Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
"Is that so?"
Emerald nodded vigorously. "Yes, absolutely. Any woman—-"
"Except you, that is."
Her expression turned stricken at his words, and it was all he could do to keep his shoulders from rocking. I'm sorry, sweetheart. It was his first time resorting to deception just to get a woman in his bed, but Rowland had absolutely no regrets for doing so.
What he wanted, he would always have, and right now, there was nothing he wanted more in this world than her.
"Can I ask you something?"
Rowland nodded even as his body started to stir at how her voice deliciously trembled. It was just too fucking sexy, and he made a mental note to warn her against using this tone with any other man
"I was supposed to be a match for someone from a small town—-"
"I am that."
Her eyes widened. "R-Really?"
"Yes." Rowland didn't see any reason for Emerald to know he had only purchased a second home in Evergreen to qualify as her match.
It's all or nothing, Mr. Asherfield, Charlotte had informed him. I'm afraid I'll have to consider another candidate if you fail to meet all of the conditions in this contract.
"What about horses?"
His gaze bore through hers. "You really have to ask?"
"I guess not." A smile tugged at her lips, and the sight had Rowland inhaling sharply. It was the first time she had ever smiled at him, and fuck if it didn't have his cock throbbing into life under his pants.
"Any other questions?"
She bit her lip at this, and Rowland didn't have a hard time guessing the reason for her wariness and unease.
"Charlotte had me sign an acknowledgment form about your condition."
"And y-you really don't mind that we can't have children?"
No, I don't mind at all, Rowland thought, since I doubt our marriage would last as long as you think you would.
That was the plain fucking truth, but since Rowland also knew better than to let Emerald know he only saw their marriage as temporary—-
"What about you?" he asked softly. "Does it truly not bother you that our marriage must remain a secret for the time being?"
"It's not like you're asking to keep it a secret for no reason, so no..." She shook her head while saying this. "I'm not bothered by it either."
"Then..." He looked at her from under hooded lids. "Are we now on the same page about our marriage?"
He saw her chest rise and fall rapidly at his question, and Rowland knew at that moment that this day wouldn't end before he had her breasts completely bared to his gaze.
"Y-Yes."
"Yes, what?" Rowland only meant to tease her, but she caught him off guard when her cheeks turned pink as she answered him.
"Yes, R-Rowland. We're on the same page."
He had lost count of the number of times women had tried to seduce him by whispering the dirtiest little things into his ear. None of it, however, came even close to how fucking hot it was to hear his name on Emerald's lips.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
What the hell had this woman done to him? Just hearing her say his name had every inch of his body burning with desire. He had planned to play it cool for the first time they were together, but—-
To hell with playing it cool, dammit.
He jerked to his feet, yanked her out of her chair, and then she was finally in his arms, his fingers threading through the caramel locks of her hair just like he had frequently fantasized.
"You're so damn hot," he growled.
"I'm n-not—-"
"Do you know how much I want you?" he demanded under his breath.
Emerald-green eyes widened at his question, and she slowly shook her head.
"You've had me starving over a month, wife."
His words had her wetting her lips nervously, and the sight reminded him of another fantasy he could now turn into reality. But just as he was about to pull her head back, his phone started ringing, and Rowland cursed in his mind even as he reluctantly loosened his grip on Emerald's hair.
His secretary would only intrude on his private time for the direst of emergencies, but knowing this made no fucking difference. Every second had him fighting against the urge to yank her back into his arms, and when he saw her bite her lip as she stared at him with eyes that were still hazy with desire—-
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
"I'll need to take this call, unfortunately." His company was about to buy out one of its competitors, and Emerald, even though they were now married, did not have legal clearance to know anything about it.
"Think of this as your reprieve," Rowland murmured. "I only intend to be away for ten minutes, but as soon as I come back—-" He slowly traced the curve of her lips with his thumb, and her entire body jerked at his touch. "We'll pick up right from where we left off."