by Piper Stone
“I’ll definitely keep that in mind, Doctor,” Houston said, and I could swear there was amusement in his tone.
“Can we get this over with?” I barked, blinking in order to keep ugly tears from falling.
“Of course. Go ahead and return to the table. Just lie back and place your legs in the stirrups.”
I just wanted this over with, yet the entire situation was almost too much to bear. When I was in position, at least the doctor had the decency to block a portion of Houston’s view. That didn’t make the embarrassment any less or the realization that I’d sold off a portion of my body as well as my soul any less damaging to my psyche. When she inserted the speculum, it was all I could do to keep from whimpering like a whiny girl.
After a few seconds, I dared to shift my gaze in his direction. There was absolutely no expression on the man’s face. Just the same hard, cold eyes I’d seen during our initial meeting. This was nothing but business to him. I was just the woman to try to help him get whatever he was searching for.
“I think we’re done. You did very well.” While I heard the doctor’s words, they seemed in a vacuum that was very far away.
When the three months were over, I would never see the bastard again. Money or no money, he would never own even a tiny portion of me.
Chapter 4
Bristol
The next few days went by in a blur. Between signing the contract then the wretched exam, the event almost scaring me to death, then attempting to move what little mattered to me into storage, I’d barely had any time to sleep. The thought of moving to San Diego, even for a few months, was both exciting as well as terrifying. I’d seen little of Houston, but at least I’d learned his last name. Houston Powers. I’d also learned just how wealthy his family truly was and to say I was just a little bit intimidated was an understatement.
Houston’s father, William Powers, had been involved in Silicon Valley early on, serving in several capacities from president and CEO of one of the largest chip manufacturers to being on the board of directors of Google, where he continued to serve. From every scrap of information that I’d been able to find, the family’s wealth was listed in the top one hundred on the Fortune 500 list. William also owned two companies outright, both of which were considered worth several million dollars.
I was definitely in way over my head.
Their wealth wasn’t the most disturbing fact. There’d been a solid six accusations made of not only unscrupulous activities, but deadly ones, claims made that two enemies of the Powers family had disappeared. While no formal charges had been filed, the information remained in the back of my mind.
Now I stood waiting at the door to my empty apartment, two suitcases positioned next to the wall. My future husband was on his way to take us both to the airport. I felt more like being dragged to the dentist’s office kicking and screaming than flying to my new temporary home. An arranged marriage. I thought they’d been outlawed or something.
When I noticed a Mercedes pulling up, I almost locked the door and pitched the entire idea. Sadly, the contract I’d signed was ironclad. There was no way out unless the rules were broken, and those were very few but meant to keep me safe.
What they didn’t do was protect me from performing my marital duties. I closed my eyes briefly, struggling to catch my breath. I had to be an excellent actress, pretending that the sun and moon rose and set over the man. That wasn’t going to be easy. At least he was excellent eye candy. The thought gave me a smile.
When I heard the rap on the door, for some reason I thought he was just going to come inside. I smoothed down my dress, hoping this was appropriate to begin our fake life together. I’d used some of the money to purchase a new wardrobe, although I had been given limited information on what was expected of me in the way of attire. Somehow, I figured hot pants and a tube top wasn’t the best choice.
I was still chuckling as I opened the door. The sight of the man standing in front of me gave me butterflies all over again. I’d expected to see him wearing a suit. His faded but deliciously tight blue jeans and a cobalt blue polo shirt highlighted his magnificent physique. Dreamy. That was the term that came to mind.
He lifted his sunglasses, whistling as he glanced down the length of me. “You look fantastic, Bristol. Are you ready to go?”
“Would it matter if I said no?” Just seeing him again created a wave of nausea as well as excitement.
“A deal is a deal.”
Fuck the deal. The words remained on the tip of my tongue.
After raising a single eyebrow, he took both my suitcases into his hands as I retrieved my purse. I took one last look at the small but comfortable apartment. I had a funny feeling I wasn’t coming back to Atlanta, although I certainly wasn’t going to stay married to him. I was surprised he even opened the door for me.
“I’m not an ogre, Bristol. Believe it or not, I have certain manners,” he said with a hint of disdain before closing the door.
I didn’t know him at all. I’d been given a basic script to learn.
Where we met and when.
The first date—a lavish party.
Our first kiss. Yeah, that was easy.
The moment he asked me to marry him—over a champagne dinner.
His favorite color—green.
His favorite food—hamburgers on the grill.
His favorite drink—bourbon, neat.
I knew a lot about him but nothing that really mattered, although I had no intention of getting close to him.
With the engine still running, he hesitated, staring out the windshield. “This doesn’t have to be a chore, Bristol. We might even have some fun.” His statement was almost bitter, the acrid tone he used just as disturbing as the man.
“When are you going to tell me about what you need from me, and I don’t mean carnal activities?”
He laughed, the throaty sound sending a shower of vibrations dancing to my toes. I shivered, biting back a moan that threatened to give away I was attracted to the man.
