AIDEN'S POV All I had to do was keep Aurora away from me after we got married. Casey: Your schedule is full today, sir. Aiden: You mean my schedule is clear because you used your few brain cells to fix it. That’s what I PAY YOU FOR. Casey: Yes, sir. What should I do about the engagement ring? Aiden: Send Ms. Pierce a big check and an apology note. I’m not marrying her. Casey: OMG, really? Casey: Sorry, I mean, is the spot still open, sir? ;) Casey: I would make a great wife. I can cook, fish, and babysat a lot of kids. I also know… other things.One day I'll really have to fire my useless assistants but for now I have other pressing matters to take care of. I got out of the elevator, my shoes tapping on the marble floor. Through the big window, I saw the black SUV waiting outside, with the freezing snowstorm behind it then I got in the back seat and told the driver Aurora’s work address. Casey: Never mind. Sorry. That was wrong of me. If you’re not marrying Ms. Pie
AIDEN'S POV Now that I looked closer, her lower lip was swollen, her cheek was bruised, and even with heavy makeup, I could see a dark bruise around her left eye. She turned her head away, tilting it down to hide the damage. “It’s nothing. None of your business, anyway.” The loan shark had stopped making threats and moved on to actions. My pulse picked up. I cracked my knuckles. I wasn’t sure why her injuries bothered me so much. She was alive and mostly fine. But the thought of someone laying a hand on her…hurting her… “You have ten minutes to finish up and meet me outside. You should know by now, I don’t like waiting.” I turned and walked back to the Escalade, already regretting this marriage. No painkiller in the world could save me from the headache Aurora was about to bring into my life. She showed up minutes later, wrapped in a cheap coat with two holes in it. I opened the back door for her. She climbed in, and I followed. “Drive around,” I told my c
AIDEN'S POV I wasn’t used to being drawn to a particular person. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I could want a woman. And if I could, I was certain it would come with problems I wouldn’t enjoy. Aurora took another small puff of the cigar, then passed it back to me. Our fingers brushed. A jolt of electricity shot up my spine in a sensation I could only describe as both horrible and pleasant. I wanted to kiss her and kick her out of the car. Preferably at the same time but for the sake of my legal team, I did neither. “What else would this marriage include?” She looked down and licked her lip. "You will go with me to events, help at my charity, and play your part as a dutiful wife.” “Hmm.” She sank into the seat, stretching like a spoiled cat against the leather. “Anything else?” “You’ll sign a strict NDA and an ironclad prenup. But as long as we’re married, you’ll be well taken care of.” “What if you leave me for someone else?” I could barely handle the idea of one marr
AIDEN'S POV Aiden. Only my friends and family call me by my first name. By friends , I mean All two of them. “The only reason I like you more than Nina is because if something happened to you, the women in my life would be upset. And the one thing I hate more than people are emotional people.” “I don’t care what reason you tell yourself for marrying me,” Aurora said flatly. “If we get married, we’ll be equals. At least, you’ll pretend we are.” I cracked my knuckles one by one. She was pissing me off. That was a feeling, and I didn’t do emotions. “Let me be clear.” I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m not staying celibate for weeks or even days.” “You won’t have to. You’ll have a wife.” Her face was so red I thought she might explode right there in my car. That would be a pain to clean, not to mention hard to explain. “No.” My muscles tensed under my suit. “No, what?” “I won’t sleep with you.” “Why not?” “Because I don’t want to.” “Why?”
AURORA'S POV The next day, Devon, Aiden's lawyer and friend knocked on my apartment door, looking like trouble in a sharp navy blue suit and a fresh haircut. Meanwhile, I was standing there in a six year old Walmart dress, worn out shoes, and a discounted windbreaker from the Salvation Army. “Mr. Devon?” I mumbled, hugging the door frame and stifling a yawn. He walked right past me, stepping into the tiny studio apartment. Annabelle was still asleep in our shared bed, wearing nothing but a thin red nightgown, one bronzed leg tossed over the blanket. He stopped, taking in the view. “And who is this goddess?” “That would be my sister, Mr. Zeus. Now, if you could kindly stop staring at her legs” Devon turned back to me, sighing, and shoved a thick stack of paperwork against my chest. Like Aiden, he had the ability to make the air shift around him. But while Aiden made me want to fall apart in his arms, Devon gave off a different energy. Something more mysterious. “I fille
AURORA'S POVDevon grabbed my phone from my hand and added Aiden’s contact information. “How do you know my passcode?” I frowned. “I had to write your birthday six hundred times when I filled out the paperwork last night. You seem like the predictable type. Again, no” “Offense. I know.” His eyes stayed on my phone, his thumbs moving fast over the screen. “You realize saying that makes whatever you say next automatically offensive, right?” “The way to reach him is four-four-five. He only replies to texts. Sometimes.” Of course. Devon placed my phone on top of the stack of papers I was holding. “Cheers, Aurora.” “Wait!” I called after him. “What about Peter Vory? Can I tell him I’ll have his money soon?” He stopped at the doorway. “Ah, that’s the best part of becoming a King.” He stretched his arms wide. “Your problems aren’t yours anymore. I believe Peter is Daniel Sterling’s problem now. So I’d say you’re covered, and Vory is completely and totally screwed for laying a hand o
