Page 8 of Bound By Betrayal

I huffed an exasperated breath. “Everything about this is business. Might I remind you that you and I aren’t friends? We sure as hell aren’t lovers. There’s a lot at stake here, Cain, so I expect you to hold up your end of this deal. Starting with punctuality.”

Kai folded his large arms across his chest and regarded me, one eye narrowing. “Okay,” he said with a sarcastic edge to his tone. “I’m listening.”

“I can’t speak to you like this.”

“What, naked? You put a bullet through a man’s head yesterday while completely disregarding your own safety. Me in a towel shouldn’t faze you.” Again, that maddening grin was fucking with me. Only, he didn’t know who he was up against.

“You don’t intimidate me.”

“Oh, I know that.”

His blue eyes darkened, and we found ourselves in another stare-down. I wasn’t sure what it was about this man, because I didn’t tolerate insolence from anyone, let alone a practical stranger. But I needed the bastard, and killing him would leave me without options.

“Good. So now that we have that clear—”

“Speak, Amalia.”

Call it a sizzle, a spark…something I hadn’t quite felt before rippled deep in my belly when the command rolled off his tongue and straight to my pussy. I instinctively clenched my thighs and looked away, trying my best to act casual.

“Cain, my parents and my little brother do not know that this a sham. They wanted to marry me off to some asshole I barely know—”

“You don’t know me at all.”

My eyes snapped to his and that infuriating smirk reappeared. “No, but I’m in control.Imade the choice, and to me, that’s what matters. And like I said, he’s an asshole.”

“I can’t promise that I’m not an even bigger one. In fact, I can guarantee he’s a saint in comparison.”

His amusement was gone, replaced by a heated gaze.

I didn’t hold back this time. I let my eyes roam his torso and muscled arms, following the ripple of his abs down to the V of his hips and where I could see the outline of his cock.

“That may be true,” I whispered, my eyes traveling back to his lips. “But let’s just say, I like my assholes a bit prettier.”

“So you think I’m pretty?”

I hadn’t noticed when Kai stepped closer until he lifted my chin.

“Amalia, if you want to convince your family that what we have is real, sleeping in different rooms would probably raise some flags.”

Going into this, I had no intention of sleeping with this man, but now, I wasn’t so sure. I’d never denied myself in the past. A good fuck was a good fuck. As long as we both went into it on the same page as far as expectations and boundaries.

“We’re Mexican, Cain. I’m not married—yet. My parents wouldn’t delude themselves into thinking I’m still a virgin, buttradition is tradition. And until we say our vows, they’ll be happy you’re willing to respect me. Whatever that means.”

“Then what? We sleep in the same room and play house?”

I slapped his hand away and put distance between us. Being close to him was growing increasingly dangerous and confusing.

“Business. There are terms to this deal, and you and I aren’t anything more than two people with a mutual interest.”

“The benefits here seem a little lopsided, don’t you think?”

I shrugged and shuffled toward a window, parting the long white curtain. A group of men were putting together a gazebo in the east courtyard, while others tended to the landscaping, prepping the space for a ceremony. My wedding.

Our wedding.

Chills skated up my body when I realized I’d be married to the man standing just feet from me—someone with an expiration date and who I didn’t love. But when had I ever expected to find such a thing?

“They’ll only be here for a couple of weeks. I need you to try—”