“We will discuss more when we get to the hotel. I don’t want to talk about it on the plane.”
“Oh, we’re not taking a Learjet?”
“I have money, Bristol, but not that kind of wealth. You’re a real brat, aren’t you?”
“Card-carrying member.” But his family certainly had that kind of money. Had he been cut off or refused to play by his family’s rules?
“Hhhmmm… I guess it’s something I’m going to have to deal with.”
The harsh look I gave him only forced Houston to smile. Still, he hesitated. What was he waiting for?
“I have something for you, Bristol.” When he pulled a small box out of his pocket, everything that I was doing hit me square in my stomach, the butterflies almost crippling. “You’re going to need this. It should fit. You need to wear it at all times. Is that understood?” When he opened the box, I sighed.
Any other girl would have squealed from delight, the huge diamond sparkling in the sunlight. I was sickened at the thought, reminding myself that this was just a lucrative job and nothing more. The money would allow me to settle anywhere else in the country.
Hopefully, I wasn’t shut out of every law firm.
He didn’t bother putting it on my finger. This wasn’t about romance. I took the ring, the weight of it surprising. When I placed the thick gold band on my finger, I sighed all over again. Of course the ring was a perfect fit.
“What I will tell you on the plane is about my parents.”
“I think I’m up to speed.”
Shaking his head, he shifted the gear into drive. “I should have guessed you’d be thorough in your private investigation of my family. Just keep in mind that looks and reports on paper can be deceiving. My father is a shark, a man with no love for anyone, including his family. I’m surprised my stepmother tolerated being married to him all these years.”
His admittance wasn’t just a bit odd but very sad. I could only imagine what his family life had be
en like.
“And one more thing, Bristol. You will obey my every command, no matter what I demand, no matter how dark or kinky you think my request might be. I’m a formidable man and I refuse to accept any level of disobedience. If you remain defiant, I will have no issue disciplining you as necessary. And I assure you that my methods can be as brutal as the incident necessitates. Is this understood?”
The words swirled in my mind as I shuddered. My throat closed off, my breathing ragged and difficult. But I managed to mutter the words he was looking for.
No, the ones he was demanding.
“Yes. Sir.”
He snorted, taking one last long gaze before driving away.
The deal I’d made wasn’t just indecent.
It was dangerous.
By the time we checked in, we had only a few minutes to board the plane. When he pointed toward a seat, I shouldn’t have been surprised. “First class?”
“Only the best for my wife to be.”
“You can cut the crap when we’re alone, Houston. I know what’s required of me. I assure you that I’ll be the best little actress you’ve ever seen in your life.”
“And you’re going to have to be. Both my father and my brother are untrusting. They could easily see through this charade and if they do, then my life will turn to shit.”
“What does that mean?”
He sighed, a blank look crossing his face. Then he turned his head, his magnificent blue eyes mesmerizing.
“It means that I won’t be eligible for my inheritance, which includes a significant portion of my father’s companies.”
“This is all about your inheritance?”
“Not entirely. This is also about that integrity you were talking about. It would seem someone is out to get my father, ruining the family’s wealth in the process. I don’t intend to allow that to happen.”
“I thought you and your father didn’t get along.”
“Blood is thicker than water, Bristol. That’s something you should keep in mind.”
I certainly planned on it. While Houston’s voice remained steady, it was easy to see how troubled he was about returning to his hometown. Secrets. I knew every family had them, but I had the distinct feeling that his had turned him into the cold, demanding man he was.
“Let’s just get the party started,” I said through gritted teeth.
After fastening his seatbelt, he leaned over, insisting on fastening mine. I glared at him, my chest heaving as I did everything I could not to spew off some horrible statement.
Remember, you made a deal. Then you can enjoy the rest of your life.
The inner voice wasn’t helping at this point. The man was insufferable.
“Relax, Bristol. This isn’t going to hurt a bit.” His words were far too close to the ones the doctor had said. Even the smirk on his face reminded me of the disgusting occurrence.
“Champagne?” the flight attendant asked, peering over us with a huge smile on her face.
“Why not?” Houston said casually. “This is a celebration after all. I’m taking my fiancée to meet my parents. I think drinks are in order.”
“Congratulations!” Her smile was far too bright, her eyes remaining entirely on Houston’s face.
And his body.
“I’ll open one of our best bottles for you.”
“Perfect,” he said, chuckling as she walked away.
“I don’t think you need to lay it on so thick at this point in time.” I couldn’t stand looking at him any longer.
I wasn’t surprised when he leaned over, whispering in my ear. What did shock me was the way my body reacted, the jolts of current stifling my breath.
“You have no idea how many enemies my family has or where they might be. We maintain our relationship no matter where we are. Is that clear?”
His hot breath tingled every inch of me as it cascaded across my skin. “Enemies. From what I’ve learned, your father is into computer chips. What kind of enemies could your family possibly have?”
