Page 53

MARISELA

I rinsed the taste of cum from my mouth with a sip of hot tea while Tate did the same with the pussy juice I could still smell on him, and realized this was what my life would be. It could be worse, though.

There were worse things than living in a lavish mansion with maids and butlers attending to your every need.

Worse things than marrying someone who cared less about what was in your head and more about getting it from someone else.

On that same note, there was a sort of freedom that came with knowing the man at your side didn’t give a damn about what you did in your spare time—as long as it didn’t affect him.

It was something we could both agree on. At least I was pretty certain we could.

I cleared my throat, waiting for Tate to look up from whatever piece of ass he was currently messaging on his phone.

Because I had no doubt that was what he was doing.

He locked the screen before shoving the device into a pocket, crossing a leg over a knee as he sank deeper into the cushion of the large wingback in the parlor.

We’d just returned from the ballroom, barely speaking two words to each other during the drive back to Prescott Estates.

“How was she?” The question was nonchalant, like I was asking about the weather and not the woman my fiancé was fucking before we got here.

He was quick to drop his gaze, staring at his nail beds as though he was suddenly more interested in getting a manicure than what I had to say, and not because he was ashamed. Men like Tate were not ashamed of the shit they did. He just didn’t want to deal with the consequences.

“Who’s that, my dear?” he hummed.

“The blonde you just fucked.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he searched my face for something he wouldn’t find. Jealousy. “Which one?”

I shrugged. “Honestly, the answer doesn’t matter. I was just trying to get your attention.”

“And now that you have it, what are you going to do with it, sweetheart?” Tate grinned, steepling his hands while leaning back so that his crotch was in my direct line of sight. Like he was expecting me to get on my knees or something.

“Not that kind of attention.” I shook my head.

“Shame. I do like getting my dick sucked after a quick fucking.” When it was clear I wasn’t getting the hint, Tate huffed.

Pushing to his feet and storming off. But instead of leaving, he slammed the pocket doors shut.

Latching them closed before turning back towards me. “What do you want, Marisela?”

I wasn’t holding my breath. But I also wasn’t ashamed to admit I was looking for something I could stab him with. If it came to that. “The same thing you want, Tate.”

“And what’s that?” He took three slow steps in my direction. I didn’t bother turning around to look at him. But I could sense him looking at me. Like a lion hunting a gazelle. Except he failed to realize who was who in this scenario.

I had nothing to lose. I didn’t give a shit if he killed me. But he did. Which also meant I had everything to gain. “For you to be able to fuck whomever you want, whenever you want. Without worrying that your wife might find out,” I explained.

Tate heaved out a loud laugh, closer to a howl, as he threw his head back.

He was standing in front of me now. Slowly lowering himself onto the coffee table so that I was trapped between his spread legs and the sofa.

“And why would you want that, sweetheart? I mean, I know why I’d want that but why would you? What’s the catch?”

He reached out and grabbed my chin, a little too rough for my liking. I tugged it free and shifted back on the cushion. “No catch. I don’t care what you do, Tate. Or who you do it with. And I have no intention of pretending like I do. ”

It was the truth. At the very least, it was close enough to the truth that I wasn’t lying.

“No.” One word, and that was it. Tate stood to his full height before strolling back towards the door again. This time I watched him go.

“What do you mean no ?”

“I mean, no, I don’t believe you. I don’t give a shit either.” He grinned as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a shoulder against the door. “Let’s get one thing straight, Miss Cruz . I’m going along with this whole thing for one reason and one reason only.”

“Your fath—” I started to say, only to have Tate rush forward and spit in my face.

“ Fuck my father. He’s two steps from his grave and too fucking stubborn to jump in it.

” Tate lifted an arm and grabbed my cheek, pinching as he leveled me with a glare.

“But don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.

When the time’s right, I’ll give him a nice little shove.

And then it’s just you and me, my darling bride. ”

He dropped his hand and I rubbed the sting away. “If not your father, then what’s the reason? Why me?”

Tate paced across the area rug, stepping over the corner he kicked up with his shoe instead of fixing it.

“You know what? You’re right. If we are going through with this whole thing, we should be on the same page.

United front and all that. I don’t need to be the enemy, Marisela.

In fact…” He closed the distance, shoving me down on the sofa as he slid a knee between my thighs.

His mouth closing over mine in a sloppy kiss that consisted of too much tongue and not enough toothpaste. “We could even be friends.”

I shoved him off me and wiped the remnants of his saliva from my lips. Secretly hoping some of Adrian’s cum didn’t make it down my throat. The asshole deserved the salty taste of his brother’s backwash.

“I don’t think so,” I grunted, and Tate laughed.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “But these are my terms. Take them or leave them. I will fuck whoever I want, whenever I want. And you’ll keep your mouth shut about it.”

“Those aren’t really ter?—”

Tate lifted a finger. “I’m not done. Now, as I was saying, you’ll keep your mouth shut about what I do. And I’ll go as far as to turn a blind eye at whatever it is you do.”

“As in?” I pressed.

“ As in , I don’t give a fuck who you fuck, Marisela… as long as it isn’t my brother.” He smirked, watching my face again. Waiting for my reaction.

“I wasn’t aware you had a brother,” I countered, meeting Tate’s seething glare with one of my own.

He tsked his tongue. “Come now, we both know that’s a lie, sweetheart.

Why do you think you’re here if not because of the special interest he took in you?

” When I didn’t respond, he sighed. “It’s simple as this: fuck my brother and I’ll make sure your ass is tossed back in that looney bin quicker than you can say kum…

quat. But keep those legs closed and the world is your oyster. ”

“One condition,” I countered. “I want a job. A permanent position at Prescott R&D.”

He watched my face for a moment.

“And I don’t want to be forced to raise your little bastards. No children outside this marriage.” I took a deep breath before adding, “Push them down the stairs, take a coat hanger to their uteruses—I don’t give a damn what lengths you have to go to. Just ensure it doesn’t happen.”

I could see the wheels spinning in his head, his eyes crinkled at the sides and his jaw set tight.

Tate didn’t know if he should be pissed off or impressed.

What I did know was that the asshole was turned on again.

His poor excuse for a dick pressing against his zipper as he rubbed himself through his pants before one side of his mouth started tugging upwards.

“You want to work? Then work until those boney fingers are nothing but nubs, darling. Make yourself the COO, for all I care. I don’t give two shits about what you do as long as it isn’t him .”

Tate was on his feet again, straightening the seam of his pants and buttoning his jacket before stalking towards the door. I sighed under my breath, more pleased with myself than I should be before he called over a shoulder.

“Oh, and, Marisela? It’s in your best interests not to disappoint me on our wedding night.

A groom expects his bride to be… intact .

I mean, think about it. What’s more binding than a blood oath?

” He took note of the confusion on my face.

Probably the disgust too, whether or not he realized it was there was beside the point.

Seeing as whatever he was thinking only had him grinning wider.

“Make no mistake, dear. Regardless of where I’m getting my dick wet, you will be performing your wifely duties. ”

I schooled my features and steeled my spine. “I’m not sucking you off, Tate.”

“Of course not. That’s what the whores are for. But you will do everything in your power to provide me with an heir. Must carry on the Prescott name, after all…”