I want Ruby. I have an opportunity to have her, if I can just convince her. This can’t be that difficult. She wanted me. Didn’t she? She’s too young, she’s too innocent, being married into this family is a recipe for disaster. But one taste of Ruby as my wife, and I’m addicted.
“No. If my enemies find out you’re my wife, even temporarily, they’ll use you to get to me. You’re in danger of kidnap.” From me. Subtle, manipulative kidnap. Because she’s mine now. But this family is also far from immune to threats, and having learned that the hard way once, I won’t allow my enemies to get toRuby.
She exhales sceptically. “I don’t think anyone is going to bother with me.”
“Nevertheless, you’ll need to stay here until this is sorted out,” I reply smoothly. This is too easy. Maybe it’ll take a long time to “fix”. Maybe forever.
“Here?” she squeaks. Her eyes are as big as saucers. “Like a… Fake marriage?”
I tilt my head. Not quite a nod, because that would be an outright lie. “For your safety, no one can know this isn’t a real marriage.”
“Just until we get an annulment?” she checks. “Then I go home?”
If Ruby makes the leap of logic that if it’s risky being my accidental wife then it would be equally precarious being my ex-wife, she doesn’t mention it.
“I’ll sort it out with your boss, you can stay here and enjoy yourself. There’s a pool, gardens, and you can work on your art.”
I’m making this up as I go along, but it sounds excellent to me.
“But I have to go to work!” she half-laughs.
“My wife doesn’t have to work in a hair salon unless she loves her job. I realise this is an inconvenience, but as my wife, you’ll have an allowance, say…” I pick a number a bit higher than anyone I employ. That feels right.
Her lips fall open in a perfect little “o” of surprise.
Yeah, I could have wifely duties for her mouth like that. So pretty and pink. Soft and wet.
“It’s… I… He’s joking,” she mutters under her breath. “What would we say to everyone?” she adds, looking at me.
I shake my head. “Nothing. No one deserves an explanation. I do what I want.”
Panic crosses her face. “What do I tell my mother?”
Right, yeah.
“We fell in love at the wedding, and impulsively got married. Love at first sight.” The simplest story is always the best, and if it also has a kernel of truth, that’s even better.
“But…” Her eyebrows pinch together. “Why didn’t we reveal the marriage before now?”
“You were drinking that evening, and I insisted you take some time to think it through.” That feels overly honourable, but I guess someone might believe it. Someone who’s never met me. “And I told you to come to me when you’d decided. And you really did.”
“Ahh.” She covers her face with her hands. “I’m sorry about that.”
I’m not. Without it this would be far trickier to convince her to stay, and the way I feel right now, with her near, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t lock her up.
Maybe I’ll commission excessive fan art to keep her busy, and persuade her with spectacular Italian food, kisses, orgasms, and an unlimited book budget that captivity is a good thing.
The knowledge Ruby will be under my roof soothes the “scratch my own skin off” restlessness I’ve been suffering with for the two months since we met. It’s going to be far better with her here, with me, safe.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t an ideal introduction to the London Mafia Syndicate. They’re usually more fun, actually. They call themselves the London Maths Club half the time.”
“And that’sfun?” She tilts her head in confusion like a puppy. “Less murderous, but… Maths? Fun?”
I snort with laughter. “Still murderous,” I admit. “They’re called the Maths Club because one of them got partway through saying London Mafia Syndicate and changed it because his wife didn’t know he was a kingpin.”
She grins. “That’s so silly.”
“They do have their moments. When you’re ready, you could meet the wives. I think they have a book club.”
