Chapter 4

Oh no, no no no, Cade was Mr. Tall, dark and sexy? Fuck….me…Oh wait, he had; and it was so damn good. Remembering it I felt dampness between my legs, and promptly crossed them attempting to regain my composure. Which was very hard when memories, almost like pictures, of our night together kept popping into my mind. His smooth chest, the way he worked me over, the heat in his eyes as he feasted on my womanhood. In fact, I was having a hard time pushing those memories out of my head.

“Mr. Amata” I said smoothly, raising my glass to my lips, relieved I had put on my deep plum lipstick and silver eyeshadow, a combination that I knew looked great on me. Taking a long swig of my drink I placed it a little too loudly on the table beside me, he raised a dark eyebrow.

“Something the matter Ms. Kane?” He asked, his face serious, but I saw mirth dancing in his eyes. This asshole. In a way I guessed it was my fault seeing as I had never so much as glanced at a picture of Cade. If I had simply looked, I immediately would have known who the mystery man was, and now I was locked into a forced marriage with him? I didn’t know if I should rejoice, he was gorgeous, or be sad because his personality was terrible; maybe if we didn’t have to interact too much, and I could just use him for sex every so often. 

“Mr. Amata” I said, with more courage than I actually had, “I assume then you are here to discuss the finer points of our arrangement then?”

“Indeed. After all, there will be another contract between us once we agree to the parameters of our union.” I wanted to gag, union, this guy was so stiff and stuffy. Yet, the person he had been in the bedroom blew my mind and trying to the reconcile the two was causing a small headache. 

Smiling sweetly, I asked “and what sort of things did you have in mind to include?” He sat down and placed his work bag in front of him. A black over the shoulder laptop carrier I realized as he pulled out a slender, silver laptop. Several folders poked out from the inside, and before I could see anything else he zipped it back up. He was quiet for a few moments, then handed the computer to me and I could see a document was pulled up. 

My eyes scanned it before re reading it, to ensure nothing was missed as it was how I found myself in this situation anyway. We were expected to make public appearances together, which made sense. Once a week we would be seen in public on a “date” or something similar to prevent questions of our marriage not being a loving one, this also made sense, we had to convince people because it was highly doubtful anyone would expect us to be together. Once the contract was signed this would start immediately so the marriage would not be “sudden” we would simply state we were going public with it as we had been keeping it a secret previously. This was good thinking, and I found myself nodding. Of course, the Amata’s would keep any romantic relationship secret for as long as possible, as they were frequently in the media. So, we would come out as engaged, and having been so for some time but with the wedding coming up we had decided to go public; well played Cade, well played. I had to give him credit where credit was due, there was one issue though.

“This all makes a lot of sense” I started, his eyes flicked to mine and held them. “However, if we are engaged” I dropped off, hoping he would realize what I was trying to ask. 

“If we are engaged then we need proof? Yes Ms. Kane I have already accounted for that, however, did not presume to know your tastes so I would require your presence to make a decision.” I felt my cheeks furiously heat up, he wanted me to pick my own ring, of course he did. He had no idea what I liked, and we needed this to be as realistic as possible. This was not a real or regular proposal; this was a business transaction; and the ring was simply proof of the transaction. My marriage would be another transaction, a stepping stone for both parties yes, but at what cost? I studied Cade. How was he fine with this? I couldn’t think of any man who would willingly get married to someone who was a stranger to them, what was his agenda? How did this serve him? I wanted to ask but bit my tongue, not wanting to jeopardize the contract at all. This was a question for another time, one after the ink had dried on papers time, not before.

“If you are agreeable, I have a few jewelers picked out, we can visit them soon and you can pick your ring out.” He stated as if he was talking about the weather, and not an engagement. 

“That would be fine with me” I answered, in my best business-like voice. If he was going to treat this as a business transaction so would I. My eyes went back to the document, I was almost finished when I saw it. My eyes flew wide, and I audibly choked, which got a small chuckle from the infuriating man in the chair beside me. 

“Mr. Amata” I began.

“Ms. Kane” he replied, his eyes smiling but his mouth a straight line. 

“What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, my eyes shooting daggers at him.

“Meaning of what Ms. Kane?” He asked, folding his hands together neatly on his lap. Oh, he knew exactly what I was referring to. I highlighted the few sentences and bolded them before handing the laptop back to him.

“The item I have highlighted” I gritted out in annoyance. He smiled.

