"Then, after I come all over your pretty face, you're going to lie head down, ass up on that bed over there where I will fuck you thoroughly."
Holy hell.This marriage thing might really work out after all.
"And then?"I'm practically panting at this point, my body responding to his dominant tone despite my better judgment.
"And then, after I make you come a couple more times and put you in a well-fucked coma, you're going to wake up in the morning and call your best friend to apologize properly."
"And then?"I ask as I let the robe fall open, moving toward him with deliberate seduction, reveling in the way his eyes darken as he takes in my naked form.
"And then it'll be my wife's choice what happens next.Whatever you want, wherever you want to go, whatever dreams you want to chase—the world is yours, baby, because I'm going to give it to you or die trying."
I drop to my knees in front of him, looking up at his face as I reach for his belt buckle."Promise?"
"I promise, Naomi.Everything I have, everything I am, it's all yours."
And as I take him in my mouth, tasting the salt of his skin and feeling him grow harder against my tongue, I realize that somewhere between this morning's terror and tonight's negotiations, I've stopped running from my future and started running toward it.
Chapter8
The Morning
Naomi
I'm in a world of trouble like I've never been before.
Why?
Because the man I just married has completely and thoroughly dickmatized me, and it's scary as fuck.
This is not how I envisioned this whole arranged marriage thing would go.I expected resignation, maybe mutual respect if I was lucky, perhaps even companionship over time.I never expected to be lying in bed the morning after my wedding feeling like I might actually be able to have everything I've ever wanted.
The morning light filters through the gauze curtains of our suite, painting everything in soft gold.I can hear the sounds of the French Quarter waking up below—the distant clatter of delivery trucks, the call of street vendors, the faint music that seems to emanate from the very stones of this city.
"Ready to make the call, beautiful?"Gabriel asks me as I take another bite of the most incredible omelet I've ever tasted.He ordered room service while I was sleeping, complete with fresh fruit, café au lait that rivals anything from Café du Monde, and beignets that are still warm and dusted with powdered sugar.
This man thinks of everything.
"I'm sore," I whine playfully, shifting in bed to emphasize the delicious ache between my legs from all of our lovemaking last night.Gabriel was thorough in his promises, and my body bears the sweet evidence of his attention.
"And I will pamper that very sweet pussy of yours as soon as you're finished with the call," he promises, his voice dropping to that low register that makes me want to forget all about phone calls and responsibilities.
"Your request feels very transactional and not romantic at all."
"Marriage is nothing more than a series of daily transactions," Gabriel says with a philosophical shrug, settling back against the headboard with his own coffee."Although I definitely prefer the ones that happen at night."
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling."Whatever, LaRoche."
"Listen, I know you think I have some ulterior motive in having you call your friend, but it's not entirely what you think," he continues, his expression growing more serious."Sure, would it be helpful to have Hunter Middleton, with his kind of influence, on our side in a potential war with your father?Hell, yes.But more importantly, I know that you miss your friend."
"And how would you know that?"
"Because in the few times I checked in with you while you were living in LA, Megan was all you ever talked about.Your face would light up when you mentioned her, and you'd get this wistful tone in your voice when you described your friendship, the things you did together, the way she made you laugh."
He hands me my cell phone, and I stare at it like it's a live grenade that might explode in my hands.
"What about my breakfast?"I ask, stalling for time because I know this conversation is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
"I think you can eat and talk.You're excellent at multitasking."He grins, the expression turning suggestive as he licks the corner of his mouth in a way that reminds me of exactly how good I am at doing multiple things at once.
