Buying A Bride

by Cassandra Dee

  “I promise.”

  “Okay, then,” she said. She got up out of her chair and grabbed her bag.

  “So… are we okay?” I asked her.

  “You can keep your job here,” she said magnanimously.

  “Mom, thank you so—”

  “However, you’ll have to fire the intern.”

  That made me pause because the situation had been both of our faults. Why did his head have to roll as a sacrifice?

  “I have to fire Ryan?” were my slow words.

  Rowena’s green eyes gleamed.

  “Will that be a problem?” she said in a silky voice.

  What to do? I was hurt knowing that things had come to this. But there was no choice. What Rowena wants is what she gets, and I’d just escaped by the thinnest of hairs.

  So I nodded woodenly, assuming a professional expression.

  “That’s fine. I’ll let him go today.”

  “Good,” Rowena smirked. “Talk to you later, honey,” she said before breezing off. And once the door closed, I sat down stiffly in my chair, unable to breathe. Because Ryan was going to pay the price for our misdeeds … and I hated myself for it.

  Chapter 10

  Ryan

  Oh shit. I was running late to Chic-Wise. Plus, my cell was going crazy. Lexi had called me three times, texted me asking me where I was, and seemed to be determined to have me there right away. I wondered if she’d be prepared for what I had to say.

  Footsteps quick, I headed straight to Lexi’s office. The brunette looked upset, barely looking me in the eye as I shut the door.

  “Are you okay?” I asked her.

  “No,” she said, voice oddly stilted. “Why don’t you have a seat.”

  I sat down, watching her pace around her office anxiously.

  “Rowena said that I could keep my job here,” she said.

  “That’s great news,” I growled. “You must be relieved.”

  Lexi nodded, but still wouldn’t meet my eye.

  “It’s not all great news,” she continued. “Rowena says that in order for me to keep my job, I have to fire you.”

  I began to grin, anticipating her next words.

  “I’m sorry,” Lexi said, her voice choking. “I really don’t want to have to do this, but she’s leaving me no choice. I can write a recommendation for you. I can call up some people I know at other magazines—”

  “Lexi, it’s okay,” I growled. “It’s funny how it’s happening this way, actually.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Her head snapped up, and for the first time, those caramel eyes met mine.

  “Lexi, the reason that I was late today was because I had a job interview with Sports Life,” was my rumble. “I went in for a writer’s assistant position. And I got the position. They hired me on the spot. I start next week.”

  “Oh.” She seemed surprised. Suddenly the atmosphere changed, shock morphing into relief, the tension began to evaporate.

  “Yeah, now you don’t have to fire me,” I said with a grin. “You don’t have to be the bad guy.”

  “Well, I appreciate that,” the brunette murmured, flushing. She sat down at her desk, fingers fidgeting before shooting a glance my way. “You didn’t go get a different job because of me, did you?”

  I shrugged.

  “I wanted to work for a sports magazine. But maybe you had a little something to do with it. Why?”

  She bit her lip.

  “I don’t want you to make career decisions based on me,” she said while blushing. “We only just met last Sunday.”

  “A lot can happen in a few days,” I said offhand. “I mean, we’ve been having a good time, haven’t we?”

  “Yes,” she murmured.

  “Well, now there’s no conflict of interest. We can do whatever we want now.”

  The female shot me a long look.

  “What do you want, Ryan?”

  I grew nervous, worried that I might make a fool out of myself, but I wanted to be honest and clear with her about how I was feeling. Knowing that I might very well never see her again after yesterday’s events made me realize I had nothing to lose.

  “I think we could work out,” was my low growl. “I think we should be together.”

  “When you say be together—”

  “I mean that I think we could be very good together, and maybe we should try getting a little serious,” I continued. “If you’re up for it. I love being with you.”

  “Ryan, that’s very sweet, but I don’t think it would work out like that.”

  I ignored the female.

