Page 2

Chapter two

Matty

I cringed when Novo looked around the apartment, but it was all I could afford on the measly allowance I got from my godfather.

He wanted me to move in with him, but I would rather die, so this was it.

Part of the marriage contract meant paying for Novo’s living expenses as well, so he’d just have to suck it up.

I’d already gotten a fold-up camping bed for myself I could stow behind the sofa.

I didn't want to explain how hard I had to work for this place—the long hours at the coffee shop, the careful budgeting, the constant fear that Harold would find a legal way to cut me off completely. I’d been so stupid for so many years.

Money had never been an issue. Then two years ago I’d gotten a call from the bank to say my account was overdrawn, followed by both my credit cards being stopped.

My godfather demanded I return immediately, and when I did, he told me he was sick of paying for my wasteful lifestyle.

It was a shock. I knew he didn’t care about me, and it was my money. But since he stopped everything but the minimum allowance he had to pay me, we’d been in a standoff.

I even went to see my lawyer, only to find out I never knew the terms of my mom and dad’s will, as I'd never bothered to update my mailing address. Although to be honest, I never really knew my mom and dad either.

And I didn’t know what to think of the bombshell my lawyer dropped on me.

Looking at Novo now, taking in his massive frame, his intense eyes, the way he filled my small apartment with his presence—I wasn't so sure of this anymore.

When Ricky had first told me about Rent-A-Daddy, it had seemed like the perfect solution.

Find someone willing to play the part of my husband for two years, get my trust fund, and finally be free of Harold's control.

Because the first time I'd tried it on my own it had been a disaster.

I just hadn't expected someone like Novo.

"Um, the bathroom's down the hall," I said, gesturing awkwardly. "And there's only one bedroom, but I have a bed in here—"

"We'll figure it out," Novo said, his voice gruff as he set his duffel bag down. "You hungry?"

The question caught me off guard. "A little," I admitted. I hadn't eaten since yesterday’s breakfast, as nerves were making me nauseous.

Novo nodded, as if making a decision. "We've got that dinner later, but that's not for hours. You got anything here, or should we order something?" Novo's intense blue eyes studied me for a moment, and I felt myself shrinking under his gaze.

“I have some leftovers,” I said, wrinkling my nose at the thought.

"Show me what you've got," he said finally, following me to the kitchen.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I usually shop on Wednesdays." Which was a lie. I couldn’t shop because I hadn’t gotten my check from the coffee shop until this morning.

"Don't apologize," Novo said, his voice softer than before. "We'll order something. What do you like?"

I looked at him, trying to decide what he’d like. “Pizza?”

"Works for me," Novo said, surprising me with his easy agreement. "What toppings?"

I hesitated, wondering how to navigate this first test of our weird arrangement. "I'm good with whatever you want."

"Pepperoni?" he asked, pulling out his phone. "Any place you recommend?"

"Mario's is good," I offered, trying not to stare at the way his massive hands dwarfed his phone.

"They deliver pretty quickly." And they were cheap.

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my debit card.

Novo stared at it like it was a bomb, then took it from my hands.

Food was part of living expenses, so I had to pay.

While Novo ordered, I tried not to spiral. This whole situation was surreal. I was married—actually married—to this mountain of a man I'd never met before today. A man who was nothing like I'd expected.

When Ricky had described him, he'd mentioned Novo was big, bearded, and part of a motorcycle club. I’d nearly balked at that—but he’d provided a ton of references, including some military.

Daddy Chris and Daddy Saul were both happy with those, so I’d gone ahead.

And as we were fast approaching the start of the two-year deadline, he was really my last chance.

I’d understood Ricky needed to find someone who was the total opposite of either Carrington or James. What Ricky failed to mention was how intense his presence would be, how his blue eyes seemed to see straight through me, or how surprisingly gentle his deep voice could sound.

"Twenty minutes," Novo said, pocketing his phone. "So, should we talk about how this is going to work?"

My stomach clenched. "Um, yeah. I guess we should."

He gestured to the sofa. "Might as well be comfortable."

I perched on the edge of the cushion while Novo settled himself at the other end, his large frame making my IKEA furniture look like dollhouse pieces.

I looked over at him as silence settled, then lowered my eyes quickly.

