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2023-02-08 16:15:37Related chapters
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 10
He waited, and she stared ahead. Still, he waited. Finally, she gave in and turned to look at him.“I completely and utterly messed this up. I freely admit it. I expected to have time to discuss this with you before we ran into my family.”She struggled to control her temper. He obviously wanted a reasonable discussion when she was feeling anything but reasonable. What she really wanted was to crack his skull on the coffee table and leave, but then she’d be without a room, and if anyone was sleeping in the hallway, it wasn’t going to be her.“First, this has nothing—and I mean nothing—to do with you landing my account. You’re going to have to do that on your business and advertising savvy. I’m not putting my entire company in the hands of a woman based on her looks or anything else. Can we at least be clear on that?”She swallowed. “That’s not how it looks to me, Evan. It looks to me like I got played for the fool and that you led me here on the premise of listening to my pitch when
Last Updated : 2023-02-08Billionaire's Contract Marriage 11
Evan watched as Celia sat sideways on the couch, her back against the arm and her knees doubled in front of her. She looked comfortable and completely relaxed, which was more than he could have hoped for given how stupidly he’d sprung the whole engagement thing on her. After her initial fury, though, she’d calmed down and had taken it well. Damn, but he liked this woman. Oh, he was definitely attracted to her sexually, but beyond that, he genuinely liked spending time with her.If he was smart, he’d take that as a huge warning sign to stay away and not become involved, but he’d never claimed brilliance.She’d changed into nothing more glamorous than a pair of sweatpants and a San Francisco Tide jersey. Odd, but she hadn’t struck him as a baseball fan.Her shoes had long since been shed, and her toenails, painted a delicate shade of pink, teased him. Hell, he was even attracted to her feet. Small and dainty.He was officially losing his mind. Never before had he lusted after a woman’s
Last Updated : 2023-02-11Billionaire's Contract Marriage 12
Slowly she nodded. Her fingers went to her forehead and she dug them into her hair. Still, he could see them shaking, and she swallowed again, her slim neck working with the effort. “Please,” she whispered. “I can’t do this, Evan. It’s the one thing I can’t do. Don’t ask it of me. If you want me to admit it, fine. I want you. More than I’ve ever wanted another man.”Savage satisfaction gripped him. Didn’t just grip him but lunged for him and wrapped a hand around his throat and his groin. His entire body reacted to that simple statement. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anyone else.She turned on the couch until she faced forward and her feet met the floor. She looked in turns miserable and scared. Her eyes closed in what looked to him like self-condemnation. He swore, startling her with the force of his curses.“Whatever you’re thinking, I don’t like it,” he said flatly. “I have no idea what the hell kind of blame you’re placing on yourself, but I can guarantee that you di
Last Updated : 2023-02-11Billionaire's Contract Marriage 13
There was no need for Celia to set her alarm. She never went to sleep. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her senses completely shattered by something as simple as a kiss. No. That kiss could never ever be called simple.She’d thought to go over her pitch. Mentally replay everything she wanted to say until it flowed seamlessly through her mind. But all she’d been able to do was lay there and wonder how she was going to manage to keep things with Evan on a strictly professional level.He kissed like a dream.He’d make love like a dream.And the sick thing was she’d never find out.She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow.Celia, Celia. The admonishment burned like acid on her tongue. She was walking a very tight, very dangerous line. It was bad enough that she was here with Evan. Sharing a suite with Evan. Her groan was swallowed up by the pillow.The least she could have done was insisted on a separate room, but that wouldn’t have gone far in convincing his family that
Last Updated : 2023-02-11Billionaire's Contract Marriage 14
The nice lunch by the harbor never happened. As Evan and Celia were leaving the hotel, they ran into Evan’s parents and Mitchell and Bettina. Lucy was thrilled, since they were on their way to lunch, as well, and she suggested they eat together before they gathered on the terrace for the very informal rehearsal.It amused Celia that there would even be an actual rehearsal of the ceremony since it wasn’t a big affair and the bride and groom only had two attendants each. Still, it was evidently important to keep up appearances because they were going all out with a full-blown rehearsal and a dinner and party afterward.Bettina acted less than thrilled that Celia and Evan would be joining them for lunch. Mitchell was visibly uncomfortable. When they were seated, as luck would have it, Evan and Celia were placed across the table from Bettina and Mitchell while Lucy and Marshall sat on the ends.As a result, Celia was treated to Bettina’s malevolent stare. The woman wasn’t even subtle abo
Last Updated : 2023-02-15Billionaire's Contract Marriage 15
His father’s voice boomed in his ears and Evan jumped, sending Celia away from him for a brief moment.Marshall stood there expectantly. “Going to let me cut in?”Evan slipped Celia’s hand into his father’s. “Of course. Just don’t keep her for long.”Marshall chuckled as he spirited Celia away. “One dance won’t kill you, son.”Evan watched his dad whirl Celia across the floor. In a word, she was magnificent. She laughed at something he said and her smile lit up the entire room. She sparkled.“Quite a woman,” Mitchell drawled.Evan stiffened and turned to see his brother standing there, drink in hand.“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Evan asked. “Didn’t figure she’d let you out of her sight until the vows are spoken.”Mitchell shrugged. “She’s over with Mom, talking about the honeymoon arrangements.” He looked again at Celia and their father. “You’re marrying her for real?” “Is there some reason I shouldn’t?” Evan asked mildly.“Doesn’t seem your type.”Evan regarded his brother with curiosi
