by Tia Siren
“A lot rich or just richer than me?” I prodded, not really caring if I was getting too personal. This was something I should probably know before a judge started asking questions.
He sighed. “A lot rich. I don’t like to brag, and please don’t think that’s what I’m doing, but, well, last I checked I was in the billionaire range.”
My stomach flopped and my mouth dropped open. “What?”
He shrugged as if it were no big deal. “I’m good at what I do, and I have a knack for investing in the right stocks. I’ve been lucky.”
“Uh, I would say so. Wow. I had no idea. No wonder you throw money at problems. I guess when you have that much money to throw around, it’s easy.”
He nodded. “In most cases, yes. In this case, my money didn’t do shit for me. I’m glad you agreed to the marriage. I know it wasn’t what you had in mind. I think we can make this work. It’s going to take effort, and I’m sure I will piss you off many times in the future, and for that, I’ll apologize now.”
I laughed. “Ditto. Sorry for all the many things I’m sure to do that are going to make you regret ever putting this ring on my finger.”
We both had a good laugh and managed to finish our meal in relative harmony. We exchanged a few stories and talked a bit more about what we liked and didn’t like. By the end of the night, I felt a lot better about our situation. This could work. I could have Iris in my life, and I didn’t even mind all that much that Jake was a part of the package.
Chapter Eighteen
Jake
I couldn’t imagine a world without telecommuting. It had made my life so much easier. I could talk with people all over the world, setting up deals without ever leaving the office. Drew had set me up with a few meetings, which I was handling from the comfort of the luxury house I was renting. As I listened to the man on the other side of the video call talk, I thought about how I could work from home with Iris. I didn’t need to be at the office all the time. If my work schedule was an issue for Janice or the judge, I could point out that I could work from anywhere.
This morning, I was in the den, sitting in a comfortable chair and video conferencing with a client. It was my last call of the day and then I was free to hang out and do whatever I wanted. I thought about seeing if Avery wanted to go shopping for Iris. She would know what the baby needed better than I would. I was that confident we would be bringing her home soon. I wanted to be ready.
Unfortunately, I had yet to see Avery this morning. I was anxious to see what her mood would be. Last night had been pleasant. I wasn’t sure if it was the food or the wine or a combination of both that had put her in such a good mood, but I wanted to see if it would hold. I was hoping for a repeat today.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of movement. It was Avery walking past the open door of the den wearing what looked to be nothing more than a towel. My dick instantly hardened at the thought of her naked. My mind went to sex. Not just sex, but me fucking the shit out of her hard and fast against any wall I could find.
I got lost in a short-lived fantasy before I was snapped back to the real world. I heard a voice and looked down to see my client looking at me strangely. I apologized for being distracted, but there was no way I was going to be able to concentrate on anything beyond Avery and that towel.
“Uh, I have to go. I’ll have what you need sent over by Monday,” I said and abruptly ended the call before slamming my laptop closed.
I wasn’t sure why Avery was walking around the house in only a towel, but I was going to find out. Did she forget I was there? Or maybe she was doing it on purpose. Maybe she was teasing me. The woman had her own bathroom. What the hell was she doing? It was a sick, cruel game. I wouldn’t let her win. If she wanted to play with fire, she was going to get burned.
I walked through the house, looking for her. She wasn’t in the kitchen or living area. I walked back upstairs and knocked on her bedroom door with no answer. That was too weird. Now I was more determined than ever to find her.
I walked back down the stairs, checking the sitting room that faced the backyard, and froze. I happened to catch a glimpse of her outside on the sprawling patio, pacing back and forth with her phone to her ear. I wouldn’t have noticed her at all with the blinds drawn, but it was like I had been drawn to her. I opened the French doors and stepped outside. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she talked with someone. Could it be Janice and we were getting Iris already?
I stood there and watched her make a circle around the pool, still talking. She hadn’t noticed me watching her yet. I smiled, watching her gesture wildly with her free hand. It wasn’t like the person she was talking to could see her. It was who Avery was. She was very animated and very passionate. It was something I had always been drawn to. When the call ended, she clapped her hands together, jumping up and down. I watched, hoping and waiting for the towel to fall away. I silently pleaded for it to drop and fall to her feet.
“Oh!” she said when she finally noticed me. “I didn’t know you were there.”
I smiled. “Obviously. What was that about?”
“I got the job! I am officially gainfully employed!” she shrieked.
“Congratulations,” I said, moving toward her.
She stopped smiling and took a step backward. I continued my approach. She took another step back.
“Be careful. You’re going to land in the pool.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. What do you need?” she asked nervously.
“Yes, you are very fine. I don’t need anything. Why are you wearing a towel, Avery?” I asked in a low, husky voice.
She looked down, realizing she was essentially naked. She gripped the towel tighter around the chest. “I, uh, guess I forgot you were here. I’m sorry. That was stupid. I wasn’t trying to send a message or anything like that.”
I nodded. “Did you forget I was here?”
“Yes. Jake, trust me, this is not for your benefit.”
I didn’t believe her. How could I? “I didn’t know I was so forgettable.”
