The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Hot Shower

SADIE

It had been a while since my last run. Sometimes I forgot to care for myself, for my well-being, until my visit to my Gyne. I was listening to the acoustic cover version of Adele’s Easy On Me when I felt someone was following me behind.

I paused the song and caught my breath. “What are you doing?”

“Running like I do every day.” God, I missed his smile—that easy-going free-spirit smile.

“Yeah, but you don’t usually go out, hence your mini gym.”

“Well, I like fresh air once and a while.”

I rolled my eyes and started running again. I was not convinced. “Cenric, what do you want?”

He followed me. “Fine. I wanted to ask if you are free on Saturday.”

“I am not.”

“Babe, it’s Saturday.”

“You work on Saturday, so do I.”

“Babe.” He held my wrist. “We seriously need to talk.”

“I know.”

“Then when?” There was a determination in his gaze drilling into me.

I withdrew a breath, diverting my gaze before I focused on his. “I need more time.”

“You’re deflecting. You can’t do that every time you feel like you are scared of something, of grief. You choose not to talk about it and run away instead. It will only send you through spiraling.”

“Well, thank you, Dr. Phil.”

“Babe, I need this marriage. I want this marriage to work. I need you.”

I swallowed. “Why? You’ve done what you were supposed to do. You can find someone better than me. I’m sure you wanted your freedom again, or you’re already fed up with my annoying repartee and defying your words.”

He snorted sarcastically. “So this is what is it all about? Sadie, if I wanted freedom, I’d just send you somewhere far and safe away from your father. Then I’m back to my old life.”

“Then why didn’t you? Instead, you chose to be tied with me. Isn’t that you’ve gone a bit too far?”

“I don’t know. I felt like you are safe when you are with me.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Maybe not now. But I need this to work.” He tried to tell me something. He seemed to find it hard to find the right words. He scratched his head instead. “I’m sorry for what I put you through. I’m sorry if I was a terrible husband. I’m sorry if I ignored you for the last couple of weeks. I did that because I knew I had to tell you somehow if you pressed, and I signed an agreement. And lastly, I wanted to protect you. The less you know, the better.”

“I get it. I would do the same thing if I were in your position. And you’re not actually a terrible husband. You are attentive—too attentive for my taste.” I smiled, walking away.

“Too attentive, huh?”

“Yeah, in many ways.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“It’s okay, I guess. You’re possessive, overprotective, and—”

“I’m a good husband, huh.”

“Agreeable.”

“Really? In bed?”

“Debatable. I mean, you’re okay.”

He burst out laughing. “Now you are lying to me, woman.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I couldn’t help but join and laugh with him.

“Debatable? I’m just okay in bed?” He was still laughing.

I shook my head in amusement. “You expect an A rating?”

“I was excellent in bed. You know that. If the bed, bathroom, bathtub, all the Bs and corners have eyes, they’ve witnessed what we did, and they would disagree with you, wife.”

I smiled, and he smiled too. “Your ego, Cenric.”

“I know myself. I’m good with my hands, my fingers, my mouth, my lips, my tongue, and what did you tell me before?” He pretended not to remember it. “Oh, I’m big.”

I punched him on his arm. “Stop it.”

“Debatable, huh?”

“Jeez, fishing for compliments much?”

“I know you want me too, babe. Didn’t you miss it? Us?”

“Let’s head back home, silly.”

As soon as we reached back to the penthouse, I went directly to the shower. He slipped in before I could close the door.

“What are you doing here?” He was stark naked, and damn, he was delicious and hot. My gaze flicked to those ripped muscles that made my skin warm. My muscles strained. My nipple just hardened against my arm as I tried to cover my goods.

“My shower heater is not working.” He joined me under the spray.

“You are lying. I just used it yesterday. Why didn’t you call someone to fix it?”

“I just figure out, babe.” He pulled my arm away from my breasts. “I’ve seen and touched every inch of you. You don’t have to cover yourself. Your body is perfect and sexy. If you don’t have the feeling to fuck me here, I won’t force you, and never did, did I? Unless…”

“Stop right there, big guy.” I tried blacking out his naked image in my head, but it didn’t help. I drew a deep breath instead, shut my eyes close, and ignored the sensation building between my thighs.

When he applied shampoo to my hair, I gasped. I knew he was watching my reaction, and even a woman in a right mind with strong defiance, no one could resist the temptation and the urge of not throwing herself to a naked man in front of me.

I turned around, biting my bottom lip as hard as it may bleed. God, this was harder than I thought. The ache between my thighs intensified. “Saturday then.”

“What?” He stopped his hand on the back of my neck.

“You asked me if I’m free on Saturday. Well, I’ll be there wherever you’re planning to take me to.”

“Okay. Now, relax. Your muscles are like stone against my hand.”Well, when you keep touching me like that.

We met again in the kitchen. There were two plates for breakfast. He poured coffee into another cup and offered it to me.

“Thank you.” I took mine and sipped my coffee.

“Babe?”

“Yeah.” I met his gaze.

“What are you doing?”

I looked at the cup. “Drinking.”

“No. What are you doing?” he spelled it out, his gaze glued at me.

I put the cup down and sighed in defeat. “I tried not to be distracted with your charm.”

“Is that a bad thing? I mean, if my charm works?”

“Look, I like you. I mean, a lot. I’m attracted to you, and it’s driving me nuts. I want you, okay? Like I never wanted anyone. But I needed space to find myself. I wanted to figure out what I wanted in life. Of course, I love my job and what I do, but how about outside work? What do I want to do? You know that I’d been caged like Fort Knox for years, right? I finally found my freedom and I’m still figuring out what to do with it. It isn’t easy to think when you keep pushing yourself to me. Honestly, you’re like a plague. In a good way, though. I mean, you wake something deep inside me, and I like it. But that’s not what I want right now. I mean, you said it yourself that you want us. I do too. I just hope you would still be there when I am done with my solitude.”

“I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around me. “Do you need more time?”

I looked up at him. “Just so you know, you’re not just a good husband. You’re the best.”