Thirty-five

"It's fine," I mutter with my eyes cast down, scrubbing my body harder than necessary.

I feel his presence behind me but I don't let up with the scrubbing until he grabs the loofah from me. A scowl settles on my face, I glare at him when he comes into view and sigh when a smile flits to his lips, he has a weird sense of humour, nothing about this is funny. He traces a line on my lower lip, goes up to my scalp and my hair cascades down.

"I like your hair down," he mutters as he runs his fingers through them.

Twirling a strand of hair around my finger, I look away from him and say, "I know."

He hooks a finger under my jaw and my breath catches in my throat

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Thirty-six

  A yawn slips from me, the back of my hand goes to cover my mouth and I nod with my head almost hitting the table. I blink twice, fighting to stay awake and the yawn escapes me. The light of my phone screen comes on, a peek at the time shows it's past nine and Brandon is not here yet. He's not picking my calls, in fact, no one is. Brandon. Clarissa. Joshua. They have all gone quiet on me and I'm starting to get worried. I miss them. Him.The letters on my screen blur, tears fill my eyes, I squint and reach for the mouse to reduce the laptop's brightness. I cast a look at the empty plates on the dining table, the stainless flask at the centre, this is my first time of cooking since we got married and I decided to surprise him with dinner. Spaghetti Bolognese. I don't know if he likes it, so far, he hasn't chosen any meal above the other, he eats whatever he's given.

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Thirty-seven

  Surprise washes over me at his one-word command, I blink, staring into his eyes to confirm my suspicions. "W... What?"He hooks a finger under my jaw. "Strip.""Brandon," I start in a whisper and he grows stiff, his hand on my jaw returns to his side. He arches an eyebrow, I swallow and place my hands on his knees, determined to talk him out of this. I am tired of him trying to use sex as a cover-up for his pain, talking to your spouse helps solve half the problem. "Sex doesn't solve everything.""It doesn't but for now, it will have to do." He traces a line on my collarbone, I shiver and he pulls down the strap of my gown. I shake my head, prepared to counter him when he says, "Strip and get on the bed.""No," I say while swatting his arm to adjust my nightwear. "Let's talk about it, that's what couples do. I

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Thirty-eight

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Thirty-nine

  "I don't like it when you disobey me or you are being disrespectful," he murmurs against my ear with a squeeze of my butt. I lift my head from the crook of his neck to stare at him. "It drives me crazy with the need to punish you and I can't help it sometimes.""We won't always agree on everything," I say while caressing the scar at the nape of his neck and he goes rigid for a second. I litter kisses all over his jaw until he relaxes, then reciprocate the smile on his face. He urges me to continue, I nod and pucker my lips.I have a strong suspicion his statement has something to do with my reaction to our last argument in France, I am not the best version of myself when I'm upset. He slides his index finger down my lower lip, I smile and give him a peck which earns me a chuckle."We might not always agree on everything but I will try to control

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Forty

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Forty-one

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   Forty-three

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and sixteen

  "You promised," he whispers. He lets go of me to run his hands through his hair. "You promised me, Elna. Your beginning, middle and end." Jumping to his feet, he folds his hands behind his head and murmurs, "You promised. You can't leave me. Baby, please."Unable to look him in the eyes, I bury my face into the pillow and continue shaking my head. I know the answer to his question now, I am so certain of it. Do I still want him? Yes, I will always want him, more than I have ever wanted anyone but I can't have him.Murder is murder and he killed his brother.And it hurts.It hurts every fibre of my being. I love him so much it hurts to think of a future without him. I don't think I can stop loving him but when I look at him, all I see is a killer. If I cannot look past his sins then I shouldn't be in his life. It will be our secret, it's not in my place to tell other people and I am fine with that. I wi

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and fifteen

  It is hard.Really hard.

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and fourteen

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and thirteen

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and twelve

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and eleven

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and ten

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• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and nine

  Josh catches up to me before I reach the house, he offers me a smile, I shrug. None of this is his fault. We take a seat by the kitchen window, staring at the trio seated inside the gazebo. From our position here, we can't see their lips moving but I can't help wishing they will start a conversation. Talk to each other even if it ends in a screaming bout."Do you think they will reconcile?"Josh snickers. He hops to the fridge like he pays rent and returns with a huge chunk of cake. The leftover I had saved to munch on later because I can't resist anything sugary and his family didn't let me enjoy it. Fleeting anger surges through me, I close my eyes."Nope. Not a chance," he says. I turn to see him dragging another stool close to me.The poise and gracefulness he was forced to adapt when we were outside vanish when he gobbles the cake. I smile foolishly, this is the Josh I know. Slapping his knee, I mot

• Mr Reluctant Billionaire   One hundred and eight

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