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The Fated Fake Marriage 9
“Here, here.” She smiles. “Are we going to meet the others at Luco?”I take a mouthful of my grilled halloumi cheese salad and shake my head. “Hmm, this is good.” I gesture to my food. “You know I don’t really feel like going to Luco tonight.”“Why not?”I shrug. “I don’t know. It’s a dating kind of place and it’s not like I am going to see Vegas guy sitting there waiting for me.”Jen giggles around her mouthful of food. “You wish.”I laugh and sip my drink. “Tonight, we are going dancing. Screw bar Luco.”3Five years laterAshleyThe moving trucks come to a stop in the wide street, and my eyes flicker over to the back seat. “This is it, baby.” I smile.Owen looks out of the window towards our new house and I feel my nerves flutter deep in my stomach.It looks okay.The house is two-story with faded yellow weather-boards. It has a large veranda that wraps around the house. Climbing roses scale the posts, and a cobblestone path leads up to the front steps. It looks welcoming. I glance
Last Updated : 2025-03-31The Fated Fake Marriage 10
He squeals in delight.I laugh out loud.We walk through to the end of the hall and find a large, slightly dated kitchen, with a second living area and dining room with a bathroom off of it. A large bedroom with its own entrance is at the side. This will be Jenna’s room while she is here, and there’s another small bedroom to the left. I put my hands over my mouth in disbelief. Oh my God, this house is fucking fantastic.I love it.Owen runs ahead in excitement up the carpeted stairs. “Where’s my room? Where’s my room?” he calls out.I run up the stairs after him, and stop dead when I get to the top. Holy shit. This is… are we in the right house? Three bedrooms, a bathroom, and then double doors at the end of a large walkway.I open the double doors and my mouth drops open. A parents’ retreat, a lounge area that opens onto a large bedroom, with its own bathroom and a walk in closet. Double doors open to a balcony that looks out onto the street. Windows and expensive drapes are on every
Last Updated : 2025-03-31The Fated Fake Marriage 11
She narrows her eyes. “How long have you lived in LA?”“I just arrived yesterday… from New York.”“What brings you here?”“A surgeon.”She frowns.“I mean… I’m going to be a top surgeon’s understudy at LA Memorial hospital. I start in two days.”“How exciting for you.” I nod. “How many children do you have?” she asks.I frown, I never get asked that question. People always assume that, because I’m a med student, I won’t have kids. “I have one son.”“What’s his name?”“Owen.” I smile. Even saying his name brings out my pride.She sits back in her chair. “So, you are here for Owen, then?”“Yes,” I breathe.She picks up her pen and writes something in her diary. “What are you looking for?”I frown in question. What does she mean? A job, you fool. “I’m sorry, what do you mean?” I ask.Her eyes flash up to me from her notes. “What position are you here for?”I hesitate. “You have more than one job going? I wasn’t aware.”She puts her pen down and smiles. “Do you know what we do here, Ashle
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I nod. “Okay. I’m just looking, though.”She smiles and shakes my hand. “See you tonight.”I sip my Coke as I sit at the table in the restaurant with Owie and Jenna. My mind has been in overdrive since my job interview this morning. Owen is playing on his iPad and Jenna is sipping her wine.She looks around excitedly. “I love LA. So many gorgeous men everywhere.”I smile and raise a brow. “Me, too.”“You have been very quiet since your interview this morning. Tell me more about it…” she asks. I haven’t had a moment alone with her since I went this morning. Owen has been in ear’s distance the whole time.I blow out a breath and start to stab the ice in my glass with my straw. “It was okay.”“And…?”I frown and gesture to Owie. She shuffles around in her bag and pulls out some coins. “Owie, can you go and try and win us some chocolates from the vending machine in the kids play area?”Owen’s eyes light up in excitement as he snatches the coins from her and runs.Jenna’s eyes fall to my f
Last Updated : 2025-03-31The Fated Fake Marriage 13