“I assumed you would be gone or in the den working. I saw you in there earlier, and you seemed busy. I didn’t expect you to come out here,” she stammered. “The blinds are closed. How did you see me?”
“You walked by me in the towel. I followed.”
“Oh. I didn’t even realize. I’m sorry. I got the phone call and I was so focused on it that I spaced out and blocked out everything else.”
All her explanations sounded ridiculous. I was hung up on the fact that she was standing inches away from me in only a towel. I wasn’t going to let it go. “Why are you wearing a towel? I assume you don’t have anything else on underneath.”
She shook her head. “No,” she squeaked out.
I grinned. “You’re naked under that towel?” I clarified, wanting to hear her say the words.
She lowered her head, looking down at her painted red toes. “Yes.”
“Avery,” I said, stepping a little closer to her. “Why? Are you teasing me on purpose?” I whispered.
“No. I swear it was nothing like that. I was going to get some sun.”
I arched a brow. “In the nude?”
She smiled, and I saw the moment her demeanor changed. She knew she had excited me. The woman was sexy as hell, and no matter how much she tried to pretend she wasn’t attracted to me, I knew she was. She was enjoying reversing the tables to make me the one who was a little too uncomfortable with the topic.
She took a step toward me, her chin raised. “Yes. I like to sunbathe nude. You know, tan lines and all. Is that going to be an issue?”
“You were going to lay out here, on the patio, naked?” I asked, unable to wrap my head around her story.
She shrugged. “Yes. I do it all the time. I should have thought about you being in the house. I assumed I would have some privacy out here.”
The woman was making me crazy. I couldn’t stand here knowing she was naked under the towel and not touch her. I close
d the gap between us, standing close enough to feel her breath on my chin. Once again, I was the one in control. She had her brief moment. It was my turn.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“I’m going to kiss you.”
I leaned down and gently pressed my lips against hers. That gave her plenty of opportunity to tell me no or to push me away. When she didn’t do either, I dove in. Her mouth parted under mine, making room for my tongue to sweep inside. She tasted like toothpaste and something sweet. My arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her body against mine. I was starting to get into the kiss when she pushed me away. It wasn’t a hard push, more of a gentle pressing against my chest.
I stopped kissing her even though I wanted so much more. I wanted all of her. I wanted to be buried deep inside her. The lounge chair to my left would be the perfect place for me to take her. Sex outside in the middle of the day wasn’t something I had done before. I wanted the first time to be with her.
Her hands were still on my chest when she opened her eyes to look at me. I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across my face.
“Why did you do that?” she said breathlessly.
I shrugged. “I wanted to.”
She shook her head. “No. You can’t do that. We can’t do that.”
“Why not? We’re two consenting, married adults.”
“No. We agreed the marriage was on paper only.”
“And it is. We don’t have to be married to have sex,” I pointed out.
“Jake, you said you wouldn’t try anything.”
I laughed. “Babe, I didn’t try to do anything. I kissed you, and you liked it.”
She blushed, and I knew I had been right.
“We can’t do that again. I don’t want to make this weird,” she said.
I laughed. “It isn’t going to be weird at all. It can be mind-blowing, toe-curling, and every other pleasure adjective you can think of. Just say the word, Avery, and I will be more than happy to make you come.”
Her mouth fell open. “No!”
I shrugged. “Fine. Your loss. You know, we do have to convince a judge we are in love with each other. Kisses here and there would be a good thing. We have to sell the story.”
“No judge is going to ask about our sex life. It isn’t anyone’s business but our own,” she spat out.
“We don’t have a sex life. Shouldn’t we be able to say we’re happily married in every way?” I teased.
“I knew this would happen. I knew you would try to have sex with me. This was a mistake.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “No one is trying to do anything.” I leaned over, my mouth brushing over her ear. “I don’t try; I do. If I want to do you, you’ll know, and I don’t think you’ll be telling me no. Remember last time, Avery? Remember how you cried out my name as I pumped into you?”
I heard her gasp, and I stepped back to see her face. I knew she was turned on. I was enjoying our little game and decided to take it a step further.
“I bet you’re wet right now, aren’t you, babe? If I ran my fingers over your pussy lips, you’d be soaked. You can hate me all you want, but you and I both know we would both have a very good time.”
“Stop,” she whispered.
“Stop what? Turning you on? Making you ache with need? Are you hot, Avery? I can take away the ache.”
Her hand moved to her towel, gripping it tight in her hand as if that would keep me from taking it off if I wanted to. She shifted from one foot to the next.
“One finger. I can make you come with one finger. You’ll feel better,” I coaxed.
She was shaking her head, but she wasn’t saying the words.
“Avery, do you want me?”
“No,” she croaked out.
I smiled. “Liar.”
Her lips parted and her tongue darted out, licking her lips. She wanted me to kiss her. I knew it, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Not yet. I liked the way this was going. I wanted her aching and wanting. It could only work to my advantage.
I leaned closer, my lips a hair’s breadth from hers. “Get used to me kissing you, Avery, but I’m not going to fuck you today.”
Her eyes popped open. I grinned before turning around and walking away.