AURORA'S POV She reached for the shoulder bag hanging over her chair, pulled out her checkbook, and slapped it on the table. Clicking her pen, she started writing me a check. “For my part, I’ll ask Father to recommend a good divorce lawyer,” Ariella said cheerfully. “This is totally fixable. It’s not too late to back out. We can make sure you still get” “You want the truth?” I snapped, jumping to my feet, shaking with frustration. “Fine. Here it is, I’m not like you all. Annabelle is bold, fearless, and determined to take over the world. Ariella, you were born into privilege. You have more money than some countries, two brothers who would do anything for you, and a bright future as a doctor. Sandy, you found your perfect match, and your family would always have your back no matter what. Me…” I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m different. I wanted to marry for love. And I did. Saying it didn’t work out would be putting it lightly. Now, I’m choosing security. It’s not the honorable thi
AIDEN'S POV “All there?” Vory sniffed, eyeing the open black duffel bag. Kenneth stood behind him, arms crossed, towering over us like a bodyguard from a crime movie. “Count it,” Daniel ordered,spitting his cigarette on the floor. Vory started flipping through the stacks of hundred dollar bills. His shoulders finally relaxed a little. We were in his office, making our delivery. He had insisted we meet here, probably because his place was stocked with more weapons than a gun shop. “Kenneth.” Vory snapped his fingers as he counted, wetting his fingers to separate the bills. His man stepped closer. Vory took the chance to slap the back of his head. “Count with me, you useless piece of shit.” It took them twenty minutes to finish. When they were done, Vory zipped the bag shut and smiled at us. “I’m pleased to say we have no outstanding debts between us, gentlemen. Thank you for your business.” Daniel nodded, stood, and turned around. I followed suit. We reached the d
AIDEN'S POV If Aurora felt weird, she didn’t show it. She put her hand in Herold’s. I had to try really hard not to jump in and pull her away from him.It was just a dance. And maybe it was good practice because one day, I’d have to see her with someone else. That would happen in a few years, after she gave me kids and finally gave up on me and my cold heart.We’d end up like my parents. Polite strangers, staying together only because of deals, shared stuff, and what people expected.Now I was stuck alone with horse faced Morgana and her annoying twins. Morgana leaned on the bar with a sly smile and lipstick that didn’t look right.“She’s sweet,” she said.“She’s fine,” I answered.I should have looked away from Aurora in Herold’s arms, but I couldn’t. Watching them made me feel strange. My head started to hurt. Mrs. Landon’s eyes lit up with interest.“That’s not a great thing to say about a wife you can’t stop staring at. How’s married life so far?”I looked at her face. No wonder
AIDEN'S POV One reason I really liked Aurora was because she had very good manners. She stood up, gave a friendly smile, and held out her hand to my enemy, even though she didn’t have to. “Aurora King. Nice to meet you.” “Herold Landon, and this is my wife, Morgana. I think you’ve already met my sons, Tinder and Tree.” “They made quite an entrance.” Aurora laughed and gently brushed Tinder’s wet hair out of his face. Don’t touch his kid. “I’m bored. Can you play with me, princess?” Tinder pulled on my wife’s dress, still wet from the champagne he made her spill. I wasn’t jealous of a five-year-old. I really wasn’t. Even if the way my wife looked at him made me annoyed. “This place is boring, huh?”. She then winked at him like they shared a secret. “ So, let’s go find something fun and exciting to do.” “No, thank you. We still need to say hi to some people.” Morgana pulled her kids closer. She was having a hard time keeping them still. She looked plain, especially next to my
AIDEN'S POV “You held my hand the whole drive, since you took the contract from me.” I looked down and quickly pulled away from her. “Didn’t notice.” “You look good when you’re flustered.” “I swear, Aurora, I’ll send you to your precious Namibia if you don’t stop annoying me.” “So now I annoy you all the time.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “That’s one feeling. Twenty-six more to go!” There are twenty-seven feelings? That seemed impossible. No wonder most people were completely useless. The driver opened the back door. I got out first, holding my wife’s delicate hand as the cameras flashed, wanting more of the woman who chose to be with The Villain. I put my wife behind me and walked past the cameras, using my body to block the bright flashes so she wouldn’t trip and embarrass me. It was showtime. The charity ball reminded me why I didn’t like being around people. At least not outside the bedroom. A heavy cloud of perfume filled the air above perfectly styled hair. The marble fl