How could you ever explain to your child that you were a prostitute? That you let men fuck you for money. You couldn’t. They would never understand and there is no possible excuse you could ever use, because it’s inexcusable. I shake my head in disgust that I even contemplated working in a place like that. I eat my cake and drink my coffee alone, and even though I’ve made the decision not to go in and check out the club, an annoying little voice inside is telling me it’s the wrong one.I need money. I desperately need money. I moved Jenna all the way here to help with Owen and I have to damn well find a job that pays well.This isn’t a club that offers slap dash women who have slept with every man in the USA. This is a club where men can come and take pleasure in looking at intelligent, untouched women—women who are putting themselves through college and doing this for their precious children. They know that every single woman here is something special.Untouched women. Does that mean
Last Updated : 2025-03-31The Fated Fake Marriage 14
I feel the air leave my lungs as the door shuts behind me.Uh oh.It looks like something out of a movie. When I was here for my interview, we were taken in the back entrance and didn’t see any of this. There’s dim lighting with deep coffee coloured walls and big fancy metal cut out lights hanging down from the super high ceilings. The floor is tiered to different levels with large carpeted steps running up the center. It could be an old picture theatre or something that has been converted. Spanning the whole back wall is the most exotic looking bar I have ever seen, and the bottom level has table and chairs which are situated around a catwalk stage. Shit, I wonder what shows go on down there?The second level has large, luxurious leather armchairs placed singularly, facing toward the stage. The next level up is full of small round high tables with bar stools. My eyes rise up to the top level—the bar and busiest level of all three. My eyes flicker around nervously as I try to get my b
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“Oh.”She throws me a wink and goes back to her position near the door, and I sit frozen still, hoping nobody will notice the nerdy girl at the end of the bar. Over the next half an hour, I have three more drinks while I watch gorgeous men arrive, one after the other. Some are in groups, others on their own. Although, even the ones who arrive alone seem to know others that are here. How does this work? Do these men come here to socialize? I bet a lot of them are married and this is their dirty little secret. I watch them all standing around the bench tables, down on level two and around the bar. The chatter is loud, and they are all wearing expensive suits and smelling like money. Hmm, it must be expensive to come here. I glance around to make sure nobody is watching and I get out my phone and Google.Club Exotic Membership.I wait for it to load and a webpage comes up.Club Exotic.Gentleman’s Bar.Club exotic is currently not taking new members. However, please feel free to put your
Last Updated : 2025-03-31The Fated Fake Marriage 16
“Organza,” Eliza purrs.My eyebrows rise. “Oh.” Jeez.“These are the tops our dancers wear with these bottoms.” She pulls out the bottom drawer and it is filled with coffee-colored, short, leather hot pants.I hate to admit it, but with the cream and caramel color palettes mixed with the leather and lace, it really gives off an expensive, sexy feel.“They don’t wear the skirts?” I frown.“No, it’s hard to straddle a seated man, lap dance in a tight leather skirt, and still maintain your dignity.”Not the answer I was expecting, but okay. She leads me through into another room where there is a beauty salon and two European male hairdressers.“Franco and Merrin, meet Vivienne.”They both look me up and down and smile.I nervously pull my woolen dress down. This is all just so… weird.“You get all of your beauty and hair needs looked after free of charge when you work here.” Eliza’s eyes flicker to me. “And the laser hair removal is on the house.”Shit. Well, blow me down. That’s a servi
Last Updated : 2025-03-31
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The Fated Fake Marriage 170