I could hear her mumbling under her breath and laughed as I made my way inside the house. That had been too fun. I loved that I could get under her skin like that. Served her right for traipsing around half naked in front of me.
Chapter Nineteen
Avery
I was walking on air. Today was the day. At least I hoped it was the day. Today was the day we went to court to prove we were worthy of custody of Iris. There was so much riding on the fake marriage. I had recited our story about how much we loved each other and how being put together in the aftermath of a tragedy had reminded us of how much we wanted to be together. We were stretching the truth.
After the kiss yesterday, I had been avoiding Jake like the plague. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. I couldn’t trust myself, and I certainly couldn’t trust him. We didn’t love each other, and the only together we had on our minds was in a primal way. I had decided it was best for my sanity if I stayed away from him.
Being in a house this big made that easy. He stuck to the den, and I stuck to my room upstairs, only leaving to grab some snacks from the fridge once. He hadn’t made any effort to try and talk to me after the kiss. The asshole had turned me on and then left me standing there like an idiot. I wasn’t about to forgive him anytime soon.
I straightened my blouse, turned around to check and make sure it was evenly tucked into the blue skirt I was wearing, and made a few adjustments. I didn’t normally worry this much about what I wore to the library, but this was also what I would be wearing for the custody hearing.
Jake had been upset that I was going into work today at all, but I couldn’t not show up. It was my last day, and I wanted the chance to say a proper good-bye to all my coworkers and the regulars I had gotten to know. I was going to miss the peacefulness of the library, but it was time I moved on to bigger and brighter things, like a job that paid real money.
As I drove into the city, I couldn’t help but ponder the kiss. If I had been wearing socks, it would have knocked them off. His dirty talk after the kiss had nearly been my undoing. I knew it was a game for him. He wanted me to admit I wanted him. I couldn’t. I refused to let myself fall under his spell ever again. The man was like kryptonite. He not only made my panties drop, but also all the walls I had carefully erected around my heart.
I had to keep my wits about me. I could keep my hands off him and my eyes on the prize. The prize being Iris. I was not going to let him get me distracted—even if I knew the sex would be mind-blowing. If we had sex, there was a good chance he would decide he was finished with me and leave like last time. The man liked a challenge. I was a challenge. If I gave in to the sexual tension, he would grow bored and leave. He said he was in it for Iris, but I was sure there was more to his desire to stick around Phoenix.
I managed to get through my short shift without completely going out of my mind with anticipation and anxiety over the upcoming hearing. I had watched the clock like a hawk, willing it to hurry up. At noon, I was officially done. After saying my good-byes to the ladies at the library, I headed to the courthouse. I was so nervous, I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I drove. My legs were trembling as well. I tried to prepare myself for the possibility of being denied custody. I knew it was possible. I didn’t want to start bawling and make a complete fool out of myself. I had to keep it together so I could try again.
I parked my car, checked my makeup in the mirror, and headed toward the steps. I saw Jake leaning against a pole, staring at his phone. He was in his typical dark suit with dark shades. I hated that he could make me wet simply by standing there looking like a Calvin Klein model. He was tall, blonde, and sexy, a very dangerous combination.
“Hey,” he said, greeting me with a ki
ss on the cheek.
I stiffened under his touch, not expecting him to touch me at all. He rubbed his hands up my forearms, grabbed my elbows, and kissed me again. His mouth moved to my ear. He whispered “she’s watching” before kissing me one more time and letting me go.
I gulped down the lump in my throat and knew exactly what he was talking about. “Okay. I didn’t see her.”
“She’s been up there watching me,” he said.
“Weird,” I replied.
He smiled. “I think she was waiting for me to grab a woman and make mad, passionate love to her on the steps. The woman has read way too many stories about me, I’m afraid. I don’t want to burst her bubble and tell her most of it’s made up.”
I laughed and felt myself relax, and I didn’t flinch when he grabbed my hand.
“See, that’s not so bad, is it?”
I kept on my fake smile and nodded my head, pretending he had asked me something and I was happily agreeing. We turned to climb the steps together, looking like the happy couple we were pretending to be.
Janice met us at the top of the stairs. She was frowning as usual while juggling a stack of manila folders. She raised an eyebrow, looking at me and then Jake, then our joined hands.
“What’s this?” she asked.
I fought back the urge to shake her. “I called you and told you Jake and I had married.”
“I didn’t believe you.”
“Well, believe it,” I started, but I stopped talking when Jake squeezed my hand. The word that was about to follow would have probably guaranteed I never saw Iris again. I took a deep breath and started over. “Yes, we are married.”
Her scrutiny made me anxious. I looked at Jake. If the woman started asking me questions, there was no way I could hold up. I would fold like a cheap suit.
“When did this happen?” she asked, staring at me.
I was beginning to wonder if she had lost her damn mind.
Jake put on his best charming smile. “Tuesday. We have you to thank for bringing us back together. After our meeting last week, we got coffee and realized we had never stopped loving each other. We had gone our separate ways only to be thrown back together by a strange twist of fate. It was then we realized we didn’t have to fight our attraction to each other. We want to be a family. We want to raise Iris together and build our own family.”
