Page 110 of Married to Lies

Cruz shrugged with a playful grin on his face.

Simon said, “I’m excited to see what woman you marry. I bet she’ll be incredible.”

Aleyna’s expression pinched at the words, but then she quickly masked it with a smile. It must be uncomfortable for her to be here, knowing that we were actively battling for her father’s company so she wouldn’t get it.

Simon excused himself to the bathroom, leaving the five of us and Aleyna alone. Once I was sure he couldn’t hear us, I whispered, “Aleyna, if you’re looking for seed money for Luster, selling your father’s MyHome shares would be a good way to get it.”

The table went silent, and everyone stared at me, like they were shocked I’d spoken. Aleyna was the one who broke the silence. “Why would you suggest that after you got married?”

Cruz nodded emphatically, like he thought I was crazy. “You don’t want your prenup to be for nothing.”

“Marrying Rei could never be for nothing,” I said, voice husky.

Aaric said, “If we had Aleyna’s shares, it would dilute Jasper and Dominic’s power...” He gave Jude a meaningful look, and Jude nodded.

I wasn’t sure what the meaning was behind that communication. Or what Aleyna would make of our offer.

But she said, “Dad has already offered to invest.”

Disappointment weighed down my chest, making it hard to suck in another breath. I know the guys all agreed to get married, but I wasn’t sure if Jude, or even Cruz, could handle it.

I drank from my champagne flute and then ate my meal while awkward conversation started and halted and started again.

Finally, a big car came to pick us up and take us to the airport. Aaric brought along the safe, passing out our devices on the ride.

As soon as I had my phone, I saw a long line of messages waiting for me. One made my chest soften.

Rei: I’ll be home when you get here. I can’t wait to see you.

And then one made my heart hammer.

Mom: I wish I could talk to you and tell you this, but you’re away from your phone and I want you to hear it from me first... When I was out shopping with Rei, we ran into Claire. I completely lost my cool, and I had to tell Rei why. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.

Acid churned in my stomach. I’d been so excited to get home and see my wife. Her message made it seem like she wanted to see me too. Was she upset to find out about Claire from my mom? Should I have told her sooner?

There wasn’t a playbook for marriage, and there definitely wasn’t a guide for a quickie marriage of convenience. That just left us to muddle through. Hopefully we could figure it out.

My back muscles were tight as I walked to my front door. Before I could get to the handle, the door opened, and Rei stood there in a long silk dress. She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around my middle. “I missed you.”

I held on to her, throat feeling tight. “I missed you too.”

She tilted her head back, still holding on to me in the threshold. “I have to talk to you about something.”

I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. “I know. Let’s talk later. I want you first.”

52 Rei

I opened my mouth to protest. Each moment that passed without me telling him was another second that the press had to discover my secret. “Quentin, it’s important⁠—”

But he kissed down my throat, the scratch of his five o’clock shadow making my skin even more sensitive. “Baby, please,” he said, pinning me with his dark stare. “I need you.”

I couldn’t argue. Not with him looking at me with those eyes, begging me just to be with him. I fell into his embrace, savoring the feel of his hands roving over my silken dress.

He led me back to his couch and roughly laid me down, hovering over me. He tugged my dress aside, covering my hard nipples with his lips, one at a time. I moaned out in pleasure, scratching at his back with my long nails.

“Quentin!” I moaned out as I lifted one leg to wrap around his hip, my other leg pressing into the couch with the weight of him.

When he pulled back, letting cool air hit my sensitive breasts, I whimpered. “I need you inside me.”