Last Updated : 2023-02-15Billionaire's Contract Marriage 16
Celia lay underneath Evan’s big body. Every part of her was covered by him. His heat penetrated her, seeped into her flesh and whispered seductively through her veins. She wanted him. God, she wanted this man. Her need for him frightened and exhilarated her in equal parts. She knew she shouldn’t—that she mustn’t—and yet she also knew she wouldn’t tell him no.There would be no recriminations later. There would be no regret. She knew the potential pitfalls of making love with Evan, and she would face them with full acceptance.“What are you thinking?” he asked.She raised her gaze to meet his. He was propped on his arms, his body still flush with hers and their noses were mere inches apart.His eyes were warm with desire, liquid with want, and her heart fluttered in response.His voice was so tender and understanding. He stared down at her like she was the only woman he’d ever made love to. A mixture of awe and wonder that humbled her. “I was thinking we shouldn’t do this,” she admit
Last Updated : 2023-02-15Billionaire's Contract Marriage 17
Waking in bed with Evan didn’t bring about the immediate what-the-hell-have-I-done feeling she would have thought. No, when her eyes opened, she registered a fantastic male body wrapped around hers, and instead of shoving him over and wailing on about how dumb she was, she snuggled deeper into his embrace and soaked up every minute of the lazy morning. “Good morning,” Evan murmured against her temple. “Mmm.”He chuckled softly and rolled away for a moment.“Damn.”“I don’t like that damn,” she grumbled. “Bad things are going to happen after that word.”He sighed in regret. “Sorry. Yeah, we have to get up.”“What time is it?”“Noon.”Her eyes popped open and she scrambled up to look over his body at the clock.“Noon? I’ve never slept until noon in my life!”He grinned and tugged her down onto his chest. “Glad I could contribute to your downfall then.”“So arrogant,” she said. “Now let me go, otherwise I’ll look like a bag lady for your brother’s wedding.”“I like bag ladies.”She snor
Last Updated : 2023-02-17
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Billionaire's Contract Marriage 80
Something about him looked so tortured in that moment that Aneesa had to fight back the urge to put out her hand to touch him in comfort.His head came up and his eyes speared hers. ‘But I’ve also been feeling alive, and connected, for the first time in my life.’He stood tall again and Aneesa felt curiously weightless. He reached out a hand and curled it around her jaw, fingers around her neck under the heavy fall of her hair. She could feel a slight tremor in his hand and her heart tripped.‘I never … wanted to create a family. I never wanted to marry. I never wanted to fall in love. I had no frame of reference for all of those things that most people aspire to, and take for granted. I’ve always been terrified that something of my father’s twisted genes was lying dormant in me and that basic happiness was something I could never have, as if I was jinxed in some way.‘But seeing Nathaniel get married, and Jacob come home to try and make amends … seeing him come to terms with the past
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 79
He palmed her breasts, making the peaks tighten into sharppoints, and she drew his head down so that he could take a nipple into his mouth. Her belly tightened with pleasure as he suckled her roughly. She met him head-on, biting the skin on his shoulder, and then licking where she’d bitten, revelling in his unique musky taste.Neither of them could wait, desperation fuelling their movements as Sebastian pushed her legs apart and settled between them. Just before he thrust, with Aneesa’s hands on his hips, her legs drawn back, he said with a guttural moan that seemed to be pulled out of him, ‘I need this … I need you.’An ache lodged in her throat and emotion surged as he thrust deep inside her. And then they were caught up in the familiar dance, which took them higher and higher until every sinew was pulled taut, and when an explosion of intense pleasure gripped her and went on and on, Aneesa wondered how she’d ever be able to cope knowing she’d never have this again.Long languorous m
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 78
THREE days later, sitting at the dinner table, Sebastian couldn’t quite believe that he was still there, amidst the organised chaos of Adani family life. As soon as he’d been pulled into the house, it had been taken for granted that he had to stay. And not only that, but Aneesa’s parents had clearly gone out on a limb and challenged their conservative beliefs to put him and Aneesa in a room together.She’d looked at him miserably once they’d been alone in the bedroom. ‘I had no idea they would do this. I’m as shocked as you, believe me. But if I cause a fuss they’ll get embarrassed—’He’d waved a hand. ‘It’s fine. It’s not like we’ve not shared a room before.’‘No,’ Aneesa had said, avoiding his eye. Evidently she hated this as much as he did and just wanted him to return to England so that she could get on with her own life and having the baby.Something in her demeanour had made his voice sharp. ‘Look, I’ll stay a couple of days and then I’ll have to return anyway, so we can put up
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 77
