Page 66 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

W aking up next to Mina felt like stepping into a dream I wasn’t entirely sure I deserved. Her head was tucked beneath my chin, hair splayed across my chest, her arm wrapped tightly around my waist like her body still didn’t quite believe I was real. I knew the feeling.

When I had got the hare-brained idea to show up in Jamaica without an invitation, I never really expected her to accept me with open arms. I wasn’t even sure I would find her. And when I did, when she opened the door last night, it felt like my heart was outside my chest staring back at me.

I closed my eyes and smiled. The last couple of weeks had been an adventure in hell. One I never wanted to do again. Now that I had her in my arms, I was never letting go. She was going to have to move to Mars if she wanted to get away from me again. Hell, even if she moved to Mars, I’d follow her.

I inhaled the scent of her shampoo. Damn, I had missed that smell. She was sound asleep. Like dead to the world. It was that peaceful kind of sleep people fall into when they’re finally safe. I felt it last night when we had finally satisfied the fire that always burned between us.

For long minutes, I just lay there, not moving, not breathing too loudly, afraid if I blinked, I’d wake up alone. I wanted to feel this with her every single day. We started off on the wrong foot, but I knew this was right. We were supposed to be together.

She stirred. A little sigh escaped her lips. She nuzzled closer before slowly blinking her eyes open and lifting her head to look at me.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice rough with sleep.

“Hi.”

The smile she gave me was small but real.

I’d take it. I’d take anything she gave me for as long as I could keep it.

I felt like I was in a trial period. She was going to be watching my every move.

Searching every word for any hint of a lie or deception of any kind.

I was fully prepared to tell her every dirty truth.

I would tell her what I ate for breakfast, every text message I got and when I had to pee.

I was going full transparent. She would never have a reason to doubt me.

For now, I planned on keeping her in the throes of one orgasm after another. She wasn’t going to have time to question my integrity or wonder what I was doing or where I was going. My woman was going to be sated and happy, with all her wishes granted.

“I hope you don’t have plans for the day,” I said in a husky voice. “I want to keep you naked. Under me.”

She giggled. “That sounds like a fun day.”

“Not fun,” I murmured. “Sexy. Indulgent. Gratuitous.”

Before I could kiss her again, a knock sounded at the door. We both froze.

Mina’s brows pinched slightly as she looked at me with confusion. “Room service?” she asked.

“I didn’t order anything,” I said, already pushing myself out of bed. I grabbed the towel off the floor and wrapped it around my waist, tossing a glance back at her. “You expecting someone?”

She shook her head slowly, still dazed from sleep. Another knock. I padded barefoot out of the bedroom and out into the suite hallway, then cracked open the door. Standing in front of me in a black bikini and oversized sunglasses, holding two cups of coffee and a tray of breakfast pastries, was?—

“Tori,” I said.

She blinked hard. “Isaac.” Her jaw dropped just a little as her eyes dropped to the towel around my waist, then quickly darted back up. “I see you’ve made yourself at home. Here to ruin my best friend’s life again?”

I grunted. “Ouch. I mean, I totally deserve that, but it still hurts.”

She nodded. “Good, you deserve way worse.”

“It’s okay, Tori. We’ve talked.”

“That doesn’t mean I forgive you,” she said, shaking her head at me. “And these coffees aren’t for you.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She paused, then sighed and held out the coffee and tray. “Well, I guess you could have it. I’m certainly not coming in now. You can give it to her. Maybe don’t mention I was here?”

I raised a brow. “You want me to lie to her?”

“I want you to not ruin the mood , which you two clearly have going strong,” she said, stepping back. “She doesn’t need to worry about me. I’ll go lounge on the beach. Alone. Far away. While you two do whatever it is you’re doing. Again.”

“Classy,” I muttered, biting back a grin as I took the tray from her. “Appreciate the coffee.”

She turned to go, then stopped. “Tell her the decaf’s hers. And don’t make me regret this, Bancroft. You fuck this up and I’ll kill you myself. Slowly.”

I closed the door and carried the tray back inside, still grinning. When I entered the bedroom again, Mina was sitting up, sheet wrapped around her like a toga, head tilted curiously.

“Room service has a name,” I said as I set the tray on the bed.

“Oh?”

“Tori.”

She blinked. “Wait, what? Tori was at the door?”

“Yep.” I handed her the coffee. “This one’s decaf. She said not to tell you she was here.”

Mina snorted. “And you just immediately ignored that.”

“I just promised to always tell you the truth,” I said, settling next to her. “Can’t break that on the first morning. Besides, she practically ran away like I caught her sneaking out of a frat house. She wanted no part of this.”

Mina laughed, actually laughed. After the last couple of weeks, I wasn’t sure I would ever have the pleasure of hearing that laugh again.

“Poor Tori,” she said. “I’m sure she was hoping for a deep heart-to-heart and instead found you, half-naked.”

“Hey,” I protested, “I was three-quarters naked, thank you . One sneeze, cough or twist and she would have gotten the full Monty.”

Mina’s eyes sparkled. “The full Monty? Really?”

“Avert your eyes, fair maiden, lest you be scandalized,” I quipped, stealing a croissant from the tray.