“Don’t.” I pull from his grip. “And don’t tell me you like it rough, either,” I add. “That is way too much information which I do not need to know.”Abbie grabs Ben’s forearm. “Bridget needs to be punished. You need to take her home right now,” she says seriously. Of all the things she could have said. “In fact, give her one for me,” she adds.“Abbie!” I snap. “Shut the hell up.”Tash puts her hand over her mouth and bursts out laughing.Adrian’s and my eyes widen in horror.Ben nods. “That’s a good idea, Abs.”He grabs my arm and pulls me toward the door, and I snatch my arm from his hold.“Don’t touch me.”“Cut out the dramatics,” he says as he pushes me forward.“Dramatics?” I repeat as I storm toward the door. “You’ve lost the fucking plot.” I exit up the stairs, out onto the water’s edge on the cobblestone pavers.He falls into stride beside me and the ocean breeze whips through my hair.We walk in silence for a while and I glance over at him, seemingly deep in thought.“What are
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Your neck looks edible.I could sink my teeth into it.What?I frown and lift my eyes to his. He holds his beer up in a cheers symbol and takes a drink as his mischievous eyes hold mine. He’s sitting back in his seat, legs wide, and his huge shoulders show off all his power. Unable to help themselves, my eyes roam down to his strong muscular forearms and I swallow the lump in my throat. Honestly… why the hell is he so freaking hot?The conversation carries on around us as my heart rate picks up.Okay, what the actual fuck is going on here? I’m not imagining this.That was a definite flirty text.But what do I write back?Fuck off, asshole. That’s what I need to write. I text back:Vampires aren’t really my thing.He reads his text and smirks. I pick up my drink and sip it as I make eye contact with Adrian, who frowns subtly in question. My phone beeps again.Have you thought about me?I swallow the lump in my throat and immediately text back.Never.A reply bounces back.Liar.I feel
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The table erupts into giggles and I choke on my drink. That is such a Cameron thing to say. Cameron is Joshua’s younger brother, and someone very dear to us all. He’s never serious for a moment, and it’s hard to believe he’s a doctor in L.A. He’s cheeky as all hell and keeps us amused with his wicked one-liners and sense of humor. He has every woman he meets eating out of his hand.“Cameron!” Abbie snaps, feigning shock. “For your information, I do not bang like a barn door.”He smiles into his beer. “I beg to differ.” His eyes dance with delight as he teases.“You wish you knew if I banged like a barn door, Cam,” she replies flatly.He raises his glass with a grin.Joshua frowns. “I think you might need a new phone, Didge.” He narrows his eyes as he concentrates. “The engage seems to be disabled.”I roll my eyes. “Will you speak English? What does that even mean?” He looks up at me and raises a brow. “It means it’s fucked.” He hands it back over the table to Natasha, who hands it to
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“Bring him to me?” I repeat with a raised brow. Is he kidding me? “What are you, Henry VIII now?” Unable to help it, I smirk. “What are you going to do, Ben? Behead him?”His eyes hold mine for an extended moment. “Possibly.” He must realize how ridiculous he just sounded because he smiles sexily. “It’s tempting.”Our eyes lock and a ripple of electricity zaps in the air between us.Cut it out.Silence hangs, but he finally breaks it. “It’s good to see you, Didge. I’ve thought of you often.”My eyes search his. I get a lump of regret in my throat and I just want to shake him for putting me through hell.I force a smile. “You, too.”I don’t mean it. Seeing him only makes it hurt that little bit more, knowing we didn’t work out. Unfortunately, I wasn’t imagining the chemistry we had. I always had hoped that maybe it had been a dream. I thought that if we ever saw each other again it would be like seeing an old friend in the street—I would feel nothing and be happy that I had moved on an
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“He’s not that bad.” I laugh. “And yes, he’s a cop… and he’s smoking hot, so he’s got a lot to love. Keep your opinions to yourself, Abs. Please remember you’re dating a gorilla on steroids. You can’t exactly judge.”Natasha and Abbey laugh, and I glance up and see Max smirking in the rearview mirror.“Yeah, well, that gorilla is an animal. I’m so down with gorillas.”Tash and I smirk because Abbey is a slut—a bona fide, self-confessed, slut. She loves men and sex, and she’s enjoying every perk of being a super attractive single woman. Her hair is long and golden, and she has a kicking body that she shows off unashamedly.She has every man she meets eating out of her hand.Her mantra is no boyfriends, no strings… just fun.And, boy, does she have the fun. I don’t know how she has the energy, to be honest. It seems like a lot of work.The car comes to a slow crawl before it stops, and we climb out to make our way to the bar where we’re all meeting.Joshua, Cameron, Scott, and Adrian ar
