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Thirty-six
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2024-10-29 19:42:56A 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.
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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
I wake up with Brandon's arms around my waist, his leg between mine and our bodies pressed against each other. My muscles scream in protest when I try to push him off in an attempt to get out of the bed and a new wave of annoyance hits me when his arms tighten around my waist. He stirs, runs his fingers across my naked stomach before trailing a line down my hips. I freeze, waiting for his breathing to return to normal so I can try again."El," he murmurs when I finally pry his arms off me, his voice unusually low and his hand blindly searching for me. "Don't leave me."My body goes rigid, the butterflies in my belly flutter as my feet connect with the floor and I cast a tentative look at him. His closed eyelids, the wrinkles that appear on his forehead and the rising and falling of his chest call attention to me. I sigh, my decision to sneak out of the room crumbling like my resolve
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
The impact of his words has me opening and closing my mouth, he chuckles and I squeeze my lips. I don't find it funny and he shouldn't either. "How?""How they are trying to sabotage me?" he murmurs with lines marring his forehead and I nod. My lips trail a line from his forehead to his nose, I encourage him to continue talking. "I've been trying to expand, go into other businesses to create my legacy."The silence of the room is broken by my question, "Isn't your company and hotel your legacy?" I shift, trying to adjust on his laps, he must have mistaken it for me leaving him because his arms circle my waist and I chuckle. "Your legs must be numb by now.""I don't mind," as he says this, he lifts me to flip us over. My back meets the bed, my leg
Mr Reluctant Billionaire Forty-one
He puts his hand up in the air and bends his thumb, my eyes round to saucers, that's a number I might never achieve.All I need are additional business courses, not degrees."Four. One Bachelor, two Masters and a PhD. School--learning is kind of fun."I giggle when he sticks his tongue out at me, I am impressed. "You are bragging.""No. You asked," he fires back and laughs. "Do you want to get another degree?"It takes a few minutes for me to give him an answer, "I don't know yet." My heart swells with pride when he promises to support whatever decision I make and the butterflies in my stomach scatter in excitement. I love this man, he is everything I have ever wanted and more.Throwing my
Mr Reluctant Billionaire Forty-two
Brandon's hand travels up my thighs, I stifle a moan and place my palm over his to stop him from going further. He snakes an arm around my waist, pulls me to himself and I let out a small yelp at how easy it is for him to carry me. I pout as my butt connects with his laps and he steals a kiss from me."Did you like it?" His eyes dart to the empty but stained plates on the dining table and I nod. My husband is the best chef in town. "Do you want to show your appreciation?"He tugs on the hem of my blue T-shirt, my arm goes around his neck and we stare into each other's eyes until his hands find their way inside my shirt. His cold palms against my belly as they begin a slow climb up to the perky mounds protected by my bra has shivers trickling down my spine.
Mr Reluctant Billionaire Forty-three
Our tour starts in the kitchen, I let out a low laugh as Brandon points out the utensils to me, going on about their functions like I have no idea what they are. We spend little time in some of the rooms downstairs with me being carried around like a princess. Well, I am his princess or baby or whatever pet name he refuses to call me and I deserve to be treated like one.None of the rooms holds my interest for long, except for the huge library which I promise to come explore later on my own. If his arms are numb from carrying me, he doesn't say or act like it. I stifle a yawn, he chuckles and I direct him to the door of the ballroom I came upon the last time Sophia was here. I need answers to the questions bugging my mind and he's the only one who can offer me that.Embarrassment crawls up my spine when I reca
Mr Reluctant Billionaire Forty-four
I shriek and jump as an animated player in Chelsea jersey kicks the ball into my goalpost for the third time since we started playing. My gamepad clatters to the rugged floor, Brandon bursts out laughing and I growl. I let out a silent scream, this is not funny.The last-minute decision to challenge him to a game now seems like a terrible idea, I suck my lip and refuse to collect the pad he hands to me. Most of the wall in front of us are covered in screens to allow him to switch to a different game without missing any moment. He claims he hasn't visited his game room in weeks, work has kept him busy and I suggested we took advantage of his free day. I frown, I don’t want to do his bidding for the whole day, I want him to do mine, I have lots of questions that need answers.Letting out a l
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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
He doesn't regret it. But he feels bad. What does that mean? I race down the stairs as fast as I can, my car keys dangling in my hand. Hopefully, I look sane with the way I hurriedly dressed and left. I need to talk to Clarissa but about what? Do I want to tell her what Brandon said? What if she calls the police on him? Will she do that? She won't.
