Page 25 of Sweet Wicked Vows
“And when the time finally comes, and he passes, you will be completely on your own. With us being bound by marriage for the next year, I will help you.”
“That’s all this is for you? Just money?”
“It’s always about money. That and it keeps the wolf at bay,” I said. “Being a bachelor in our circles does get tiring.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure it must besoooexhausting for you chasing away all those offers of marriage.”
“Now, I will finally get a good night’s sleep.”
Her face twisted with disgust. “Is this how you charm all the girls?”
“I’m not trying to charm you, Evelyn. I am being honest,” I said. “Make no mistake,douceur,that whatever little daydreams you have about us falling madly in love during our year together—they are fantasy and nothing else. I see no reason why we can’t face our reality head-on.” I drained my coffee. “If we bothremember this is a business arrangement and nothing more, then we will get on just fine.”
Her slender throat bobbed, calling out to be touched. I bet she’d look delicious wearing my hand for a necklace. “Suits me perfectly. But when we are in public, especially around my father, you will act like a loving husband. Do you think you are capable of that?”
Reaching toward her, I ran the back of my hand lazily down her cheek. She stiffened instantly. I watched her fight every natural instinct to move away. I craved for her to lash out, to see the inferno behind those pretty green eyes, but she was like a deer caught in the headlights.
My cock twitched when my knuckle brushed the corner of her parted lips. “You have no idea what I am capable of, Evelyn.”
Chapter Eight
What could only be described as an airstrike roared through the house and woke me up.
Scrambling for my phone on the nightstand, I was greeted with the bright screen and six a.m. glaring back at me.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I groaned, pulling my pillow over my face.
Another roar ripped through the house and had me out of bed and on my feet. Storming out of my room and racing down the stairs, the early morning chill nipped at my bare legs.
The front door was lying wide open.
Did I forget to lock it last night? No, I was confident that I triple-checked it before I went to sleep. I cursed myself for not ringing the security company to come out and check all the alarms.
“You have to let me have a go!” my brother’s gleeful voice sounded from outside. “I took lessons a few years back but never bothered getting the license. C’mon, just one time!”
“Not a chance,” Jaxon’s low assertive tone responded.
Flynn was standing outside the house, his face lit up brighter than a Christmas tree, as he surveyed the source of all the noise.
“Where didthatcome from?” I pointed to the motorbike Jaxon was straddling. “Are you actually crazy?! Turn it off!”
Both men turned in unison.
“Turn it off,” I seethed. “It’s six in the fucking morning and you’re waking up the whole neighborhood with that monstrosity. Turn it off before the cops show up.”
Jaxon gave the bike’s engine another go, the noise rumbling through the base of my feet and up into my spine.
What an asshole.
I stepped out onto the doorstep. “Turn. It. Off.”
The engine stopped. Quiet fell across the world once again.
Was Jaxon out of his goddamn mind? Who the hell does that sort of thing at such an ungodly time of the day? It was any wonder no one had called the police yet for noise disturbance.
“Good morning,douceur,” Jaxon drawled. “You’re looking refreshed.”
I flipped him off, unable to fight the sense of triumph I felt when he dipped his head and laughed. His laugh was like finding a rare jewel or witnessing a shooting star.