I glance up at the mansion as we stand in the driveway. Twenty-two thousand square feet of stone, glass, and steel. And she has the nerve to call it a hellhole.
I turn back to her, one eyebrow raised. “You consider this a hellhole?”
“Yes,” she snaps, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “It is.”
“Fine.” I shrug. “This hellhole is going to be our home from now on. You might as well start getting comfortable.”
“Not if my brother finds a loophole in that contract,” she fires back.
I smirk. “We’ll see about that.”
“I need to go home first. To get my clothes. My things.”
I lean down, my mouth near her ear.
“That place is no longer your home,” I murmur.“You live here now. With me. I’ll get you whatever you need.”
Her breath catches.
I straighten up. “Move, Calina.”
Against my better judgment, I reach out and grab her by the arm to guide her inside. The second my fingers wrap around her bare skin, that same electric shock shoots straight through me, hot, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
Her pulse jumps under my palm. For a split second, I imagine pinning her against the side of the car and tasting that smart mouth of hers.
“Follow me.” I pull her in after me.
The house is quiet when we step inside. All the staff has retired for the night, exactly how I prefer it.
The grand foyer is bathed in low golden light from the crystal chandeliers high above.
Dark marble floors, black and charcoal walls, modern art that cost more than most men make in a lifetime. Everything is cold, clean, and expensive.
I lead her up the wide floating staircase, our footsteps echoing in the silence. She stays a step behind me.
“If you think I’m sharing a room with you,” she says sharply, “you have another thing coming.”
I don’t even look back. “Don’t worry, princess. For now, you’ll have your own room. Right next to mine. Until after the wedding.”
She scoffs. “That is, if there is a wedding.”
I stop in front of the heavy oak door and push it open, revealing the large guest suite I had prepared. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
She steps inside and looks around warily. The room is luxurious, king-sized bed with crisp black linens, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool, private marble bathroom visible through the open door.
I lean against the doorframe, watching her.
“This is your bedroom,” I tell her. “The room right next to it is mine. So if you get scared at night… or the monsters come…” My lips curve. “You’re always welcome to come to my bed. There’s more than enough room.”
She looks like she wants to slap me. Or maybe stab me. Her cheeks flush with anger, and it only makes her more beautiful. More dangerous.
I smirk. “Good night, princess.”
Before she can hurl another insult at me, I turn and walk away, closing the door behind me with a soft click.
The moment I’m alone in the hallway, I let out a long breath and drag a hand down my face.
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?
