He offered me a small smile. “Excellent question, Willow. I am comfortable facing this with some control over the situation and the people involved. I have been looking for the right woman and nobody threw me off as you did from the first moment we spoke.” He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles in a gentlemanly manner. “I want you. I like that you lead an uncomplicated life and have no ties holding you back. I like that you are determined and feisty—” he gave me another flirtatious wink. “And I want you to be mine. I want you to be completely devoted and invested in me… in our family.I was lightheaded from all the information he had dumped on me. The sensation was bizarre; I was hovering over us, watching myself sitting with this handsome yet lonely man.A part of me was yelling profanities at myself for entertaining this absurd conversation. I wondered what I would be called if I accepted this proposal. I couldn’t be called a ‘prostitute’ because Nicholas wanted to marry me. Slave

"However, what are we going to tell people if I appear out of nowhere and marry you?" I peeked at him, fighting the urge to throw myself at him. "We'll have to agree on exactly what the story we tell people is. Coming up with something believable shouldn't be that complicated." I didn't have the level of confidence about the matter as he did. "The non-disclosure clause shall remain in force even if our arrangement is no longer practical for either one or both of us. Nobody else should know about it, regardless of what the future holds." I moved on with a placid nod. The next paragraph spoke extensively about the monetary exchange. Money was the subject of the next segment. As I read through everything he wish to give me, my jaw dropped. It was all spelled out in black and white, from the stipulations he mentioned the night before to the bank accounts I'd have access to while with him. "Nicholas, I can't accept all this. All of this is unnecessary." "It isn't excessive in any way.

The following few hours passed quickly. Nicholas called his attorney right away to schedule an emergency meeting. Afterward, he showed me the best sights in the city all the while riding in the back of his car. We made a quick stop at his attorney's office, where I met Benson and promptly agreed to hand over my life after the contract changes were made. As we left the office together, I had to fight to keep the panic attack at bay. I was rich in the blink of an eye. I had consented to marry a man I hardly knew, have sex with him, and to some extent submit to his authority. I had to remind myself that I had not agreed to the proposal simply because I was desperate to belong. I was not out of my mind. And as the thought gripped me, I got closer and closer to backing away... to pushing Nicholas away. As we got back into the car, Nicholas wound his fingers with mine, nearly skipping and whistling. He slid into the seat next to me, and I couldn't help but note, "You're terribly cheerf

Our bodies were inseparable as I stroked his hair, trying to come down from my orgasm by distracting myself. He craned his cane so that he could look at me. Our faces were so close that I felt his slowly calming breath on my clammy skin. I wondered whether I appeared to be as content as he did when he grinned with satisfaction. "Are you alright?" I blinked. "Yes." Before giving me another kiss, he traced my lips. "Thank you for giving me the pleasure of being with you." That's right, I gave this man my virginity. I had no regrets. "I appreciate you making it good. I've heard a lot of terrifying tales regarding people's first times." He smiled and looked down at me with mirth dancing in his eyes. "Practice makes perfect, sweetie. So, it will only get better." He kissed me, showing me just what he was promising. Sooner than I wanted, he got off me to settle down by my side. We simmered in the afterglow for an unknown amount of time. He occasionally gave me a kiss or brushed a str

I spotted a piece of paper on the bed as I grabbed for his pillow to inhale his now-familiar scent—a blend of soap, sandalwood, and warmth. [Good morning, sweetie. I'm sorry to leave you in bed alone this morning, but know that I will be daydreaming about you throughout the day. Please keep in mind that at noon, your personal shopper will arrive. Try to have a good time and spend a lot of money today! My family dinner will be held at eight o'clock, so I'll be home by six-thirty. If you need something or if you miss me, call me. Yours,Nicholas.] At his note, I sighed. When we arrived back and my items were moved to his closet, he had been horrified by my wardrobe—or lack thereof. His closet was easily bigger than my whole house at Atkins. The sight of my meager belongings hanging beside his extensive collection made me feel sour. He assisted me in sorting through the boxes that had been shipped from Atkins while we were away, and the entire night, he berated me for owning only b