Her eyes narrowed. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’He looked away and shrugged, cursing himself for showing that it bothered him on any level. ‘You always said you would want to go home.’He could feel her penetrating look and tensed. She sighed. ‘Yes, I did. And I think the time to go is before I turn into a total caricature of some kind of jealous lover.’Her honesty surprised him. He was so used to women being vague, indirect.Before he could dwell on the significance of that, she stood and said breezily, ‘You made it very clear what would happen here. What you wanted. So I really don’t see the point in prolonging my stay. Things should have died down at home, and I need to get prepared for the baby coming.‘That is—’ her voice suddenly became more hesitant ‘— unless things have changed for you …?’Sebastian looked up at her. The sun was behind her and all he could see was her narrow framed silhouette. She had to be referring to the fact that he seemed to turn into a walking human e
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 76
A house, a country house; it had to be. Where his mistress lived. Feeling nauseous, Aneesa instructed the driver to stop in a lay-by where she was just out of sight of Sebastian’s car. She paid him and got out and watched him drive away. Feeling utterly ridiculous now, on wobbly legs she walked around the corner of the hedge fully prepared to meet a locked gate when she walked slap-bang into a solid wall of muscle.Hard hands held her, blue eyes as cold as ice blistered down into her shocked ones. ‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at following me in that cab like some character in a bad movie?’Too shocked to do anything but blurt out the truth, Aneesa just said, ‘I thought you were going to meet a mistress or a lover so I followed you.’Aneesa could see the play of emotions cross his face and even a glint of humour. She could deal with his anger better than pity. ‘Don’t laugh at me.’Sebastian’s face sobered and his hands became gentle on her arms. ‘And what exactly were you
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 75
ANEESA was sitting beside Annabelle at one of the round tables where they’d just finished coffees. She didn’t need to look around to know that Sebastian hadn’t reappeared. She was trying to concentrate on the conversation but was still smarting from his cruel words.She was also reeling with the knowledge that this beautiful, immaculately turned-out woman had been so horrifically beaten. Annabelle was being very sweet and explaining that her twin brother, Alex, was a racing car driver based in Australia, and couldn’t be there.Aneesa put a hand to her bump, only realising what she’d done when she noticed Annabelle follow the movement. She grimaced. ‘It’s still small, but it seems to be getting bigger by the day now.’Annabelle smiled politely but then looked away with a small frown forming between her grey eyes. ‘Jack should be here too, our elder brother, but I haven’t seen him yet. I know Jacob wants to talk to him….’Annabelle’s eyes snagged and widened on something or someone else
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 74
An enigmatic look had passed between Sebastian andLucas.Through it all Sebastian had his arm clamped aroundAneesa’s waist and her face was starting to hurt from smiling so much. And then she felt him tense rigidly. She followed his gaze to see a man approach them, the man she’d guessed was Jacob in the church. Tall with thick black hair, dark eyes like Rafael. And a grimly determined look on his face. Aneesa could feel Sebastian’s urge to turn and walk away and she silently willed him to stay. He did.But as the two tall men squared up to each other the lengthening silence became unbearable. Aneesa might have been invisible for all the attention either man gave her, and then abruptly Sebastian issued a tortured sounding, ‘I can’t do this.’ And letting Aneesa go, he strode away and out of the reception room.Jacob’s black eyes followed his brother and Aneesa could see the sorrow in them. She tentatively touched his sleeve and he looked down at her, finally focusing on her. Apologisi
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 73
He’d grown up learning to duck from his father’s loose fists. He’d invariably been protected by one of his brothers and witnessed them getting a dose of physical violence, but none more so shocking than his beautiful older sister, Annabelle, the day their father had whipped her mercilessly, leaving her with permanent scars. He’d been too small to step in and help her and that sense of ineffectualness had stuck with him, heightening his sense of isolation. And his sense of fear that perhaps he couldn’t protect his own child.When they’d bought his suit for the wedding, he’d led Aneesa to a well-known designer shop on Bond Street, but on the threshold she’d pulled back and he’d looked down to see her face, puce with embarrassment. He’d frowned. He would have thought she’d have been running in, eager to indulge. But when she’d refused to budge she’d finally admitted, ‘I don’t have enough money to pay for a dress here. Let’s go somewhere else. Please.’And gruffly, he’d assured her that h
Billionaire's Contract Marriage 72
INARTICULATE rage boiled upwards within Sebastian. ‘How dare you go through my personal things!’Aneesa stood before him, pale and intensely vulnerable- looking but with an unmistakably determined glint in her eyes. Her chin came up. ‘I dare because as your own brother just told me, I’m a part of your family now and will be for a long time to come, thanks to our baby.‘Tell me,’ she asked conversationally, colour returning to her cheeks, ‘was last night just a quickie before you asked me to move out, or were you planning on taking your fill before my body becomes too rounded and repulsive to you?’‘Stop it,’ Sebastian said curtly, the thought of her body growing more rounded having the complete opposite effect on his body. And before she could say anything else he asked, ‘What did you mean about my brother?’Aneesa leaned back against the desk, still holding the wedding invitation and the brochures. ‘Jacob just called. He wants to know why he hasn’t been able to get in touch with you
