Page 20 of Heartbeat

I’m usually up by six-thirty to get in a run and a workout to stay fit. However, my life has been upended in the last few weeks, so working out hasn’t been a top priority. With that thought, I had to remember to call the interior decorator to make sure they added a home gym in one of the spare rooms.

I put decorating my penthouse on the backburner when I was informed of my impending marriage. I still needed to speak to the building concierge to get me the name and number of the company. It was on the initial paperwork, but the name slipped my mind.

I couldn’t worry about those details right now because soon, my bride would be up worrying the shit out of me. Yeah, we may have fucked until the cows came home, but it will take a lot of convincing to get Raven on the same page as I am.

She will want to throw up walls and guidelines for our relationship, and that shit is not going to fly with me. We might not be in love, and we were forced into this arrangement, but our explosive attraction is undeniable.

Raven would see things my way. One way or another. Although it isn’t my intention to control her, I still like control in my life. And Raven is now my wife, and she would stay my wife.

I finished in the bathroom and made my way back to bed. Raven was now sitting up, avoiding eye contact with me. She worried her plump bottom lip with her teeth. It made me want to replace her teeth with my own.

I stalked toward her slowly like the predator that I am. I stood in front of her burning a hole in the side of her head with my stare until she looked at me. She stared at my chest, so I bent to make eye contact with her. I tugged her by the legs toward me.

“Lennox!” She yelped, and I chuckled.

She pushed her lip out in a pout, so I bit it. Raven gasped, and I used the opportunity to tongue her down until she whimpered.

“Morning, Princess.” I smiled.

“Umm, morning.” She still wouldn’t make eye contact, and I sighed.

“So, are you going to make this marriage easy or hard?” I stood between her legs and lifted her chin with my finger.

“What do you mean?” Her brows furrowed, and I could tell she was genuinely confused.

“I know that I said I wanted out of this arrangement, but I don’t think that’s a smart idea. Our fathers would make our lives a living hell if we did figure out a way to get out of this. So, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble.” Raven frowned at my explanation, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince her of a truce.

“I agree that our fathers would do everything in their power to destroy us. But do you seriously want to live the rest of your life with someone who was forced on you?”

“Is that what you feel? Like I forced myself on you?” I questioned her in return.

“No.Youdidn’t force me to do anything.” Raven shook her head. “I just… I don’t know, Lennox. Last night was… intense.”

“Yeah, it was,” I agreed, running my hand through my short hair. “How about we call a truce. We’re in this together, so let’s just make the best of a shitty situation.”

“It’s not that shitty,” Raven mumbled, dropping her gaze to my semi-erect penis. I smirked.

“No, I guess it isn’t.” I chuckled.

“So, what does this truce look like?” Raven’s gazed roamed slowly from my dick over my chest and finally to my eyes. The way she looked at me made me want to fuck her hard. But I shook my head to stay on track.

“We are virtual strangers. Let’s get to know one another.”

“Like, date? You want us to date?” Raven asked with raised brows.

“Yeah, Princess. Let’s date.”

* * *

Our first official date as man and wife was a week later, we went to an art gallery. We only ventured out because, Raven’s best friend, Sasha was displaying her work, and she had committed to attending the event months in advance. It was important to her, so I went along.

The week leading up to our night out, we had spent the time locked in the penthouse talking, laughing, getting to know one another, and having the best hottest newlywed sex known to man.

There were so many things that I hadn’t known about my wife. Like the fact that she owned the interior design company that was going to decorate the penthouse. When I looked her up in my internet search, the company never showed up. I had no idea my wife was so accomplished. She was intelligent, business savvy, and hot as hell. Every time I learned something new about her, it turned me on, and I had to have her beneath me, on top of me, in front of me… however she wanted it.

The gallery itself was inside a spectacular building. The architecture was magnificent, and I automatically thought of my older brother, Sawyer. He was an architect and COO of Nash Industries. He had a love for intricate and ornate buildings.

“This place is amazing,” I commented as I led Raven into the building.

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