A Smart Choice: Arranged Marriage Romance Page 6

  My hands clutch at his hard pecs in a desperate attempt to brace my weight and keep from falling forward. It fails and now my breasts are pressed against his chest. I can feel the sweat between us and hear the sounds of our flesh slapping together as his hands wrap around my ass cheeks and hold me tightly so he can hammer into me.

  "You like it, Babydoll?" His voice is so thick with lust, it sounds like a wild animal breathing in my ear, "You like getting fucked by my naked cock?"

  Oh God help me, I do.

  I moan. I can feel him swelling inside me, I'm surprised he can get any bigger but I feel it. The root of his dick is hitting my clit as he thrusts and I can feel the pressure building inside of me again.

  "I want to fucking make you come, Stephy. I need to feel your cream all over my cock when I'm deep inside you like this, ruining you for anyone else ever again, you hear me?"

  Why do my insides tighten up and threaten to be my undoing when he talks like that?

  "You're never gonna have another cock inside this tight little cunt, you belong to me now, don't you?"

  I can feel the spasms starting, I tighten up around him, feeling impossibly full and I know I'm about to come for him just like he wants. Another moan pulls from deep in my chest, long and keening against his neck.

  "Don't. You?"

  He wants me to answer him. Oh shit. I forgot how to make words. I'm so close and it's like he has some magical power over me. He hasn't changed his rhythm or his pressure or his angle and yet I know he won't let me come until he hears me say it.

  I need to come more than I need air.

  "Yes!" I hear myself promise him and I know I mean it. I'll never feel like this again, I'll never want another man after Devon, "yes," this time it's more garbled as the orgasm takes hold and threatens to drag me under.

  "I'm going to fucking come in your pussy, Stephany," his head is against the sand, his words tight between his teeth as I feel the truth of his words as he suddenly pulls me tight and stills. I feel his seed coming so forcefully that I can feel each pump as he empties into my womb.

  I don't care. I want it. I'm coming with him, screaming his name as my body greedily soaks up every drop that he gives me.

  When his grip on my body relaxes, I lie on top of him, completely spent and totally satisfied in a way I never thought was actually possible.

  Devon's heart races under my ear and his hands stroke my back over the curve of my ass and along my thighs in soft, loving touches.

  "I meant every word, Stephany," he finally whispers between little kisses to the side of my head as I remain still against him, "if you're not on birth control, you're gonna end up full of my baby and I don't care."

  His fingers move back up my body, sending goosebumps racing over my skin.

  "We're gonna start over, Babydoll, I take it all back. You're the only woman I ever want on my cock, so it looks like our conniving matchmaker friend gets to keep her money."

  I smile. He's right, Raven did pull a sneaky move on us this morning, but maybe she's right. Maybe Devon and I are right for each other.

  Voices start to echo off the cliffs around us. People are heading up the beach to our little cove. Devon sits up, lifting me with him and grabs my tunic.

  The soft jersey fabric slips over my head and falls down my body just in time as a couple with a dog come into view close to the water.

  Devon moves to reach for his jeans and boxers and as he does, he slips from my body, leaving me feeling empty and wanting already.

  "Hmm," he gives me a bashful grin, "I see what you mean about the sand."

  Chapter 16

  Devon

  The hardest part of the next 24 hours is my cock. Definitely my cock.

  We grab a hotel in a little town called Half Moon Bay. After a hot shower and anther round of watching Stephany come for me, we venture out to find something to eat.

  It's been a great day. I've gotten to know the woman behind those eyes and I'm not surprised to discover that I like what those pouty lips of hers say just as much as I like watching them suck my dick.

  I watch her check her text messages when we get back to the room and it's the first time I realize I don't have a fucking clue where my phone is. I don't care either. It's been absolute bliss, having this time alone with Stephany without my damn family harping on me.

  Stephany laughs as her thumbs start tapping out a message, "It's Kyle," she tells me, "he's worried that I flung myself off the pier to drown my heartbreak after my last chance for love let me down."

  Kyle, I recognize the name from our conversations on the way up here, one of her best friends. Part of the team that would have been helping choose her match if Raven hadn't chosen for us. I don't have a problem with her gay friend but the guy does sound like he's drama.

  "Tell him I showed up in time to dive in after you and restored your faith in love," I tell her as I reach out and pull her onto the bed beside me.

  I like hearing her laugh. I kiss her neck and run my hands up her skin under her shirt while she texts.

  "OK, I told him," she drops the phone on the bed beside her and turns to kiss me.

  I could get use to that. Hell, I'm already used to it.

  I can't help myself, it's been less than a whole day and I've already buried my cock in her several times. It's like I can't get enough of her and I'm pretty sure I never will.

  All that crazy shit I hear myself telling her when she's got me on that edge? I've never said shit like that before in my fucking life. Telling her she's mine and that I'm going to put a baby inside her-- who the fuck says shit like that?

  I can feel my dick getting stiff right now, just thinking about it again. Thinking about binding this women to me with a ring and a family and keeping her next to me where I can protect her and take care of her.