“Why Ms. Kane, as husband and wife we have certain duties to uphold do we not?” I gaped at him. Closing my mouth with a click I shot him a dirty look.

“While that may be true, it does not mean we need to go above and beyond what others see” I pointed out. 

“How else are we supposed to forge a relationship if there is no physical intimacy? Then when we need to engage in it publicly it will not be believable or natural.” He raised his shoulders in a small what did you expect gesture. 

“So what? We engage in exposure therapy?!” I bit out, enraged. It was one thing to play act in public but to engage in physical activity neither of us wanted or welcomed when not necessary was, well, insulting. 

“In a sense yes, after all we need to look natural and in love” he smiled at me. “I understand this is not ideal, however I do hope it is tolerable for you as you could do worse than me.”

I ground my teeth in frustration. He wasn’t wrong. Cade Amata was a fine specimen of a man, and the sex would surely be mind blowing provided he performed similarly to what I had already experienced. He was great to look at, and his bedroom presence, well that was on another level. But day to day? Living with Sir cunt chops?! Being married to him? Oh, sweet Jesus in heaven I truly did not think I could do it. He was boring, stiff, snobby and irritatingly conceited. One of us would not live through this, and I wasn’t quite sure which one of us it would be. 

“Is this part at least negotiable as to how often?” I inquired, trying to be as patient as my temper would allow. Sex once a week? Was he out of his mind? Bad enough were being forced to get married, but now required intimacy even behind closed doors. Could I truly not be free from this contract in any aspect of my life, even my personal time?

“I’m afraid it is not; this seemed the best and most logical choice. Given the work week and both of our other obligations. We can combine it with our weekly dates. Two birds, one stone.” I spluttered at him, trying to form words.

“Two birds one stone?” I stood up. “Is that what this is? Do I not get a say? Or am I going to be forced into not just this marriage but also scheduled marital duties?” I spat out at him. His eyes flashed, something feral lurking just beneath the surface. He stood up, towering over me, gods the man was tall and that was so, freaking, hot. 

“Do you think I enjoy this Ms. Kane?” His voice was low, even, yet had a dangerous edge to it that had me shrinking back slightly. “I want this as much as you do, however I did not believe either of us were complaining previously during our marital duties.” I felt my ears grow warm as I remembered the command he had of me, my body and where he took me that night. Shaking my head, I met his cold gaze.

“Then why do this if you don’t want to?” I asked, truly curious, and if this wasn’t necessary then we could put an end to it.

“My reasons do not concern you” he stated softly. And I thought I saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

“The fuck they don’t!” I practically snarled. “How do they NOT concern me when I’m part of this too?” I gestured to us and the general vicinity.

“Do you not like being treated well?” His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. “I do not intend to abuse our relationship Ms. Kane. You will be well cared for and have things you previously could not without this partnership. I do not ask you to compromise who you are, nor do I intend to neglect you in any way.” 

“What’s the point in treating me well, or anything else if you don’t want to?” I grumbled more to myself than him.

“Because” he said, his long fingers lifting my chin up to meet his gaze. “You are a business partner who should be treated with the respect befitting that title.”

“Yeah, me and my vagina. Business partners with you and your dick. Can’t wait to have forced sex with you Mr. Amata” I said, ice and steel in my voice. Bending down to gather my purse and jacket and leave. I felt his hand on my arm.

“Ms. Kane” he said, his voice somehow more melodic than it had been. I looked up, and his eyes seemed to draw me in, I stood up, my belongings in hand. “Do you truly find me so distasteful?”

“N-N-No I don’t” I managed to stammer out as his face drew closer to mine.

“Good” he smiled, and I noticed how sharp his canines seemed to be. “The contract starts now” he murmured right before his lips met mine in a searing kiss. His lips molded to mine, soft and warm as his tongue darted out, parting the seam between my lips. I practically melted into his arms as I felt him invade my mouth. His tongue twined with mine, dancing around it and stroking it while his hands planted themselves on my hips. A moan escaped me, and he swallowed it immediately, one of his hands dropping slightly lower, spanning the area between my lower back and ass. His other hand cupped my face as he pulled away, leaving me feeling oddly empty. 

“There now Ms. Kane, we can make this work don’t you think?” And without waiting for an answer the insufferable man gently kissed my cheek and walked out of the room. Leaving me standing there, completely flabbergasted, one hand on my cheek and the other loosely clutching my purse and jacket.