AIDEN'S POV She tried to challenge me with deep thoughts, which made her cute enough to want. But honestly, I didn’t need much reason to want her. I often thought about what her pussy tasted like. After the card game on the ranch, I licked my fingers, and her scent alone made me incredibly turned on. “It’s okay if you don’t want to take any chances,” she said, about to put the contract back in her bag. “There’s no such thing as a soul,” I said flatly. “In that case, I’d like to buy yours,” she said. “How did it end on that TV show?” I leaned back and twirled my cigar. “Billions?” She looked puzzled. “The girl who thinks like you signed the contract, showing she really didn’t believe in her soul.” “Amateur mistake.” I held my cigar with my teeth and used my hands to adjust the necklace around my wife’s neck so the clasp wouldn’t show. “The first rule in business is supply and demand. You put a price on something based on how others see it. My beliefs don’t matter. You think so
AIDEN'S POV Devon: We need to buy some time. Sit down with Landon and make a deal. Me: Wrong number. Devon: You pay me for good advice. My advice is to sign a quiet deal and figure out your long-term plan after you handle this problem. Me: The only thing Landon will get from me is something that’ll send him to surgery. He hurt me once. This time, I’d be the one hurting him. Devon: I get that you hate him, Aiden, but we were young. Give him some money, make him feel good, and move on with your life. You could lose your CEO job, a lot of money, and face jail time if you mess with this trial. Me: He was a monster who made me a better monster. Now we are both dangerous. Let’s see who can cause more damage. I threw my phone on the leather seat and looked out the window of the car. Herold wasn’t going to stop until he saw me lose everything. It wasn’t about money. It never was for me. It was about being a better CEO than my father, because he was better than his father. A long ti
AURORA'S POV Aiden picked up his new cards just as I reached my peak. I grabbed his thick wrist under the table, guiding his hand to where I needed it most and began riding his hand in a wave like motion. My climax hit deep. All my muscles got tight, I stopped breathing, and my mouth opened and I orgasmed as if a strong earthquake ran through my whole body “Are you sure you're okay, Aurora? You look like you're in pain,” Ariella asked gently while my eyes were still shut. I blinked, feeling dazed and pleased. “Just another cramp. Sorry.” I Knew my cheeks were red due to my blushing. Aiden threw a card into the pile, then picked another, looking calm and uninterested. He slowly moved his hand away from between my legs, pulling my panties back into place. He wiped my wetness on my thigh and fixed my dress to hide the evidence. “I think I need to walk a bit. Stretch my legs.” I stood up quickly. “Anyone want something from the kitchen?” “Cognac,” Aiden said, still focused on his
AURORA'S POV Thirty minutes later, everyone was focused on the game. Sandy, the most competitive woman, kept wiping her forehead every time she drew a card. Annabelle didn’t join the conversation, keeping her focus on the game. My husband sat in his chair, looking bored and relaxed, occasionally saying something about the stock market, which Henry and Devon talked about for a long time. “So, you want a divorce?” Aiden’s deep voice made me feel it in my body. He picked up the conversation we had earlier when I asked him to let me go if he was going to keep ignoring me. “If I’m just going to spend my life chasing you, begging you to sleep with me, then yes, I want a divorce. You should’ve never married me if you don’t find me attractive.” “I do find you attractive but the problem is I find you too attractive.” He said then frowned at the card he drew, acting like it was just business. “I’m confused,” I said even though I was anything but. I just wanted him to say something nice. B
AURORA'S POV Aiden was stacking his chips slowly, not even looking at her. I didn’t even know how to play poker, so both of them were being silly. “I swear to God, Aiden” “Leave it alone.” My husband looked up from his chips. “Her ex boyfriend once lost everything she owned in a poker game. Think she wants to remember that, genius?” Nobody said anything after that. He picked up the cards Henry gave him and shook his head. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.” “If I were her, I’d still play, just to annoy you,” my sister Annabelle said. The fire in her tone was gone. Everyone else at the table was playing except Ariella and me. “That’s the difference. You’re not her. That’s why she’s married to a billionaire, and you run a club with dancers,” Aiden said flatly, his sharp eyes focused on his cards. “Madame Mayhem is classy. Burlesque is not the same as stripping, jerk.” Annabelle blew a raspberry at him. “I like burlesque,” Devon groaned and shifted in his seat. “You’d lik
AURORA'S POV Ariella rolled her eyes and sat on the bed next to us. “Don’t worry, Annabelle is too busy thinking about how to get Devon Whitehall into her bed to care about your husband.” We group-hugged, me squeezed in the middle. I looked at my sister and raised my eyebrows. “Oh, really? I don’t think you need to worry. The guy was all over you like glue.” “He’s such a smooth talker,” Annabelle sighed, lying down on my pillow. “What about you and Daniel?” I asked Ariella. “Any luck?” “If it’s not happening this year, it’s not going to happen at all,” Ariella said with a sad smile. I rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry.” Dinner before we left was really good. Sandy cooked bacon potato soup, fried chicken, and cornbread all by herself and for dessert, she made pie. “Anyone else want to complain about how I invited the girls over?” Henry asked, raising his eyebrows behind his coffee cup. He had three servings of cornbread and ate enough food to last a week. "This is so delicious. Ho