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Jared shifted his feet, hands in his pocket, unreadable as ever. “You’re going to see him dressedinthat?”
Not all men found me revolting. Was that news to him? It sure seemed so. “Yes. Definitelydressedin this.” Wyatt was a major flirt and a little pervy when drunk. However, I found that I wasn’t bothered by it. I had grown up with the man. He wouldn’t do anything inappropriate…unless I let him.“Why do you ask? Do you find it ugly or something? I kind oflikeit…”
“The notorious Wyatt Rinaldi won’t be looking anywhere else but yourcleavage.”
“Huh.” The idea didn’t bother me. We were going to dinner, not a strip club. Jared was being unreasonable. He was twenty-seven years old and acted like he was in his fifties.God, remind me again why I’m obsessed with him?Apart from my physical attraction to him, we didn’t really have anything in common. Again, why him? Maybe I’d isolated myself too much. Declined almost every date and invitations come my way from men closer to my age. Also, it didn’t help that I had this uncanny knack for comparing each man to Jared as if he was some demigod of some sort. He closely resembled one, but the man didn’t need to know that. His ego was inflated asitwas.
“You’re still planning to wear that offensivedress?”
Offensive?To whom?He made it sound as though I’d announced I was to become a hooker for the night. “I am. Why do you keep nagging like an old lady? Getting gawked at shouldn’t stop me from wearing something I like. If I did that, I’d end up wearingsweats.”
“You like drawing attention from men who look at you as if you’re the type to have sex in a bathroomstall?”
I innocently blinked at him. “I don’t mind it at all—the attention or the bathroom stall sex.” Sexually, I was still inexperienced. Jack Yates wasn’t gifted in the sack, nor did his four-incher shed any enlightenment on the matter. Maybe it was the shock of having to experience Jared then Jack, but the comparison wasnonexistent.
After the chaos with Jack, I’d prefer to be single for a long time. I wouldn’t shy away from dating anymore, but it’d take quite a man to convince me that he was worth my time andeffort.
I shrugged before giving him my back. Carefully, I leisurely slid the soft silky material over my body. My breasts were in such good shape that I rarely needed a bra. It hugged my figure like a glove. Glancing down at my cleavage, I saw my nipples were safe from anyone’s viewingpleasure.
“Did you need something, Jared?” Iasked.
He looked like a formidable statue lazily leaning against the doorframe as though seeing me dress entertained him. “Everyone with eyes knows you have a marvelous figure. I don’t see the need to flaunt it,Gisele.”
“Lectures from you? Really, Jared?” I already had a father. He didn’t need to act the part. He was one to talk when he had paraded women who dressed in less clothing than this slip dress I was wearing. As a result, he could kindly shove his opinions back to where it came from. If he aimed to irritate me so my night would be ruined, he could thinkagain.
When I strutted towards him so I could pass, the man had the nerve to remain unmoving. “Move!” I harshly grated when he continued to block my way. “I have to fix my hair.” He was over six-foot-four, and even at my tall height, I still had to lift my chin to meet his gaze. The moment our eyes connected, the intensity I found there left me breathless. Stormy, like the color of a murky ocean when a hurricane was on the horizon. Or the color of the sky before a snowstorm. Dark. Embattled. Andchilling.
“Don’t go…this might cause your father to doubt us,” he delivered in a monotonous tone, but the mayhem in his eyespersisted.
Jared really had spectacular eyes. I could lose myself in them. Instead of battling the storm, I’d ride each stroke of emotions until I’d drowned myself all the way to the very depths of his soul. Embedding myself in the vast soul-sucking pools of his psyche. I yearned for the unattainable. I’d longed for him to light the fire within me, stroking the passion that would define me. And it seemed I was destined to crave something that wasn’t mine. It would ruin me. All the warnings were there. All I had to do was look him in the eye and I’d findmydoom.
My heart was unsettled, torn between the reality and the dream. But it wasn’t a matter of choice; it was a matter of perspective.Imattered. My feelings mattered. I could no longer ignore the hurt and the savageness his callous actions caused me. At the end of the day, I only had myself. If I didn’t put myself into perspective, whowould?
“The staff knows my hectic social calendar. As for my father, he won’t care. He never did. I’ve been the boss of my own life since fifteen. I go as I please. Besides, everyone in the household knows what we have is an arranged one. They won’t expect us to get all chummy immediately.” I haughtily pointed out before I caught sight of his neck. “You’re a little flushed. Are youdrunk?”
“A little.” He snickered before his face grew serious. Intense powerful orbs began to penetrate my resolve, my senses, as he pulled me in, possessing my ability to function. It was as if he commanded my body to breathe for him, to live for him. My eyes longingly dropped to his lips. They stayed there, hovering, hoping, wondering what it was like to feel his lips against mine. I felt feverish. The temperature immediately skyrocketed in the closet. It stifled us, engulfing our bodies in its blistering heat. And I was…parched.
His palm cradled my cheek. It felt warm and wonderful against my skin as he slowly lifted my face to his. “Stay…it’s our wedding night…we can hang out, watch movies, and maybe we can try to get to know each other better.Just…stay.”
Ourfakewedding night, I wanted to correct him but decided not to waste my breath. In the blink of an eye, the haze he had cast over me instantly vanished. Common sense kicked in fullthrottle.
Two hours. Two mind-blowing hours, he rutted and nutted inside his bed of roses. He came back, and I had to marry him an hour later, even after knowing that. Sure, it was part of our agreement, but it was also poorly done on his part. And yet here he was, having the gall to ask me to stay. He had his share of fun. So why couldn’t I do the same? “Maybe next time, Jared.” My refusal to give in to his wishes hankered for his ire, but I was past the point of giving a damn. “Will you please move? I don’t likebeinglate!”
He let out a breath before reluctantlygivingway.
I pushed past him as if I couldn’t get away from him fast enough. His unpredictable demeanor unnerved me. Therefore, I ignored his hateful glare and strutted towards the vanity area and began to do a quick retouch of my makeup. Jared was drunk, and I presumed, pestering me probably amused him quite a bit. I skimmed through my long golden mane. I had the whole sensual beach hair vibe going—wavy, chaotic, and sexy—and I decided it was best to keep it this way. I simply teased the ends and the roots of my hair to add a little volume before reapplying two coats of coral lipstick. Lastly, I took off the eternityweddingband.
Wyatt was nosy and rather annoying, but he also was an intuitive man. He’d immediately know something was up if he spotted the ring. I saw no point of it, not when it was all a farce. I doubted the jewelry would grace my finger everagain.
His overpowering energy choked the life out of me. I didn’t even have to look up to realize Jared was leaning against the doorframe. Again. Watching me closely. “If you’re that bored, why don’t you go see your girlfriend? I’m sure you could spare another two hours to fuck herstupid.”
Can’t reel in the bitterness, can you?I was such anidiot.
“You soundjealous.”
“You wish!” I spat back before I threw him a venomous look. “If I need sex, it sure as hell won’t be from you!” Call it hitting below the belt; I didn’t give a damn anymore. “You’re a complete and utter bore. Geeks simply don’t do it for me; you’re not an exception, Jared. So, go back to Rose or to the next gold-digger who’s easily impressed when you flash your wealth. Idon’tcare.”
Hesawred.
