The Arrangement

GRACE

It was our wedding night—the night most newly wedded brides would look forward to. And yet for me, it was the complete opposite.

Dread consumed me as I stood looking out the floor-to-ceiling window. I wished this night was over and that tomorrow was here.

My body leaned sideways against the glass panel with my arms crossed in the dark. I didn't want the glares from the lights to prevent me from enjoying the beautiful night scenes outside of the penthouse.

Darkness was the only thing giving me any sense of calm right now.

Today, I was forced to marry the type of guy I absolutely abhorred. He represented everything I hated—a player, a womanizer, a layabout, a wastrel, and probably a cheater—pretty much a good-for-nothing kind of man.

He was what people would call 'the idle rich.' He probably never worked a day in his life and spent his father's money to cover his lavish lifestyle while chasing after women.

At least that was how the tabloids had described my newly wedded husband.

He wasn't like this when he was younger. But people change, and he changed.

I can't possibly expect him to stay the same after all these years, can I?

Eleven years. That was how long we were separated. And he had turned into a completely different person—one I did not recognize.

My brows creased into a frown as I wondered if he would force me to consummate our marriage tonight.

The sound of the door handle turning brought me out of my thoughts. I straightened from the window and turned to see the invader knowing full well who it was—Artemis Jame—my husband.

"So you've been hiding in here." His voice was playful and seductive. He flipped on the light switch and smirked as he walked confidently toward me.

'Hiding' makes me sound like a coward... and maybe I am.

Yes. I had been hiding in one of the four available bedrooms in this luxurious apartment hoping that he wouldn't care enough to look for me.

"Does that mean you couldn't wait to make our union official?" His teasing continued.

He was wearing the same suit I had seen him in earlier this morning.

As much as I hated his arrogant egotistical demeanor, I hated how my body was responding to him more. My brain told me to despise him while my body was doing the exact opposite. My heart started racing and my insides did flips as he got closer.

While I stared at him, I grudgingly admitted that he must be the most handsome man I had ever met. His beautiful caramel eyes with specks of greens and a hint of mischief connected with my grey ones.

He stopped a few steps away and I couldn't help but gaze at his beautiful lips—a devilish smile still adorned his face.

I made myself look away before he managed to steal my soul.

"We're officially married on paper. There's no need for you to be here right now to make it official." My voice came out strong even though I was trembling inside.

I hoped he would leave me alone tonight; as for tomorrow, I would worry about that later. Right now, I could only plan a day at a time when it came to our sleeping arrangements.

"That's where you're wrong." His enchanting husky voice sounded even closer as he took a few more steps. He bent down and whispered in my ear. "You owe me an heir." His hot breath tickled the sensitive hairs and sent shivers down my spine.

My head snapped back to bravely glare at him. He seemed unfazed and one corner of his mouth lifted in amusement.

I loathed how he could make my stomach flips even with the slightest move he made.

It is so infuriating!

What was more infuriating was that he was well aware of his charms too.

Damn, this man!

"That wasn't in the contract!" I spat with less venom than I had hoped.

"Oh. I guaranteed you it is." He took another step and forced me back against the glass window.

"But I'll explain that later because right now, we will be busy doing something more productive than talking." His tone held sensual implications.

I tried to move away but he flattened his palms against the glass on each side of my face—imprisoning me between his arms.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked dangerously.

"I...I-I...Y-You..." I couldn't think straight with our proximity and him hovering over me like a predator playing with its prey before the kill. His tantalizing scent invaded my nostrils—making me want to inhale deeper.

One of his hands captured my chin and lifted it so our eyes would meet. The ones staring back at me were a foot above mine and they reflected the beautiful city lights behind me. I felt like looking at stars in the night sky—so mesmerizing.

"You what sweetheart?" His lips curved. He was having fun with this game at my expense.

I jerked my head out of his grasp because his touch was like fire against my chin—burning it.

"Don't use the same endearment you used with your other conquests on me." Annoyance laced my voice.

Why would I get angry over a word?

It was just a word and yet it bothered me to think that he had used it on other women.

"Is my sweet wife jealous?" He chuckled.

Even hearing this simple sound made my heart skip a few beats. I was getting more irritated at the fact that I couldn't even control my own body.

"Why would I be jealous? I don't even like you!" I said with conviction.

I hoped he believed it because it sounded false even to my own ears.

Ugh. I need him to get away from me—the farther the better.

The longer he was near, the fuzzier my brain got.

With one hand still planted on the window, his other arm suddenly snaked behind my back.

My hands instinctively flew to his chest and tried to hold him at bay.

"What do you think you're d—" His lips crashed into mine before I could finish.

I pushed harder against his hard chest but his arm only tightened around my waist while his other one moved to hold the base of my head.

His lips were soft and he kissed me with urgency.

"Hmm." My grunts were stuck in my throat as I continued to fight through his death grip. His hand put more pressure on my head—pressing our lips against each other even more.

My body started to lose the fight and began to melt into his. I could feel him smile with satisfaction against my lips before he went back to kissing me.

With one last shred of clarity, my teeth bit his lip before my whole sanity disappeared.

He immediately released me and staggered back as his fingers lightly touched the injured spot.

A laugh rumbled within his chest. “Feisty. I like it.” His hand seized me again, and this time, his mouth was even more demanding.

With no more strength left in me, I allowed him to have his way with me.

He took his time on my bottom lip—pulling, sucking, and gently biting—before moving on to my upper lip. My mouth slightly parted and he bent his head to kiss me deeper.

And if I were honest with myself, I would say I enjoyed it—every second of it.

Even though my inexperienced lips didn't know how to kiss him back, my inexperienced hands moved up his chest and wrapped around his neck. I moaned softly. I didn’t want to admit it, but I never knew kissing could feel so good.

I would be extremely embarrassed at the sound I just made if I weren't so intoxicated. My body seemed to want more as my arms pulled tighter and I stood on tiptoes to get closer to him if that were possible.

He chuckled against my lips and suddenly pulled back.

My brows furrowed as I slowly opened my eyes. He laughed at my disappointed look.

With his arms still around my waist and mine now back on his chest, he said smugly. "If I can't make you fall in love with me after one month, I'll give you a divorce without penalizing you for breaking the contract."

I pushed his arms away and he let them drop to his side without resistance.

"What about my father's company?" I asked full of sorrow.

Our marriage contract stipulated that he would help my father's company from going bankrupt. It also specified that he wouldn't cheat on me or have any inappropriate relations with other women or else he would be penalized. The second condition applied to me as well, not that I would ever cheat on him.

"I will still help him even if we divorced." He said sincerely and I believed him.

His offer sounded good. If we divorced, no scratch that, when we divorced, he would still help my father's company. This was the reason why we got married in the first place—so my father wouldn't lose his company.

He was overconfident in his proposal. I was sure I'll win this bet and then I would be free from him.

"Deal!" I happily stuck out my hand and he took it while grinning cockily.

"Goodnight, wife." He said sultrily and then exited the room with the same confidence as when he first came in.

I huffed in annoyance. There was no way in hell I would fall for a self-centered playboy like him.

Whether I fell for him or not, it would still be a win-win situation for me so I got nothing to lose.

~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright © 2019 Haylie_Bee

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