  “Our connection and passion are undeniable, Lexi. Why not give it a try? What if it was meant to be?”

  She laughed gently. “Listen to you. Where is this coming from?”

  “It’s not just that I can’t keep my hands off of you,” was my fervent statement. “I can’t get you out of my head, sweetheart. I’m sorry if I’m coming off stupid, or clumsy, or whatever. I’m not great at saying this kind of stuff. But when I like someone, I catch feelings fast.”

  “Catching feelings is the worst, isn’t it?” she asked gently, her eyes sad.

  “I think there’s worse things than that,” I replied. “I’ve done the casual thing for a while, and I’ve never had this much fun with a girl, especially not like we’ve done. You’re special, sweetheart. Tell me you feel it too.”

  But somehow baring my heart made me nervous. There was just something about Lexi’s expression that wasn’t right. I could feel the rejection coming.

  “Ryan, I’m incredibly flattered, and I think you’re an awesome guy. I just don’t think it’ll work out. Besides, I know my parents would never approve. My mom especially—”

  “Fuck what they think,” I interjected. “Aren’t you tired of being micromanaged? Don’t you want to do things your own way?”

  “Ryan—”

  “Your mom made you cry in front of all your co-workers,” I reminded. “She got you twisted around her little finger—”

  “I know what she did,” she interrupted. “Trust me. I know how my mother is. It isn’t just that, though. I think you’re overthinking things.”

  “I’m just telling you what’s on my mind,” were my defensive words. “I’m saying that I’m willing to try for something more serious. I’m not opposed to trying new things with you. Everything we’ve done together so far has been great, and I want to see where things could go. I want to see if I could fall in love.”

  When the words came out of my mouth, I was just as shocked as she was. I considered taking them back, but what was the point? They were out, and besides, it was how I felt. I genuinely wanted to give things a try.

  Lexi blushed, stammering while looking down.

  “Ryan, that’s… That’s quite a statement.”

  “No pressure, right?” I laughed, an odd tone to my voice.

  “I really think you might be putting me up on a pedestal,” she said. “We met on Tinder, we had some fun here and there, and it’s been an amazing week. But what makes you think it’s anything else but that?”

  “Call it a hunch.”

  She took a deep breath.

  “I think we should leave well enough alone,” were her words. “You have a great new opportunity. We both have jobs. Let’s not rock the boat anymore.”

  Disappointment plunged like a dagger into my heart, but I made like it was no big deal.

  “Okay. I guess it really was just some naughty fun. It’s all good.”

  “Exactly,” she said, looking relieved. “I think you’re a terrific person. I really do.”

  “I guess I should leave, then.”

  “I think that might be best,” were her quiet words.

  Although it killed me, I schooled my expression into passiveness. We were done, and I’d been shot down. No sense in wearing my heart on my sleeve anymore. Standing, we awkwardly shook hands, and I headed for the exit.

  But once outside, I paused, heart beating like a d
rum. Fuck. What had just happened? I’d offered my all to the woman of my dreams … and she’d turned me down flat. What now?

  Chapter 11

  Lexi

  I woke up on Saturday morning feeling exactly the way I did on Friday. I’d dreamt about Ryan, and it was indescribably hot. When I opened my eyes, need filled my form, as well as indescribable sadness.

  Because I missed the man. Maybe I could pleasure myself, but it would be nothing compared to what I’d had before. My fingers were trivial when compared to his beautiful cock. I wanted it so badly right now, along with his massive form, the white smile, and the ne’er do well attitude that was Ryan alone.

  Spiraling downwards in a moment of weakness, I texted Ryan to see if it wasn’t too late to have it again.

  “Hey, are you awake?” was my inquiry.

  He responded in less than a minute. “Sure am”

  “Are you busy?” I wondered.

  “No, I just woke up actually. You?”

  “I’d like to come over to your place”

  “You sure that’s a good idea?”

