Amber Cole is a 31-year-old stripper. With her prime years in the industry slipping away, she’s aware that soon her looks will no longer be enough to make the money she needs to survive. Struggling with her self-worth and looking for a way out, Amber’s world is about to be upended when she meets Ryan Carter, a cold, successful businessman from Chicago. Ryan, reeling from his fiancée's betrayal, is forced into a bizarre deal by a clause in his late grandfather’s will: he must marry and stay married for one year. When his best friend, Tom, suggests he hire a stripper to pretend to be his fiancée, Ryan reluctantly agrees. He picks Amber, offering her $500,000 for her time. Unaware of the deep complexities of her own emotions, Amber agrees, seeing the money as her ticket to a fresh start. Despite their differences — Ryan's polished world of wealth and Amber's gritty, down-to-earth life — they are drawn into a tense, fiery dynamic that forces both to confront their prejudices and assumptions. Amber start their arrangement, initially unaware of the emotional journey she’s about to embark on. As she undergoes a transformation, both physically and emotionally, Ryan begins to question his initial perception of her, discovering that beneath her tough exterior, Amber is more than just a stripper. As the months pass, their relationship evolves from contractual obligation to something far more complicated. Sparks fly, but so do their insecurities. Amber finds herself falling for Ryan, but can she ever be the woman he needs her to be? And can Ryan truly let go of his past and embrace the real, messy woman Amber has become?
View MoreAmber avoided Ryan like the plague. It had been a week since she began finding reasons to distance herself, excuses piling up as if trying to build a fortress between them. He hadn’t said much at first, probably assuming she needed space. But tonight, as they sat across from each other at the dinner table in their large, cold house, Ryan finally snapped.“What’s going on, Amber?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.Amber felt her heart stutter. She hadn’t expected him to confront her so soon. She fumbled with her fork, pushing the food around her plate as if it would give her the answers she needed.“Nothing’s going on,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Bullshit,” Ryan countered, his tone frustrated but steady. “You’ve been avoiding me for days. You won’t even sleep in the same bed anymore. What the hell is going on?”Amber clenched her fists under the table, fighting the urge to look away.
As they entered the penthouse, the silence between them was palpable. Amber felt a knot form in her stomach, her thoughts still swirling from the gala and everything that had happened—the unexpected appearance of Jessica, the ex-fiancée, and Ryan’s tense reaction when she appeared.Amber had tried to brush it off earlier, but now, in the quiet of the penthouse, it was harder to ignore the knot of jealousy that had been steadily growing inside her. Watching Ryan’s reaction to Jessica had stung more than she expected, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more between them than Ryan was letting on.She slipped off her heels, the sound of them hitting the floor echoing through the otherwise silent apartment. Ryan stood by the door, his posture stiff, not looking at her.Amber crossed the room, unable to keep her emotions in check. “What was that back there, Ryan?” she asked, her voice tight with tension. “You acted like you were about to tear Jessica apart.”Ryan turned to fa
Amber returned to the ballroom, her head still reeling from the heated exchange in the conference room. Her body still buzzed with the electric tension of the moment she’d shared with Ryan, but now, as she made her way through the crowd, everything feltdifferent. His hand rested possessively on her waist, guiding her through the maze of guests. It wasn’t affectionate or comforting, just a firm reminder that she was there beside him, but not truly with him. They moved among the people, exchanging pleasantries and mingling, but it felt as though Ryan was miles away, both physically and emotionally. His mind wasn’t on her, it never was.Amber’s thoughts circled back to what had transpired in the conference room. “Amber, sweetheart, don’t start games you know you can’t win.” His words echoed in her mind, each syllable colder than the last. She had hoped for more between them, had allowed herself to believe that there could be something real, something beyond the cold contract that bound
Amber moaned into the kiss, melting against him as his hands moved down her back, lifting her up and pressing her against the cold, hard wall of the conference room. He ran his hands up her thigh-high stockings, feeling every inch of her silky skin. His fingertips left a trail of goosebumps on her thighs, causing her to shiver with anticipation.Ryan's tongue and lips trailed down her neck, sending chills down her spine. She gripped his shoulders tightly as he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress, lowering it in one swift motion.The black satin fabric pooled at their feet, leaving her in nothing but a matching black lace bra and panties set that accentuated her curves perfectly.Ryan's eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of her half-naked body, his breathing ragged. "You're so beautiful," he whispered before claiming one of her erect nipples between his lips through the lace.Amber moaned as he teased and sucked on each peak in turn, sending electric shocks s