She swatted my hand playfully. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” I said, taking a bite of the pastry.

I watched her take a sip of coffee, the way her lips curved around the rim of the cup.

Even mundane things she did were captivating.

“So,” I began, mouth full, “what’s the plan for today?

Besides me keeping you naked and under me, of course.

Though, I’m still very much in favor of that plan. ”

She set her cup down, her gaze softening. “I think we just enjoy this. Being here. Together. No drama. No secrets.”

“I can do that,” I said, my voice serious for a moment. “I can do that for the rest of our lives.”

She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw. “Good. Because I’m holding you to it.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” I leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, sweet kiss that tasted of coffee and sugar.

I jerked the towel off and let it drop to the floor. I heard her gasp. “You’re shy?” I asked with a laugh.

“No.” She grinned.

I slid back onto the bed and pulled the sheet up to my waist. “You’re naked. I don’t want to wear a towel in bed.”

She didn’t question it. We shared the pastries, lounging in bed, brushing crumbs off the sheets and pretending we weren’t still spinning from everything we’d said the night before.

Mina curled against me after a while, legs tucked under the blanket, sipping her coffee and leaning her head on my shoulder.

“This feels so normal,” she said after a bit. “In a good way.”

“Yeah?” I kissed the top of her head. “Feels like home to me.”

She smiled up at me, soft and sleepy. “You always say the right thing.”

“Only because I spent my whole life saying the wrong ones.”

Her expression grew quiet for a moment. “I’m glad you showed up.”

“Me too.” I cupped her cheek and brushed a slow kiss across her lips. “I’d fly halfway around the world a hundred times over if it meant waking up with you.”

She laughed against my mouth. “That’s very poetic for someone who barely survived flying coach.”

“Don’t remind me.”

I had told her about the plane rides from hell. She thought it was funny. I was still traumatized.

“I should order something a bit more substantial,” I said. “You’re growing a human. You need protein.”

She looked up at me. “Protein? Is that a metaphor?”

I rolled my eyes. “No. I mean in any other situation, maybe, but not this time. Do you have morning sickness?”

“Not really,” she said with a shrug. “If I don’t eat every couple of hours I get a little nauseated, but so far things are good.”

I nodded. I had a lot to learn about the pregnancy stuff. “Okay. What sounds good? Do you have cravings?”

She smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. I don’t think so.”

“Pancakes? Waffles?”

“Waffles sound good,” she said. “With strawberries.”

“And whipped cream,” I added.

I got out of bed once again. I didn’t bother with a towel as I walked to the phone. I placed the order while Mina walked into the restroom.

We spent the rest of the morning being lazy.

We stuffed our faces, took a nice long shower together, and sat on the balcony holding hands.

Eventually we left her villa and went to the pool.

The sky had cleared, leaving behind some wispy clouds and humidity thick enough to feel like syrup on my skin.

Mina wore a navy-blue swimsuit under a sheer white cover-up. I couldn’t stop staring at her.

“What?” she asked, catching me for the third time.

“Nothing,” I said with a smile.

“Is a boob hanging out?”

“Definitely not. If it was, you better believe I would have covered it up. Those are my boobs.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re mine.” She laughed.

“We’ll agree to share,” I said with a shrug.

She bit her lip, but the blush that crept up her cheeks gave her away.

“Want something to drink?” I asked.

She scrunched her nose. “It’s so weird to be here and not drink.”

“I’ll get us something fruity and non-alcoholic.”

“You can drink,” she said.

“Nope. We’re in this together.”

I kissed her before walking to the bar. It had barstools on one side and the other side opened up to the pool. That was when I noticed Tori.

She was perched on a bar stool, still in her bikini, a bright sarong tied around her waist. She was laughing at something the man next to her had just said. The dude was a tall guy, dark blond, maybe early thirties, with a crooked grin and an even more obvious interest in Mina’s best friend.

I said nothing and just took the drinks back to Mina.

“Look at your girl go,” I said as I took my seat beside her.

Mina followed my gaze and grinned. “Oh, Tori .”

“He’s making moves,” I said with a laugh.

We watched them for a few seconds. Tori twirled the straw in her drink while the guy leaned in and said something that made her laugh. A moment later, he leaned even closer and said something else, and Tori’s brows lifted.

Mina straightened. “Did he just proposition her?”

“Looked like it.”

And then, Tori turned to us, caught Mina’s eye, and gave her the world’s most obvious what do you think? face.

Mina smiled wide and nodded. “Go!”

Tori laughed, said something to the guy, and then glanced back at us and offered a thumbs-up before disappearing with the man toward the lobby.

I looked at Mina. “Is that a good idea?” I asked.

“She deserves a good time,” Mina said. “She’s been through hell and back for me. She’s earned a little fun. If he tries anything, she’ll rip his balls off. Tori only looks sweet and innocent.”

I couldn’t help but wince. “Ow.”

We spent the rest of the day lying on beach chairs.

We took a leisurely stroll along the beach.

I couldn’t stop touching her. I had spent too many nights wondering if I would ever get the chance to be with her again.

It felt like a dream and I wasn’t about to let it go. I was holding on for dear life.