He laughed in a low-slung way. “I never said my family was entirely on the up and up, Bristol. I have told you that my father is a ruthless man. He will do what it takes to get what he wants, including crossing that fine line between good and evil. I assure you that there are dozens of people, if not more, who would enjoy not only watching but participating in his demise. I refuse to allow that to happen. It’s as simple as that. Now, behave like a good little girl or I’ll be forced to take matters into my hands earlier than I expected.”
Hissing, I refused to look in his direction even when the attendant delivered the glasses of bubbly.
“Enjoy. We will be taking off in a few minutes, so I’ll need your glasses by then.” The flight attendant’s perky voice had already become grating.
“Here’s to a beautiful venture together.”
I finally shot him a look, hesitating before I allowed our glasses to touch.
“I can see I’m going to have my work cut out for me.” Sighing, he swirled the liquid in his glass before consuming half the flute.
“You really are a bastard. I don’t know why I’m surprised.”
“What I am is a consummate businessman who made an arrangement that I thought would be beneficial for both parties.”
“Then at least you’ve done something right.”
He growled, the sound reverberating through every cell and muscle all over again. “At least we agree on something, my beautiful bride to be. Sit back and enjoy the trip. We’ll be there before you know it.”
I’d been lucky enough in my life to enjoy accommodations in a lovely hotel once or twice. Even my parents had spared no expense for a trip to Disney World when I was ten or eleven, but the vision of the interior of the hotel was utterly gorgeous, the lobby encased in floral details and marble, beautiful works of art adorning almost every wall. There were people everywhere, a musician providing island tunes. Perhaps for the dozens of couples walking through, this was a premier and very romantic establishment to rekindle a romance.
For the couple strolling toward check-in, this was nothing but the first of many pretend moments.
I’d never been to California and the sights from the airplane window as we’d flown into the airport had been incredible.
The afternoon sun had provided a perfect backdrop with a blue-skied, cloudless day.
Houston checked his watch as the bellman led us to the elevator. “We have two hours before we’ll need to leave for dinner. That should give us enough time to get acquainted.”
“We already are.” I fingered the ring he’d placed on my hand, trying my best to keep my mouth shut. I hadn’t been able to get his comment regarding enemies out of my mind. He’d promised me additional information, a short but effective soliloquy on what he was attempting to do. Without it, dinner would be abominable.
“Here you are, the penthouse suite.” As the bellman led us inside, I was no longer surprised at the lengths Houston had gone to impress me.
Or maybe this was exactly what he’d become accustomed to his entire life.
Either way, the opulence was overwhelming.
“Here you go. If you will, make certain we aren’t disturbed.” Houston seemed jovial as he handed the man a hundred-dollar bill.
I simply rolled my eyes. He thought he could buy anyone.
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it for you.” The bellman’s face was lit up, nodding to both of us before walking out, Houston trailing behind him.
I bristled when he locked the door then swaggered toward me.
“What do you think?”
“We’re staying at the hotel the entire time?” I put my purse down on one of the tables. The room looked like a fabulous den in someone’s estate complete with a full bar and entertainment center. The view from the sweeping set of doors was incredible, the ocean maybe fifty yards away.
“Only for tonight. I purchased a house for us. That seemed more appropriate.”
I laughed, his statemen
t catching me off guard. “Does that mean you’re planning on staying here after our deal has been concluded?”
“We shall see. If things go according to my plans, then yes. If not, I’ll sell the place. It means nothing to me.”
“At a significant loss.”
“Perhaps you’d like to purchase it?” He grinned as he walked closer, purposely bumping into me then heading toward the doors, unlocking then swinging them open. “You will fall in love with the ocean. I’m going to venture a guess that you’ll also adore my selection of houses. If you’re a very good girl, you’ll even have the opportunity to furnish it.”
“Let me guess. You purchased the house sight unseen.”
“I found a real estate agent that suited my needs. If it’s not to your tastes, we can purchase another one.”
“My God. Money means nothing to you.”
“Money is the means to an end and nothing more. It can sully a person easily.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “Something you should know about intimately.”
He remained inside, not reacting when I walked directly past him and onto the balcony. The light breeze as well as the scent of the ocean was incredible. I knew he was watching me like a hawk. The electricity we shared sparked even though we were several feet apart. I hated my body’s reaction, the way my throat felt parched and my nipples scraped against the thin lace of my bra. I clung to the thick iron rails, studying the rolling waves, still so uncomfortable in both the arrangement as well as my surroundings.
While I’d taken a small portion of the original five thousand dollars and purchased several new pieces of clothing, I knew in my gut that the attire wasn’t good enough. I also realized I’d be judged on that fact, as well as everything else about myself.
I didn’t need to hear his approach. His all male scent merely infiltrated my nostrils. Woodsy yet exotic, it threw me into a place of longing. When he placed his hands next to mine, crowding my space, the heat of his body all consuming, I sucked in my breath.
“What happened at your job?” he asked. The question threw me. “From what I can tell, you are more than highly qualified for the position and the firm is quite reputable.”