Amber was talking to a man who couldn’t stop staring at her, his eyes roaming over her body, taking in every curve of her black satin dress.Ryan was at the bar, his jaw tightening as he watched. He could feel the irritation building, deep in his chest. He didn’t want to admit it, but the jealousy was there, gnawing at him. The longer he watched, the more he hated the way the guy was looking at her. He started to regret coming to the party in the first place.He had known from the moment he saw her in that dress that the night was going to be a problem. The dress wasn’t even that daring. It was modest compared to what most of the women were wearing tonight. But it didn’t matter. It was her. The way she moved, the way she held herself—she owned the room. And he hated that she was giving all that attention to someone else.Ryan downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp, his eyes never leaving Amber. He stood up, his movements deliberate, and walked toward her."Brady, I see you've met
Ryan stood silently at the edge of the bed, watching Amber's serene, unguarded form. Completely nude, he moved silently towards her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Gently, he pulled the sheet down, revealing her smooth skin and delicate form.His fingers trailed along her inner thigh, moving gradually closer to her center. He applied light pressure, ensuring his touch was gentle but deliberate. With each stroke, he aimed to stir her from sleep, carefully watching her reaction. He started by caressing her thighs, then moved upwards, his hand gliding over her stomach before finally reaching her slit.Amber moaned softly in her sleep as she felt the touch, her body instinctively responding. She woke up with a start, her eyes snapping open, locking onto him with a mix of surprise and something deeper, more knowing."I see you're awake now," Ryan said with a smile on his face. "I've been dying to taste you again." Before she could say anything, with the help of a sleepy Amber, Ryan t
The London skyline stretched out beyond Ryan's hotel room, a hazy blend of historical architecture and modern skyscrapers. He leaned against the glass, his phone buzzing in his hand. A message. From her. Amber.Ryan's lips curled into a smirk as he unlocked his phone, her name lighting up his screen.Amber: Do you miss me yet? Or are you too busy exploring all the pleasures London has to offer?He chuckled, feeling a surge of excitement at her bold words. His fingers hovered over the screen, debating his response before typing back.Ryan: Trust me, I have plenty of time for both. But right now, all I can think about is the way you taste and feel.Her reply was immediate, as if she had been anticipating his words.Amber: Is that so? Maybe we should put technology to good use and give each other a little preview of what's to come when we're reunited.Ryan grinned, eagerly accepting her proposition.Ryan: Oh, I'm all for that. Show me what you've got, Amber.The next message that came th
Ryan was already tired of being at the party. John Broodworth was an insufferable bootlicker. Tom and Ryan exchanged a glance, both equally fed up with hearing his endless stories. Ryan discreetly checked his watch once more.Amber was further ahead, chatting effortlessly with a group of women. As always, she excelled at small talk. Ryan couldn’t help but admire how stunning she looked in her emerald-green dress. Tonight, her hair was styled in a classic updo, and though she looked breathtaking, Ryan silently admitted to himself that he preferred her hair down.With a low grunt of irritation, he excused himself from Broodworth’s presence and made his way toward his wife. Lightly touching her arm, he said, “Amber, darling, there’s someone over there I’d really like you to meet.”Amber turned to him, nodded gracefully, and bid farewell to the women she’d been conversing with. Noticing that Ryan was leading her out of the ballroom, asked him, “Where are we going?”“You’ll see,” Ryan repl
Ryan wasn’t sure when the shift had started, but the air between him and Amber had softened in recent weeks. It wasn’t something dramatic or sudden, but subtle and steady, like the first thaw of winter giving way to spring.It was in the small things—a passing smile, the way her shoulders didn’t stiffen when he entered a room, the way her gaze lingered just a second longer than before. The house, which had once felt like a battleground, now felt... lighter.Tonight was no different. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Ryan stood in the kitchen, watching Amber as she pulled two mugs from the cabinet, her movements easy, unguarded. She’d offered to make coffee, a gesture so simple yet so unlike the woman she’d been when they first married.“Dark roast or decaf?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.“Dark roast,” he replied, leaning against the counter with a small smile. “You’re spoiling me tonight.”Amber smirked, pouring the freshly b
Ryan was sitting at his desk, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his trousers sharp but relaxed without a tie. He was breathing deeply, muttering curses under his breath as he read his grandfather's will for the hundredth time. I couldn’t believe it. After everything he’d done for the old man and the company, this was his payback. A forced marriage? For what? Neither he nor his father had been happy in their marriages. Why was that?He knew that his grandfather had strict beliefs and high expectations, and for the company’s good image, the person responsible had to assume an integral and well-received stance in society. But what the fuck? This isn’t the fifties.The absurdity of the idea alone made him furious, wanting to punch the wall. Ryan tried to calm himself, but all he could think about was how to fix this mess. Sighing, he stood up and walked over to the window, his eyes scanning the traffic on one of the busiest streets in Chicago. His thoughts were interrupted by...
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