Mr Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and thirteen
I wake to amber eyes staring down at me. I flash Brandon a sleepy smile, he presses a kiss to my hair and I giggle, he must love my new shampoo. "You slept well?" I ask.He nods, placing another kiss on my temple. "I did, you?" he says against my skin and I hum in response, loving the wet kisses he litters on
Mr Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and twelve
The next day, my phone is pinging with notifications. David shoots me a grateful text I don't reply, I am sure he doesn't expect one, we are not friends. My finger hovers over the delete option on his contact, I hesitate. It won’t hurt to have it so I save his number, something I had failed to do. Bored, I send Brandon an SOS and switch off my phone.Time to take matters into my hands.Bathed, shaved and clad in lace lingerie that barely holds my breasts and reveals my bump, I sit up, legs crossed while awaiting that click that will announce his entrance. He won't talk to me like a normal person and now, I am pissed. And horny. And frustrated.The click to signify his presence sounds, reverberating in the room. I shoot up from the bed as fast as a pregnant woman approaching her third semester can and saunter to the door, swinging my hips. Brandon eyes me from head to toe, the appreciative glint in his gaze is missing but I shrug tha
Mr Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and eleven
Curiosity kills the cat. Satisfaction brings it back. It has to. That is the reason I am in this café, waiting for David after I made the spontaneous decision to see him. I pull my oversized tracksuit over my belly, trying and failing to blend in with the scanty crowd.A wave of nostalgia hits me when someone passes with a tray of fish and chips. I need to call Clarissa. I don't understand how we let life, thesis and coursework pull us apart but we need to meet. Sending her a short text, I roll my lip between my teeth while awaiting her reply. If she replies before David comes, I will cancel our meeting. She comes first.I shouldn't be here.That seems to have become my new mantra and each time, things turn out better than I expect. I hope it's the case today. Taking a swig from the water bottle on the table while I wait for the first person to show up, I try to push the nagging thoughts out of my head.
Mr Reluctant Billionaire One hundred and ten
Seconds of silence pass, when Josh doesn't seem to be leaving, I ask, "Who is Brendan?""Our brother, Brandon's twin." I blink, my head spins from the sudden information and my thoughts crash to a stop when he adds, "He is dead." Josh's smile is pitiful, I don't know when I move to stand beside him. I pat his shoulder. "He died in an accident."Brandon has a twin, a dead twin. It's all I can think while my hand meets Josh's shoulder in an awkward show of comfort. He pries my hand off him with a smile I don't comment on because of how fake it is. I rub my hand against my hip. Brandon has a dead twin.Seeing how shaken I am by the news, Josh pushes me into his seat, I sink gratefully into it. I shouldn't have asked. My husband should have told me himself. "When did he die?""A while ago."I snap. "How long is a while ago?""Five years," he rep
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
The gazebo is deathly quiet and the tension promises to suffocate us. Everything is going well, if you count the curt greetings from Brandon's snobbish parents. Queen Elizabeth doesn't hold a candle to Brandon's mother with her prim and proper manners, wrinkles and white hair cropped short. All she needs is a crown and I'll genuflect before her.Brandon's dad is an older beardless version of him with thinning hair. He is so quiet, the kind of quiet that allows his haughty wife freedom to speak to people as she pleases. A minute after exchanging greetings and I can already tell it was a bad idea to invite them.Seated beside Brandon, muscles tight and frustrated at my lack of release, I drum my fingers on my legs hidden under the table. He didn't have to punish me this way. I am pregnant, he shouldn’t leave me horny. One look at him shows that's the least of his worries.He is as tensed as I am, maybe even more and a wave of gu