  “It’s probably a bad idea,” I responded. “But you’re good at being bad. I want you.”

  “Then come by…”

  Immediately, I jumped out of my bed and began getting dressed and ready. And from the moment I arrived at his doorstep, we were all over each other. Kissing, tugging, pulling at one another’s hair, desperate for each other.

  And yet even in the middle of the bonfire, I couldn’t help but think about the things he’d said to me the day before. We’d only spent six days together, but in those six days, something had happened. Something mystical and magical. He was right when he said there was something undeniable about our attraction. Whenever Ryan was near, I felt like something pulled us closer. We were even becoming inseparable in my dreams.

  Just then, Ryan picked me up in those muscular arms and put me delicately down on his kitchen table. I had to admit, his physical strength wasn’t just a major turn-on for me; he was comforting, and I felt safe whenever I was in his arms. Strange. Most guys didn’t do this.

  I laid back on the kitchen table and spread my legs for him. I expected him to immediately plunge inside me, but instead, the alpha shot me a knowing grin.

  “I want to get you real wet first,” he rasped, disappearing between my legs. And a throaty moan escaped my lips as the man lapped my swollen folds, drinking pure female ecstasy.

  “Yes,” was my panted cry. “Yes, just like that.”

  As waves of sensation filled my eager body, a small part of my mind wondered what was going on. Because hadn’t we just broken things off? But if I’d truly been trying to wean myself off of him, then why was I back? I could easily have called or texted another guy in my contact list for a quick hook-up.

  But as climax barreled towards me, the truth was obvious. Settling for “okay” was no longer an option. Things were too good with Ryan, and I didn’t want someone else anymore.

  At that moment, he bit down and tugged roughly on my clit, licking it while he pulled. He was sucking out every ounce of juice he could from my snatch, and the man was about to get more than he bargained for. I clutched onto his head and shoved him into me deeper and began to ride his face until the finish came. I screamed out in joy, nearly falling off the table.

  Ryan straightened, lapping his lips as his chin glistened.

  “So glad you liked it, baby girl,” was his growl. “You ready for more?”

  He started to move his cock along my wet, glistening folds, teasing me. I could feel some pre-cum dripping out of him, moistening my slit.

  “Oh yes,” I panted. “Don’t play nice, big boy. Do it now.”

  With a gleam in those blue eyes, he did as told. The penetration was fast and brutal, causing my pussy to surge beautifully. I arched my back and cried out, skewered hard on the massive pole. He kept one hand on my hips and another around my neck. I could still breathe, but it was a task. The tighter his grip around my throat became, the wetter I became. I had no doubt that he would take care of me.

  And a second climax rushed like a typhoon, making me squeal and squirm once more, this time impaled on his huge shaft. But once I was done shaking, he lifted me up and carried me into the bedroom.

  This time, I grabbed his cuffs and whip, licking my lips in anticipation. I was drained, but there was still fun to be had.

  “You ready, big boy?” came my murmur. “You ready for what’s coming?”

  I cuffed him to the bed with his face down into the pillows before picking up a crop and lashing that muscular, masculine ass, the man grunting each time I left a searing line.

  “Is that too much for you?” I whispered.

  “No, do it as hard as—”

  I struck him again, getting a few good whippings around his upper back. I dug my nails into the flesh of his backside, craving him, wanting to eat this man alive.

  I flipped him over and decided to restrict him even further. First, the blindfold though. The black satin was tied tight around those clear blue eyes, putting him in the dark.

  And once he was restrained and blindfolded, I sat myself in his lap, facing away, and rode him reverse cowgirl. Unnnh, that felt good as his massive cock made its way up my sweet slit. While he groaned in frustration at not being able to touch or see what was happening, I just went with it. Leaning forwards, I pressed my thighs while enjoying his massive member, wishing that the feeling wouldn’t end.

