Page 28 of Marriage Bargain With Her Brazilian Boss (Billion-Dollar Fairy Tales)

“I don’t remember your number.”

His mouth twitched. “You’re a horrible liar.”

The bank of elevators behind them pinged. A familiar figure exited the glass car and every muscle in Caio’s body tightened with such ferocious anger that he covered the little gap between him and Nush as if she were prey.

His new, albeit unplanned acquisition.

His wife.

His. In every way that mattered.

Cristo, he couldn’t remember one good reason why he shouldn’t think of her as his, why he shouldn’t welcome this fortune that had directly fallen into his lap.

Peter Jr. took one look at him and his steps faltered.

A palm landed on Caio’s chest and his muscles clenched at the innocent contact. “Stop posturing around and intimidating Peter.”

“It’s not my fault if he’s scared of me. He knows he shouldn’t be sniffing around you.”

“Jesus, he’s not sniffing around me. And believe it or not, he was the only one who paid attention to me today.” When Caio stared at her, she pointed to the cast.

“Apparently, away from his bullying father and his band of toxic peers, he isn’t half-bad. He even apologized for... Anyway, we actually talked and laughed and danced... I enjoyed his company.”

Mira’s words came back to haunt Caio. God, Anushkawastoo soft for her own good. Too forgiving. “Your discovery is a little too late, Princesa. He can’t have you.”

“What?”

He tucked a wavy lock of hair that fluttered at her jaw, taunting him. “I said he can’t have you.” Caio softened his own voice. “You’re mine, Nush.”

“Either you’re continuing with the theme of mocking something that I consider sacred or you’re an arrogant ass who doesn’t want me but doesn’t want anyone else to have me,” she said, swaying on her feet, “and I—”

Caio steadied her. “You said we weren’t even allowed to indulge in mild flirtations. I’m just reminding you of your own conditions.”

Big, wide eyes considered him, exhaustion written into her features. “You could have just said that instead of issuing...possessive statements.”

With Mira gone and Yana’s unreliable and chaotic schedule, he didn’t want to leave Nush alone at that big house. Which meant she was coming with him to Brazil tonight.

A huge part of him protested. He wanted to keep her separate from the poison in his life. Wanted to keep her away from all his bitterness. Wanted to keep his own image untarnished in her mind. But it wasn’t an available choice anymore.

Anticipation coiled through him even as he acknowledged he had quite a fight on his hands. “Are you in pain?”

She pushed the bridge of her glasses up her nose and nodded. “I don’t think the pills have taken yet. Especially not enough to make me tolerate your territorial, jealous husband act.”

When she stepped to his left, he got in her way, blocking her with his body. It was confrontational in a way he’d never addressed her before. But it didn’t feel wrong either. Nothing felt wrong anymore. In fact, every filthy thought, every overwhelming urge, every spike of hot need pulsing through him felt deliciously, irrevocably right.

What the hell had those vows done to him?

When she signaled to Peter Jr, he appeared with an umbrella in hand, a small smile twisting his mouth.

Caio addressed the younger man. “Leave, Huntington.”

Peter glanced in Nush’s direction, mumbled something to himself, pretended as if he was considering standing up to Caio and then ran down the steps without a backward glance.

Mouth falling open, Nush stared at the fast-receding man. She slapped at Caio’s abdomen with the back of her hand, her eyes round with anger. “He was my ride.”

“You have me.”

“Stop reminding me of those ridiculous rules. It’s not like I was going to elope with him.”

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