Declan
I wait to speak until Ned’s closed the door behind him and Mia and I are alone in his office.
“Why did you leave this morning without saying goodbye?” I ask her without preamble.
Her cheeks turn red, but she looks me dead in the eyes when she says unapologetically, “Because of this right here. This arranged marriage nonsense I have to deal with for the next year. I like you, Declan. And I wouldn’t have dreamed of dragging someone I like into this.”
“What if I’m being dragged willingly?” I say.
“Well, obviously I didn’t imagine the man I picked up at a bar last night would also be looking for a fake spouse. Silly me.” She smiles so big I can’t help but grin.
“I get your point,” I say. “We just slept together. It’s not like we were in a relationship. You thought it best to make a clean break. No mess. Right?”
Her eyes flash with pain, but she lifts her chin stubbornly. “Right. And I dare you to tell me you don’t agree with my logic.”
“I do agree,” I say. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d still been in my bed when I woke up. Honestly, that’s not true,” I say as my gaze drifts to her sinful mouth of pouty pink lips. Her upper lip is heart-shaped, and it drives me crazy. “I know exactly what I would have done.”
She licks her lips. “And then? After you were inside me again?”
I adjust my seating position. My dick is liking her question a little too much.
“Then, what would you have done?” she asks.
I try to put myself in that position. “I don’t know,” I finally admit. “I probably would have told you the timing was off, so it would be best we go our separate ways.”
She nods sadly. “Exactly.”
“But I wouldn’t have wanted to,” I say quickly. “I’ve thought about you all morning, Mia. I can still taste you on my tongue.”
She glances toward the closed door. “Declan…”
“Don’t worry. That door is completely soundproof. I should know—I’ve tried to listen in a couple of times to find out how much trouble I was in.”
She laughs. “So what do you think about my uncle’s proposal?”
“I don’t love the idea that he proposed to you on my behalf,” I joke. “But if you’re serious about wanting to do this…”
“Ineedto do this,” she says firmly. “It’s not a question of want.”
“Then I don’t want you marrying anyone but me.” The statement pops out of my mouth unbidden, and Mia blinks in surprise.
But I stand my ground. “I’m the right man for your arranged marriage problem. You can trust me to respect your boundaries, to honor the contract, and to never take advantage of you.” The next thing, I have to force out. “And even though we had an amazing night together, we should probably just stay friends. You know, so lines don’t get blurred.”
The quick flash of disappointment in her eyes is gone so fast I almost think I imagined it.
“I agree,” she says. “But what about us being with other people?”
“No other people,” I say firmly. “We have to appear like a real, genuine, married couple. If one of us were with somebody else and it ever got out, we’d both have a lot to lose.”
She fiddles with her purse next to her and doesn’t say anything.
“Unless you disagree?” I say, a lurching sensation hitting my gut at the idea of Mia going on dates with some other guy.
“I don’t disagree. I just…” Again, she dips into silence.
“You just what?”
She raises her gaze to meet mine. Her cheeks flush the sweetest pink when she says, “Can you truly go for a year without sex?”
