of something you haven’t quite grasped yet.”

Pushing my knees between hers, I slid an arm around her waist, forcing her up while maintaining my hold in her wet tresses.

“I’m never going to be the man you can control, Nyx Mykos.” I scraped my teeth along the column of her neck and then bit down on the same point where she bore the marks of a fading bruise from a session when she’d begged me to make it hurt as she orgasmed.

“Oh God, Simon.” She cupped the back of my neck as her other hand kneaded the muscles of my thigh through the fabric of my pants.

“You need to remember, if I give in to you, it’s because I want to and it’s for a purpose.” I brought my palm from her stomach, through the lips of her soaked sex, and rimmed her pussy, giving her no more than the barest tease of two fingers. “The power you have is what I give you.”

“You…you want to take everything from me and give nothing back.” She dropped her head, closing her eyes.

She had no idea everything I’d just said was bullshit. She had all the power. Soon, she’d figure it out.

“I’m going to give you your freedom.”

“Please don’t break that promise.”

The way her lips trembled as she’d spoken those words made me realize how much she viewed marriage as a trap.

Fuck.

I was the one who should be worried about this shit, not the opposite way around.

I plunged knuckles-deep into her slick pussy, thrusting in and out. Her back bowed, and a guttural moan escaped her lips as her long nails scored the skin on the back of my neck.

“You have nothing to fear. Even if you fall in love with me, I won’t break my promise.”

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