“I’ll talk if you talk,” he offers, “You tell me your shit if I tell you mine.”
I didn’t expect him to offer that but it’s only fair.
“Deal.”
Jagger takes a deep breath and his exhale tickles my belly. “It’s a lot so hold your reactions until I tell you I’m finished.”
I nod then remember he cannot see me. “Okay.”
“Apparently, my mom wanted to keep tabs on me. To know how I was doing since I wasn’t seeing her as much. My dad just wanted a fucking spy because he is a greedy fuck. They paid Layla to be with me.”
They did what? For years?My brain screams and I’m sure he can feel the tension in me but I promised to zip it until he’s done. This isn’t something that’s easy to admit so I’m letting him do it in his own way.
“I’d refused to marry you. I told my dad it wasn’t fair to either one of us to force you to marry a man you hardly know and make me end a relationship to do it. He later told me she was being held hostage until our wedding and would be killed if I didn’t go through with it. When I went to see my mom for lunch, she told me she spoke to Andres and he didn’t know what the fuck she was talking about. She got suspicious and went to our family cabin to see if she was being held there. She found Layla fucking my dad. It was going on the entire time.”
What the fuck?What kind of basic bitch...Okay, now my eye is twitching. I have too many emotions and I’m trying to shelve them. No wonder he needed time to process. There are so many betrayals in one story. I’m mad at all of them. I mean big mad, but Jagger’s feelings are the most important.
“I’m done,” he murmurs.
“Come here,” Jagger smirks and moves up my body.
“Do I need to comfort you again?” he teases to lighten the mood.
“I tell you; you get emotional one time and everyone's a critic.”
I steal a kiss when he snickers then pull him into the biggest hug I can give.
“Ohh, your nipples say hello.”
I ignore the joke because I need to be serious for a moment. We roll to our sides to face each other.
“Jagger Liam Hanlon, you are one of the most caring guys I’ve ever met. You give of yourself more freely than anyone recognizes. While your mother made terrible decisions - I have to make that plural because every day was a decision to keep it from you - I still think she's the only one in that trio that truly cares about you. I know that kind of healing may take time and possibly a family counselor but I know you two will be fine one day. Now those other two cunts…” Jagger smirks at my word usage. “They are fucked up and should have no bearing on you knowing that you are beyond a worthy catch. You are everything that will make someone stupid in love with you.”
“Are you speaking from experience, Karessa Hanlon?” He cups my cheek with his hand and pulls me close enough to kiss. “I may need time to get over the betrayal of it, but I was serious when I said Layla will not be an issue in our marriage. Putting that ring on your finger meant I made you the priority. That would’ve still been in effect even if she were worthy of my love. It isyourjob to be the one stupid in love with me, and you will be.”
“Huh,” I ask, stymied by the shift in the conversation.
Jagger maintains eye contact, making it impossible for me to look anywhere other than those honey whiskey depts. “I’m going to make you love me so hard it’ll hurt.”
He seals that statement with a bruising kiss. Jagger may have gone to war with his family and ex, but I’m about to be the casualty.
Chapter Seventeen
Jagger
I may have freakedKaressa out but I meant it. She will love me. It may not be soon since we’re getting to know each other but it will happen. Even with all the shit I have going on, I know falling for her is inevitable and I’m not going to fight it since we’re married. She’s on my chest now and I’m trailing my fingers down her spine. Her goosebumps are adorable. I love the way her body reacts to me.
“Your turn,” I tell her. “Why was fine ass Karessa LeClaire single?”
She sighs hard and my mental review of what I know about her dating life comes up empty. No very public break ups. No scandals. And I know for a fact she isn’t a lesbian.
“Burn out. That’s the best way to put it. I got tired of trying and hoping that there was something special enough about me that the guy would look over my status. It never worked. I’ve been used for money, status, or more clout.” She takes a weary sigh and continues. “I’d have boyfriends or the men I’m dating tell the paparazzi where we’d be so they can make it in the news. I’ve had to legally bury a man who wanted to write a tell all book. There was nothing to tell, he was a terrible lover. I did him a service by squashing it. It’s disheartening, ‘Oh, you want to go out with me? Sign this NDA.’”
I feel bad for her. Oran and I have had to dodge our share of gold-diggers but when a woman gets with a man, he’s supposed to protect her; not destroy her more. It’s old news but I’d very much like to beat that tell-all asshole’s ass.
“Esme has a similar issue and Imala is not into dating, but I have an extra issue on top of the bullshit. The Founder’s table is usually composed of men. My dad only has daughters and no little brother. If we go by the trend, I’d either have to take his spot or my husband would.” I clench my jaw because I can see where this is going. “I have the added pleasure of dodging the power-hungry men who act like they’re the perfect prince charming just so they can marry me and gain power. You know, since lying to the dumbass heiress is easier than working for it.”
I didn’t like how Dondi did it but I understand it. Elmer and Arthur have something he and Anderes do not. Sons. Sons who are stubborn as fuck and would refuse to do anything without force. Dondi isn’t the shoot to kill type so a deal at the table was the way to go for him. If left to our own devices, Oran nor I would’ve ever dated Karessa. I was in a relationship and Oran is always at his office. She’d have to stand outside his door just to meet him.
