Page 48 of Bound to Him
I wasn’t afraid of anyone, but I wasn’t a fool. The wrath of Eloise Bouchard would find me sooner rather than later and I didn’t want anything to do with it.
“This is karma, I suppose,” I drawled and glanced around my empty office. Grinning to myself despite it all, I went back to work. I might have a media shitstorm to deal with and my mama might murder me, but I was going to fuck Noah later, and that knowledge was a warm glow in my chest.
13
NOAH
Alton’s eyeswere a deep brown pool I could get lost in forever. It had been three days since I’d signed the business over to him, and in that amount of time I’d studied his face every chance I’d gotten. I’d never realized how pretty his irises were until I’d shaken offmostof my hostility toward him. I’d been preoccupied with the thought of giving up my life for him, which I still hadn’t forgiven him for.
“I don’t understand,” I said with a yawn. I’d woken after an orgasm-induced late-afternoon sex coma about twenty minutes ago and dressed before heading downstairs. Antoine had found me on the bottom step of the right side of the split staircase and directed me to Alton’s office upstairs, and I’d gone without issue because apparently I was growing used to complying with his orders already. How was it any different than Dad? He’d done the same thing, minus giving me a tennis bracelet worth half a million dollars and making me wear it as though it was his claim on me.
Alton leaned back in his chair and laid his hands on his belly, staring me up and down carefully. I’d dressed in the pair of fancy underwear he’d left for me on the bed earlier, and only put a robe over the top because after the orgasms he’d given me over the last few days he deserved something from me, right?
“Your ex, Christian, is causing trouble.”
I shrugged at him and shifted to sit on the chair close to his that he’d had out for me. “I understandthat. Sunday night you explained what he’d done.” My body heated as I dwelled on all the pleasure and pain Alton had put me through afterward.
With a wave of Alton’s hand, Antoine left, closing the door behind himself.
“But why would he talk to a journalist about it? Christian doesn’t care about me.” I frowned and slouched in the chair. This was a big mess and I blamed Dad completely. If he hadn’t ripped off Alton, we wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.
“Clearly you’re wrong about that. Even if it’s notlove, it’s jealousy. He wanted in with your family and you were the answer.” Alton leaned forward and cupped the back of my neck, dragging me closer to him until his lips were on mine. The kiss was rough and needy and I groaned into his mouth until he released me.
“Everyone wants in with my family. Why don’t they just marry my dad?” I muttered, inwardly cursing the man who brought all this trouble. No wonder Granddad didn’t leave the business to him.
Alton chuckled, and I smiled because it was nice to hear that sound from him. He didn’t seem like the type of guy who laughed much. “I don’t think your father has the same appeal.”
I shrugged because I didn’t know what else to say. “I’m mad at my dad.”
Alton looked at me, and I stared back, a calm moment between us I hadn’t quite expected. I’d thought of him as cold when I first met him last week, but as the hours passed I began to learn I was wrong. Oh, he was a strong-willed and fearless businessman, but there was also something gentler about him beneath that mask.
“You have every right to be mad at him,” Alton said, stroking his thumb up my cheek. I’d forgotten he was still touching me.
“And can I be mad at you, too?” I asked.
His mouth quirked up at the side. “My mama always told me the secret to making a marriage work is not going to bed angry with your spouse. So yes, you can be mad at me, but when we go to bed you leave it at the door.”
“Why does it matter, when our marriage will be done in six months?” I leaned in closer to him, and he met me halfway, our lips so close I could feel his breath flutter against my mouth.
“Because we have to look in love, especially tomorrow.” He smirked when I frowned and sat back.
“What’s happening tomorrow?”
“We need to do damage control because of your boy toy.” He released my face and stood, towering over me, then stepped closer and hooked a finger into my robe, tugging it slightly so a nipple peeked out at him. “Mm. I’m feeling very hungry. I think I might snack on you.”
He reached over, and I held my breath, but the shrill ringtone of the landline phone had me letting it go again.
He glanced at the phone sitting on his desk and sighed. “As much as I would love to ignore this call, I can’t.” He stared at the number on the small gray display in the base for a long moment before he grabbed the handset and raised it to his ear. “Hey, Mama.” He blanched and had barely finished the word “Mama” before I heard someone on the other end of the line talking whip fast. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but whatever it was had his eye twitching and his jaw clenching.
I cocked my head and observed every emotion that washed over his face, and it was interesting to say the least. As an artist I liked to people watch; Alton was an extravaganza of facial tics. I’d never expected to see a day when Alton Bouchard was scared, but it seemed hismamahad him close to terrified.
“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered. “Mama, you must understand—” He was cut off by another rant, and he nodded, even though she obviously couldn’t see him. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
I chuckled into my hand, and he shot me a glare before flinching at whatever his mother said.
“Mama... yes, ma’am. I’ll make it happen.” He paused. “Love you, too. Bye.”
When he ended the call, he glanced at me and the way I’d pressed my hand harder to my mouth, unable to stop the laughter that bubbled from escaping between my lips. He shook his head, and I laughed even louder, doubling over until my stomach hurt.
