Married In Name Only. Jules Bennett

Paisley arched against him as he nipped at her lips and slowly pulled away.

      “Was that you pretending?” he asked, his voice surprisingly stronger than he actually felt. “Because I just want to make sure I don’t get confused about what’s real or pretend.”

      Paisley took a step back, then another, until she bumped into the curved staircase. Her shaky hand went to her lips and she closed her eyes.

      Lucas was having a bit of a problem keeping himself in check. He wanted nothing more than to strip her bare and take her right here in his living room. But that was how they’d been when they were younger. They’d been all over each other. Young love had carried them so far, but ultimately, not far enough.

      Still, having her in his home stirred something primal in him and he was positive he didn’t want her leaving. Call him selfish, but he wanted Paisley and he wanted her right here.

      “Chemistry doesn’t mean anything,” she retorted.

      If there had been any conviction in her tone, he might believe her. If she hadn’t arched that sweet, curvy body against his, he might think she didn’t want more. But he knew better. She’d come to him, pride aside.

      She could have chosen anyone else to help her, but she wanted him. Despite everything that happened in their past, they still had a bond and he knew she trusted him with her case.

      Lucas reached for her, sliding his hand across her cheek and up into her hair. “You want to end the marriage, I get that. Do you have an expiration date?”

      Those hazel eyes never wavered from his. “If Sterling turns out to be my father and recognizes me, then I want out. I don’t want someone to take care of me forever. I want to stand on my own. But I’m not stupid enough to ignore the fact that I need help, because I won’t let my business suffer. It’s all I have left.”

      So, it all came down to money. Most things in life did, he realized. Plus, he understood the need to protect something you’d built. Wasn’t that the reason he wanted a child to pass his business down to? All she wanted was to keep her shop running and live comfortably—which she could right here in his penthouse.

      “Fine.” Lucas leaned down, brushed his lips over hers once more before stepping back. “You will be in my bed every night. Nonnegotiable. We’ll marry in Vegas, have our honeymoon and I’ll get to the bottom of the letter about your father.”

      “Vegas?” she asked, quirking a brow. “That doesn’t sound like you.”

      “It’s fast, simple.” Lucas smiled. “Unless you wanted to prepare and plan. A cathedral wedding would be fine, and actually not bad for my reputation. We could invite the press and—”

      “Vegas it is.” She narrowed her eyes. “One more stipulation. You’re buying the gown of my choosing.”

      Lucas could care less about the gown—more what was beneath. He’d have something sexy and sheer ordered for her for their wedding night and have it waiting in their suite.

      He’d also have his jeweler get a stunning rock sent over as soon as possible. Their marriage might not be traditional, but Lucas wasn’t going to have his wife walking around with anything less than the best.

      “Done,” he finally agreed.

      Paisley stared at him another minute, cautiously keeping her emotions guarded, which he didn’t like. The Paisley he used to know had always been an open book, and she kept slipping into that state, but he could also see the independent woman she’d worked so hard to become. She was strong, she was resilient...and she was his.

      Finally.

      She’d have his ring on her finger and her body in his bed. This might not be the way he’d imagined they’d end up together, but they were going to be together nonetheless. They’d both get what they wanted.

      Lucas had been naive years ago to think love would carry them through all their happy days and into old age. Then life smacked him in the face with a dose of reality and he finally saw that love didn’t exist. Money, power, careers—those things lasted and could be controlled. Love was nothing but a made-up emotion for people who lived in a fantasy world.

      Love wasn’t for him...and never would be.