Page 71 of The Rejected Wife

Idolike him. A lot. More than a lot. I’m half in love with him. Have been since I saw him the first time. And even more so, now that he’s Serene’s father. And then, there’s Serene, herself.

I begin to pace, arms locked around my waist. "So, while this is a marriage of convenience, it’s also a real marriage?”

He nods. “There's too much of a connection between us for it not to be.”

I pause, looking at him. “And once we’re married, Arthur will hand over your share of the inheritance?”

He nods again. “It would beourinheritance.”

Our. Ours.The word sends a pleasant thrill up my spine.

"We’d be husband and wife. Sharing a house. Sharing Serene. You’d share everything I have.”

“Including a”—I lick my lips—“bedroom?” What’s making me ask this? Do I want him to spell things out about us sharing the marital bed?Maybe.

"You already know the answer to that.” He takes a step in my direction. The heat in his eyes elicits an answering flurry of delight deep in my belly.

"I’m very attracted to you. And you’re attracted to me, too. Once we share a bed, I can promise you, neither of us is going to be doing much sleeping. Not for a long time.” He takes a second step. Another. And another. Until he’s standing in front of me.

I lean my head back, taking in his proud features. That jut of his cheekbones, which could, likely, cut glass. That mouth of his, which screams sex. The strong column of his throat. The breadth of his shoulders that I itch to touch. The expanse of his chest, which draws me toward him. It makes me want to bury my nose in the skin exposed by the lapels of his shirt and breathe deeply of that drugging scent of his. My thighs tremble. My pussy clenches. I feel myself begin to thaw, and struggle to hold onto the remnants of resistance to his proposal.

"The main issue I have with what you’re suggesting is that it sounds so coldhearted.”

“Coldhearted?” He frowns.

“Maybe that’s the wrong word.” I shuffle my feet. “It sounds too calculated. Too carefully thought out. It’s not very romantic.” I wave my hand in the air.

A small smile quirks his mouth. "Is that what you want? Romance?"

"Every woman wants romance." My gaze flickers to the floor before finding his again. “Not that I’m the kind who wants a big wedding."

"Neither do I," he says with something like relief.

We’re talking about the nitty gritty details.Which implies I’m thinking about this seriously.

He must realize the same thing, for his shoulders relax. He’s a smooth operator, that’s for sure. He’s addressed my doubts before I can even raise them. I could just say yes, I suppose, but I can’t resist testing him one last time.

"Thereisone thing." I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "There's someone I met in the past month. Someone I’d like to continue to see, after the wedding."

There isn’t anyone.Because I never got over Tyler. He’s haunted my dreams. Occupied so much of my waking thoughts. It’s annoying and embarrassing that I’m not over him. It also feels so right that he’s asking me to marry him. It also feels wrong, because he hasn’t yet told me that he loves me. And I feel like a fool for even thinking of the L-word.

My emotions are in such a turmoil, when he snaps, "No," it takes me a moment to understand what he’s referring to. Then, I connect it to our previous conversation.

"So, even though ours would be a marriage of convenience, I can’t see anyone else?" I stare.

"That’s out of the question." His jaw hardens. "That would negate the impact this announcement has on Arthur. Besides, didn’t I make it clear enough that this is a real marriage? My proposal was real and this”—he takes my left hand and holds it up—“is a real ring.”

His gaze locks on mine—unyielding, furious, and laced with a possessiveness that scorches. Lust simmers beneath it, thick and undeniable, until every nerve in my body hums, and my insides dissolve into liquid heat. Being the focus of that raw emotion—his desire, his hunger, his claim—sends a rush through me so fierce, it steals my breath. The way he looks at me, like he’s two seconds from throwing me over his shoulder and making me his, lights up my chest with sparks and turns my blood electric.

I manage to get my hormones under control and tip up my chin. "That would also apply to you.”

He rolls his shoulders. "Since Serene came into my life, I haven't had time for women or for love. I’ve made up my mind that she is my focus. I’ve dedicated my time to her. Besides, I wasn’t interested in being with anyone else but you.”

I swallow thickly. “You’re saying you haven’t been with another woman since?—”

“You.” He nods. “Of course, I’ve had to take myself in hand a lot—and jerk off to some very X-rated images of you in my head, to keep myself going.”

"Whoa…”That’s hot.Not only the picture of him holding his dick in his hands, which is strangely erotic. But also, the fact that he hasn’t slept with another woman. I hadn’t allowed myself to think of it, but had secretly been almost certain he must have had sex with other women in the interim. Because he might be a dad, but he’s also so virile, he literally oozes testosterone. And just seeing him would cause women to spontaneously climax. “You really haven’t been with anyone else since that…night?”

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