  Every time I'm buried inside her I can't shut my damn mouth, can't help but blurt that shit out and I gotta admit I fucking love the way it drives her wild. Makes her buck her sexy hips and beg for my cum.

  I know I mean every fucking filthy word I'm saying while I spill my seed into her womb.

  One way or another, I'm going to make this thing with Stephany work. I may have gotten dragged into this arranged marriage deal kicking and screaming but now that I've heard Stephany screaming my name-- she's mine.

  Chapter 17

  Stephany

  By the time we check out of the hotel and get headed back home my legs are so weak from how many time Devon's fucked me that I'm just glad I'm not the one that has to drive.

  I haven't slept that well in ages. I'm not sure I've ever slept that well, in fact, and I know for a fact that I've never slept that well next to a man before.

  Men aren't usually much for cuddling and the last guy I dated always ended up kicking me if I touched him when he was asleep.

  Devon didn't surprise me when he turned out to be a dominant and possessive lover. The way he commands my body and takes charge in the clench makes me feel utterly feminine, I admit. But by the time we're back on the road I've had a chance to learn that he's not a one-trick pony either. Devon likes to be in control, but he also likes it when I lead. We did it all over that hotel room, including the balcony. We did it hard and fast and slow and tender and every time was amazing.

  Sleeping beside him was even perfect. Wrapped in his arms with my head on his shoulder, listening to his heartbeat strong and steady under my ear.

  If it had just been amazing sex, I'd still be every bit as relaxed on our drive back, but we've done a lot of talking too and I'm not just warming to Devon, I'm a hot puddle of mush.

  He's serious about getting married-- to me. He even blushed a little over breakfast as he admitted he's never even thought about wanting kids before me.

  I liked watching the macho guy that was such a total dick to me just a couple nights ago, blushing and stammering as he told me that. That all that stuff he says to me about filling me with his babies isn't something he normally says. That it's being with me th
at makes him feel possessive and feral.

  I believe him too, I don't think he could have faked that blush.

  It's early afternoon and Devon is driving us back up Highway 1. His hand is resting on my thigh as he drives and things between us feel so much different than they did in the beginning. It's hard to believe that just yesterday morning I was in Raven's office to tell her I never wanted to see this man again and today I'm serious about walking down the aisle for him.

  "So what's up with your family, anyway?" I ask.

  We've talked about a lot of stuff but when he mentioned that he'd forgotten his phone back at his hotel and how nice it had been to not hear from them this whole time, I remembered dinner Friday night.

  Devon immediately tenses and takes his hand off my leg. I worry I shouldn't have brought them up but he answers after a long pause.

  "So you know I told you I expect to take over the Foundation?"

  I nod. His grandfather founded the Compass Foundation decades ago. It's a non-profit charity organization that helps people get back on their feet after suffering catastrophic loss.

  It's well known, maybe not Salvation Army well known, but it's big and they deal with billions of dollars in donations each year from around the world.

  The Foundation has helped a lot of people find their way after a lot of different types of loss, from natural disasters to drug addictions to PTSD.

  Devon explained the family business to me over dinner last night. Currently, Devon's the CEO of the entire Foundation, but when his uncle retires Devon will get the controlling shares of the company and take over as president. That's why it's important to his family that I relocate.

  I knew relocating might be in my future, and the Compass Foundation is a really good cause. I'd be proud to move back east and be part of something like that.

  I know Devon is passionate about the company, I heard the way he talked about it last night. He believes in what the Foundation does and he has a lot of great ideas for its future.

  So why has the energy between us changed now I brought up his family?

  Raven's reaction when I mentioned they came out to California with him to meet me comes to mind. The way she seemed irritated that they insisted on meeting me before Devon and I even got a few minutes alone together.

  Now I think I understand what she was trying to tell me when I met with her yesterday. How Devon James with his family is different from plain old Devon when they aren't around.

  "The problem is, Randal won't retire and hand the company over to me until I'm married."

  I listen to Devon's words very carefully.

  "And I can't make the changes I want to until I have the controlling share, so when Dad and Randy signed me up for an arranged marriage I went along with it. Even though I wasn't interested in a wife."

  "Wait," I can't even describe the way my insides seem to just fall through the floorboards of the car as I turn to look at him, "You mean you weren't the one that signed up with Raven? You're dad and his brother hired her so that they can retire?"

  Shit, his uncle struck me as a prick from the git-go but I didn't think his dad was a complete jerk.

  "Why do you have to get married in order to run the company?" I ask.

  "Because Randal says I do."

  I can tell that Devon's uncomfortable telling me this, and he should be. This just...I don't know...it feels wrong.

  "When he and Dad took over the company, they built up the image to be all about the family behind it. How it was started by a family man who put it together as a way of helping other families.

  "You met my uncle, he's a control freak. He's completely plastic, nothing about his image is based on who he really is-- he doesn't know how to be real and I think he figures that's the way everyone else is too.