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I know he’s strong. I know he’s not a talker. But those nights in his arms were filled with tenderness and love.Where is that man?Because I want him back.I lie in the darkness at 1:00 a.m. The sound of the ocean drifts through the room and the soft breeze rolls over my body. As usual, I’m torturing myself with thoughts of Ben Statham and his beautiful body. Where is he now? Is he asleep?The last time we were together I told him I loved him. I never meant to, but I couldn’t help it. I was all soft and emotional from my orgasm-high, and the words just slipped out.Is that why he ran?I blow out a deep breath and stare at the ceiling as I go over that last night we spent together for the ten-thousandth time.If I knew it was to be our last night together I would have done more, said more,done anything to make him stay.The door opens, and I roll over. My heart catches in my chest.“Ben,” I whisper.He walks in and closes the door behind him, his hands clenching at his sides. He seem
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Cameron looks up and spots me watching him through the window, and he smiles sexily and makes his way across the garden. Before I know it he wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses me.“Permet de se faufiler au lit.” (Translation: Let’s sneak off to bed.) He nibbles on my neck and I smile as I try to wriggle away from him.“No.” I turn, and he takes me in his arms. I look up at him and he kisses me softly. “You know, you’re kind of all right for a farm boy.” My hands drop to his behind and I give it a squeeze. Everything is still gorgeous about my man; he’s only gotten better with age.He smiles sexily down at me. “I’ll show you what a farm boy can really do.”“Dad!” Juliet calls.He rolls his eyes.“Dad!” Zander yells. “Where did you go?”He puffs air in his cheeks and looks out the window, and then smiles broadly as an idea comes to him. He ducks down and crawls through the kitchen and back through the house.“What are you doing?” I ask as he crawls up the hall, towards the
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I nod and scrunch my eyes shut as another contraction comes. My doctor walks into the room. “The doctor is here.”“Put him on,” Cameron asks.I hand the phone to the doctor. “It’s Cameron.”He frowns and takes the phone. “Hello?” He listens for a moment. “Why? Where are you?” he asks. “Just a minute. “He puts the phone down and gives me an internal and then gets back on the phone. “She’s nearly ready to push. I’ll do my best. It’s progressing very fast.” He hands the phone back to me.“Hey, Bloss. I’m coming, babe.”I nod as tears start to roll down my face. He’s not going to make it. I know he’s not.“I love you,” I whisper.“I love you, too. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hangs up.I start to cry, blubbering-mess-crying, and I just want Cameron here. Why, oh, why today of all days?My eyes widen, and then I scrunch them shut.“What is it?” Adrian frowns.“I need to push.”CameronI tear off my gloves and run out of the operating room. I bang the elevator button three times.“Co
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“Get on a plane. I’ll hire you a private plane,” I stammer.“It will take that long getting into one airport and out of the other…it’s quicker if I drive.”Shit.“All right.” I pause for a moment. “Can you leave immediately?”“Yes.” He sighs. “On my way.”I blow out a breath and the nurse wipes the perspiration from my brow. The room falls silent and everyone is edgy. I inhale deeply as I try to calm myself down. “Hanna,” I call.“Yes, Doctor.”“Can you keep in contact with Ashley by phone, please, and let me know if there’s any change, other than that I need to concentrate here.”“Yes, of course.” She pauses for a moment. “Calling her now.”I inhale again as I try to slow my heart to a regular beat.It’s okay, I’m going get there… fate couldn’t be so cruel as to let me miss another birth.Hold on, Bloss... hold on.Ashley“Ahhhhh!” I call as I sit slumped over in the car.Adrian’s eyes are nearly popping from the sockets and he’s driving like a maniac. We’ve been stuck in traffic for
