There was no pomp and circumstance following our spoken vows. Nor any rice throwing or cars with trailing streamers. It was a simple, quick ceremony with a beautiful woman who is now my wife.
To celebrate, I order a bottle of Cristal at the bar, waiting for the bartender to retrieve it so I can head back to her chalet to toast my new bride.
Our “I Do’s” were short and sweet, camera’s rolling to capture it on film, with Hollis’s assistant Paula and a few of the contestants who were back from their ski lessons sitting in to witness the ceremony. Hollis looked gorgeous, her long, red locks of hair flowing over her shoulders, clipped back so the curls cascaded down her back. Her eyes sparkled in the mid-afternoon sunlight as we promised to love and cherish each other, honor and obey, for as long as we both shall live.
Our hands were clasped together, and fingers entwined when I felt her cross her fingers as we each pledged our vows. She was cute when she fibbed. We promised each other honesty, yet here we were, both trapped in a lie.
Strangely though, in my heart, it didn’t feel deceitful. This thing between us felt legit. Like it was meant to be. It wasn’t completely crazy that I chose Hollis as my wife. We’re great together, and I hope in time she might come to love me.
I know you can’t force someone to love, but maybe if I show her how much…shit. Maybe I’m already in love with Hollis. When did that happen?
I haven’t stopped thinking of her for years. When she told me she would be here this weekend and invited me to meet with her, I jumped at the chance to reconnect. And my God, last night was incredible.
We talked into the night, laughing as we shared funny stories from our childhoods, and the crazy things we did as teenagers. She told me about her father dying and about working for her grandfather, who still runs the company but from his retirement home in Florida. I could see from the smile on her face how much she loves working as a publicist, even with all the chaos she’s required to handle.
We talked, we fucked, and we cuddled all through the night. And I didn’t want to let her go this morning.
And now, carrying a bottle of Cristal in hand and two champagne glasses in the other, I sprint across the frozen parking lot down the path to the chalet’s, heading to Hollis’s. When I get there, the door is cracked open and I can hear her speaking on the phone. Her tone is serious, maybe a bit angry.
My guard rises as I step in quietly and latch the door behind me. She’s in the bathroom – hopefully getting naked for me – the door ajar.
“No, that’s not the reason I married him, Granddad. I do love him. And regardless, you promised me if I fulfilled my end of the bargain, I’d be named President. You can’t renege on that agreement. And I am not getting an annulment.”
My heart lurches. First, at the fact that she so adamantly stated she loved me. And secondarily, I’m stunned to hear that she married me with a hidden agenda.
She wasn’t truthful with me. I thought all she was getting out of this arrangement was my business. But now it seems there was something else in it for her and not just a husband.
I set the bottle and glasses down and plunk my ass on the bed, dropping my head in hands. I’m not sure how to feel about any of this. Granted, this marriage is a sham to begin with and a bit unorthodox. It may be a lie legally – but in my heart, I know I do want it.
I want Hollis in my life.
The door squeaks open, and I lift my gaze to see my new wife wide-eyed and staring at me. I can see from her expression on her face that she wonders how much of her conversation I heard. I give her a sad shrug to indicate I heard enough and stand to walk out.
“Granddad, I need to call you back later.” Hollis drops the phone and says in an urgent plea, “Wait. Kellan, please.”
I stop a few feet from the door, my back to her and say simply, “You lied to me.”
She closes the distance between us, her arms wrapping around my waist, hugging me tightly.
“I’m sorry, Kellan. I didn’t know if I could trust you yet with that information. I didn’t even know for sure that I’d get the position or the stake in the company.”
I wrench out of her arms and turn to face her. “So, you trusted me enough to go along with this farce to marry me, but you’re worried I’d take you for your money and company if I knew? That hurts. A lot. I don’t want any of that.”
Hollis cradles my dejected face in her hands, forcing me to stare at her.
“I know that, Kellan. I’m so sorry. I was wrong.”
Tears well up in the corner of her green eyes, flecks of gold glittering in the light. She’s so beautiful it breaks my heart.
Hollis leans up on her tiptoes and kisses my jaw, trailing her mouth down my neck, rubbing a tongue over my stubble. My traitorous body forgives her instantly, my cock lengthening and hardening as she flattens her breasts against my chest and threads her fingers through my hair.
When she finally finds my mouth with hers, she speaks against my lips.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. My grandfather is withholding the business from me for now. But that doesn’t change how I feel about this decision. About you.”
I can’t hold out any longer. I plant my palms on her ass and tug her against me, my cock aligned in the center of her thighs. I lift her in my arms, walking toward the bed. I drop her down as she bounces once with a squeal.
“On your hands and knees, Hollis.” I demand curtly.