  "So it doesn't matter how many times I've tried to convince him that it's OK to have a single man at the helm, he won't go for it. I've seen him and Dad go rounds over different ideas about the direction the Foundation should be headed. Dad technically retired last year and when he did, he signed his stock over to me.

  "Randal doesn't even know that yet, so as soon as I get hitched and get promoted to president, he's going to sign over a quarter of his shares to me. That'll give me the controlling interest and I can take back the budget. Lower the million dollar salaries that the top level execs are taking home and put that money back where it belongs."

  I see his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel and I know this is something he's put a lot of thought into.

  "I don't understand," I say, "what million dollar salaries? I thought it was a non-profit charity?"

  "Yeah, but pay roll is an operating expense, not a profit. Only about 15% of the money coming into the Foundation actually goes back to the people it was created to help, once I'm in charge I intend to get that back up to about 60%.

  "My grandfather managed to make a solid living while still putting most of the money back into the hands of people in need. My father and uncle inherited a lot of money when my grandparents died. Money that my grandfather built from wise investments, not from keeping the money that gets donated to help people for himself. There's no reason for the way Randal's running the place now."

  "So you just let your family hire Raven to find a wife for you? Just so you could take over the company?" I'm torn. I hear the passion in his voice, I'm proud of him for what he wants to do with the business but.... it hurts on a personal level.

  He doesn't really want me. He doesn't want to be married, at least, not for the same reasons I do. He just needs a hired actress to play a part in his life so he can accomplish his goals. And then what?

  What happens if I go through with this? What happens to me after he gets what he wants? What happens to us?

  We're back at Raven's office now. Devon pulls up next to my car. We'd discussed him following me back to my place. I'd already punched the address into the navigation unit. We'd discussed a lot of stuff. Wedding plans and kids and... now I'm finding out it's just a means to an end for him.

  It doesn't have to be me after all. It could have been anyone.

  I guess I was wrong about him being able to fake it.

  "I don't think this is a good idea, Devon," I say simply as I climb out of his rental car, "I get it, I really do," I say, working hard to hold back tears, "and I'm glad I got to see the part of you that Raven thinks is right for me, but you lied to her, Devon. You lied to me. You don't want the same thing I do. Not really."

  I hear him start to say something as I close his car door behind me and climb into my own but I don't let that stop me from pulling away from the curb without looking back.

  Chapter 18

  Devon

  I watch her slam the door in my face and then drive off in her own car.

  Shit! How did I fuck that up already? But I know how I fucked it up-- I didn't explain it right. I'm so fucking busy being bitter about having to get married, I forgot to mention that part where Stephany has made me happy that I have to get married. Because I met her, because I get to marry her, dammit!

  I look down at the screen on the navigation unit in the car's dash. Stephany's address is still programmed into it.

  Slamming the car into gear, I follow the directions and beat her to her own doorstep.

  Pulling up in front of the older, bungalow style home I don't see her car but there are other vehicles in the driveway.

  The curtains part and I see a woman about Steph's age peering out the front window before the front door opens and a man stands waiting for me to make up the front steps.

  "You must be Devon!"

  The guy's hand flies up in an excited greeting and his face breaks into a broad grin. I reach to shake his hand, knowing before he introduces himself that this must be the infamous Kyle.

  Kyle pulls me over the threshold and I get to meet Jaime.

  These are Stephany's best friends, the people who would have made or broken my future if Stephany and I had gone through the regular
routine. I have no doubt that their opinion still counts for a lot in Stephany's mind.

  Unlike my "team," which has always felt more like I was being ambushed, Stephany signed up because she was tired of finding herself in relationships that didn't have a future.

  She told me that Kyle and Jaime were the ones who always told her when it was time to give up on some loser that wasn't ready to commit and that they were always there for her when it was the loser that gave up on her first.

  Jaime and Kyle are her team. They're the people she trusts to choose a husband for her so if I still want to be Stephany's husband, these are the people I need to win over.

  Kyle's eyes drag over my body in a way that isn't entirely comfortable, but I suffer his appreciation with a smile. I've got a couple of guys at the office that aren't shy about liking the way I look too-- I figure it's no insult, as long as it's understood that I'm not interested.

  I guess I passed the test. Jaime's stern frown cracks into a grin and Kyle closes the door behind me.

  "Well at least Raven has good taste," Kyle winks at me and he heads through a door that appears to lead to the kitchen and I don't let it bother me, "You want something to drink?"

  Shaking my head to decline his offer I sit in the chair that Jaime gestures to and I'm pretty sure I'm about to get the 3rd degree.

  I'm also pretty sure that these two haven't heard from Stephany since we got back to town or I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be so damn happy to meet me.

  "Do you two live with Steph?" I blurt out. I wasn't expecting them here and they seem pretty comfortable in the place.

  Jaime sits across from me and shakes her head, "I used to, but I moved out last year. Kyle has roommates that eat all his food so he comes over to eat all Steph's."

  "So, what happened?" Kyle comes back out of the kitchen and hands me a beer that I didn't ask for.