  But all good things must come to an end, even if it’s only briefly. Once he burst in my pussy, spraying my vaginal channel with semen, I climbed off of him, pussy dripping, and left to use his bathroom for a few minutes, leaving him cuffed and blindfolded in the bed.

  When I returned, the play only continued. I sat on his face, grinding my snatch against his mouth, the man lapping at my slit while eating his own cum. As he did, I got to work on him, sucking on his rapidly hardening cock, drinking the remnants of our previous romp. Sometimes, we would slow down whenever the other was busy getting theirs, but we kept a magnificent rhythm going that soon ended in him spurting in my mouth, the seed hot, goopy and delicious.

  We had sex so many times that morning that I honestly lost count. And once we were finished, I lay in bed, dazed, confused, and yet satisfied. Because we’d just sworn not to date. So what had happened? All I knew was that it was more than a hook-up for sure. This man meant something to me … and just what wasn’t clear.

  Chapter 12

  Ryan

  I was drained, unbelievably spent and euphoric all at once. The incredible session with Lexi had lasted all that morning. However, as the afternoon came, confusion began to reign again.

  In the heat of the moment, I hadn’t bothered asking her what exactly motivated her to come to my place. I didn’t need a reason, the brunette was that hot. But as we sat in bed, holding each other and simply breathing, I couldn’t shake my thoughts.

  “So, why’d you come over?” was my low growl. “I mean, I get it. Everything we did kind of speaks for itself.”

  “But?” she asked.

  “After everything that’s been said and done, I just… I want to know what you’re thinking. I need to know where you are. I don’t want to go forward with false hopes.”

  Her silence was painful and felt like an eternity, even though it was only a few seconds.

  “I don’t want to stop seeing you,” she said finally.

  “You understand that I want more than just what we’ve had though, right?”

  “I do understand. I want more, too.”

  I was in genuine disbelief. “You do?”

  She turned to look at me. Her beautiful face was only a few inches away from my own, those caramel eyes enough to drown in.

  “Yes,” she replied. “I wasn’t sure what I was feeling when I got in the car and drove here, but knowing I wasn’t going to see you anymore flipped a switch inside. I’m having it too good to just let some other girl at your new job have you,” she added
playfully.

  We laughed together. I took her hands, kissing them.

  “So, you kinda like me, huh?” was my grunt. Embarrassing as it was to admit, my heart was in my throat. And she turned to me, eyes wide and genuine.

  “I really like you,” she said. “I have to say, I’m intrigued that you think you could fall in love with me.”

  “I don’t think it’ll take that long, to be honest.”

  She smiled then, pressing her lips to mine and we kissed, passionately and slowly, with no intent for it to carry on to something else. It was a kiss of love, not of sex, and one of the first times we’d locked lips without the intention of getting physical.

  “Mmm,” I growled, holding her tight. “That was good. So what do we do now?”

  “I don’t know,” was her slow admission.

  “You going to keep me a secret from your mom?” I asked.

  “I hadn’t thought much about my mom, actually.”

  “I won’t be offended if you don’t want to tell her about us,” were my words. “Considering she just wanted you to fire me, I get you keeping things on the down-low.”

  “I don’t think she’ll ever approve of me dating an intern, unfortunately,” said Lexi tightly.

  “Hey,” I said, slightly offended. “To be fair, I’m not an intern anymore. I’m a writer’s assistant now. I’ve gotten quite a promotion.”

  She shot me a sympathetic grin. “I don’t think that’ll change Rowena’s opinion. She’s quite the snob.”

  “Well, whatever you choose to do, I’ll be fine with it.”

  Lexi pondered for a few moments before getting a surge of bravado.

  “You know what,” she said. “I’m just going to tell my mom that we’re together, and if she doesn’t like it, she can deal with it.”

  She sat up in bed, pulling out her phone and beginning to dial.

  I sat up, too, suddenly alarmed. What the hell? This was happening so fast, and yet it was amazing as well.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  “No, I want you to be here when I call her,” she said.