I knew most Doms required that. If he was a Dom?

Ricky hadn't actually said, but he knew I wanted a Daddy

“Ricky told me I was your third try,” he said. My head shot up in surprise. I hadn’t expected Ricky to share that. “Want to tell me about the other two?”

I felt my pulse pick up. “Carrington was…well he gave in. My godfather offered him an immediate $500,000 instead of waiting for the two years. He took it,” I added in a whisper.

Novo didn’t react except to narrow his eyes. “Do you have proof?”

“Only what Carrington told me,” I whispered. “He said it had been fun, but his creditors didn’t like waiting for two years, and he hated living here. He kept wanting to go to my godfather’s.”

“And I understand if you don’t get married the money reverts to your godfather?”

I nodded. “Not that he doesn’t have enough of his own,” I added miserably.

“And the second?”

I felt my chest tighten at the mention of James.

My breathing suddenly became shallow and rapid.

"James was—he—" I tried to take a breath, but my chest grew tighter.

"He wanted—" I couldn't get the words out as memories flooded back.

James's cruel smile, his hands on my throat, the things he'd said he would do once we were married.

The room started to blur around the edges.

"Matty?" Novo's voice sounded far away. "Matty, you need to breathe."

I couldn't. My lungs were refusing to cooperate, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst. I pressed a hand to my chest, fingers curling into my shirt as I gasped for air that wouldn't come.

"Shit." Novo moved with surprising speed for such a large man. In one fluid motion, he was beside me, then lifting me as if I weighed nothing. The room spun as he settled back on the couch and placed me sideways across his lap, my back against one of his massive arms, my legs draped over his thigh.

"Easy," he murmured, his deep voice rumbling through his chest against my side. One large hand spread across my back, warm and steady. "I need you to try to match my breathing, okay?"

I tried to focus on the steady rise and fall of his chest against my side. My vision was swimming, tears blurring everything as I struggled to draw breath.

"That's it," Novo encouraged, his voice surprisingly gentle. "In through your nose, hold it, then out through your mouth. With me now."

His hand moved in slow circles on my back, the pressure firm but not threatening. Gradually, the vice around my chest began to loosen. The roaring in my ears subsided enough that I could hear Novo counting softly, "In, one, two, three, four... hold... out, two, three, four..."

I don't know how long we sat like that, me curled on his lap like a child while he guided me through breathing exercises.

Eventually, the panic receded, leaving me exhausted and mortified.

I became acutely aware of my position—cradled against the chest of a man I'd just met, a virtual stranger who was now my husband.

"There you go," he said, his voice gentler than I would have thought possible from such an intimidating man. "Just keep breathing with me."

Minutes passed as we sat like that, my body cradled against his much larger frame. The panic receded slowly, leaving me limp with exhaustion and embarrassment. I knew I should move, get off his lap, but I couldn't seem to make my limbs cooperate. "I'm sorry,"

I risked looking up at him, expecting to see disgust or impatience. Instead, his gaze held nothing but concern. It was so unexpected that I had to look away. "Don't apologize," Novo said firmly. "You want to tell me what triggered it?"

I shuddered. "James... he wasn't what he seemed.

" I swallowed hard. "When we were alone, after the contract was signed but before the wedding, he told me what he really wanted.

He said..." My voice faltered. “We went to his club, and he said I was going to enjoy it, but he tied me up with a gag, and, and,” I took a huge breath in, and Novo just hushed me.

I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the pain, the humiliation.

“James who?” Novo murmured.

“Degrassi,” I whispered without thought.

Novo's expression darkened, but his hand continued its gentle motion on my back. "Degrassi," he repeated, his voice low and controlled in a way that made me shiver. "Thank you for telling me."

Before he could ask more questions, the doorbell rang. I flinched at the sound.

"That'll be the pizza," Novo said, carefully helping me off his lap. "Stay here, I'll get it."

I watched as he moved to the door, his movements fluid despite his size. My body felt hollow, wrung out from the panic attack. I hadn't meant to tell him about James. I hadn't told anyone the full story, not even Ricky.

Novo returned with the pizza box, setting it on the coffee table. The smell that normally would have made my mouth water now made my stomach churn. He opened the box and handed me a slice on a napkin, taking one for himself.