Jennifer Probst - The Marriage Merger

Tell me why you should stay on your own accord and not because Sawyer is letting you play on the business ground.”

Seconds ticked. His face clearly showed the struggle to either share something he didn’t want or walk away.

He shifted in his chair, got to his feet, stopped, and cursed under his breath. Julietta made her own leap and gave him the push he needed.

“I was twenty-two when I started working with my brother. I knew I had a lot to prove, and I swore I’d make him proud of me. I worked harder and longer hours than anyone else, studied the industry, and took a lot of crap from the executives who didn’t think I belonged here. one night I was working late and an exec from advertising fol-lowed me into my office.” God, she still remembered the scent of his overpowering cologne and the fake smile on his lips. His eyes gleamed with a coldness that froze her in place. even as he pretended to make small talk as he sat on the edge of the desk. Touched her hair. Focused his greedy stare on the edge of her skirt. Hot breath against her mouth and grabby hands on her thighs.

“He tried to force himself on me. I got lucky. one of the cleaning people heard me and burst in before anything hap-pened.” Her composed tone contradicted the deep shudder that wracked her body. “I pressed charges, but they were dropped. The executive got fired. And I learned the lesson.

It didn’t matter if I was smarter, worked harder, or was even more deserving. It only mattered what he saw—a silly female sex object not worthy of this company or his respect.”

She shrugged. “That episode made me stronger. I can’t change anyone’s opinions, but I sure as hell won’t let them screw me just because they think they can. That’s my truth.”

Wolfe didn’t move. She locked her gaze with his and waited. His fingers fisted, and she watched as the memories struggled to surface—watched his internal struggle—and the control he used to compose himself. He clenched his jaw.

“I’ve been to hell. I got out. I’m never going back.” Wolfe swallowed. “I had no place to go, so I tried to steal from Sawyer and got caught. Most rich guys would’ve locked me in jail and pressed charges. Instead, he offered to take me in. Gave me a job and a chance to learn the business. He didn’t even know anything about me, yet he gave me more than anyone had in this lifetime. A chance. you can trust me because any other way is back to hell.”

“Is it just about a job? or something more?”

Again, he gave her the priceless gift of truth. “It started as the job, but now it’s more. We’ve been together almost a year now. He’s the smartest man I’ve ever met, and he’s fair.” He ducked his head and his voice broke. “I don’t want to disappoint him.”

Her chest hurt, so she breathed carefully, kept her face impassive, and nodded. “you won’t. you show the skills of someone much older and wiser, and you’ve seen the other side, so you’ll never take anything for granted. you’re the type of man I want on my team.”

He looked up. Nodded. She caught the tiny smile on his face as he sat back down in the chair, making his own decision to stay. “Grazie.”

Damn, she liked him. Bristly and honest and real.

“Prego.”

“Julietta?”

“yes?”

“What’s the name of the guy who hurt you? Maybe someone should pay him a visit?”

Startled, she laughed with delight at his sudden protectiveness so ingrained in the male species. Another thing to like about him—once he trusted, he’d be loyal to the core.

“No worries. Michael allowed the charges to be dropped for a good reason. Let’s just say my older brother knows people. At least the exec’s hospital stay was quite short.”

“Good.” He gave a half grin. “Italians are definitely the best in the area of payback. I’ve watched the Godfather and Goodfellas a bunch of times.”

She was still laughing when her employees streamed into the room. They threw odd glances at both of them as they took their seats and waited for her to speak. Julietta moved to the head of the table and smiled.

This was going to be fun.

Sawyer did a quick survey of the rooms to make sure everything was in place. The Bulgari Milano hotel was perfect for their first encounter, offering an old-fashioned luxury that was both visually and physically arresting.

The sitting room was intimately set up with a Brera stone fireplace, and the rich woods of teak and oak blended with deep vanillas and buttery colors that soothed the senses. The refined elegance of the eighteenth-century palazzo reminded him of Julietta. The display of ornate jewels and tasteful antiques throughout the suite added an extra touch. The open carved archway led to the bedroom, where a magnificent canopy bed dominated the room. Ice blue silk pillows matched the ridiculously expensive thread count of the pulled-back sheets, and the glass doors opened to a private balcony that overlooked the gardens. A bottle of champagne chilled in the silver bucket across from a tray of finger foods to keep any hunger at bay.

He hoped he’d finally elicit a different type of hunger.

Anticipation bit through him in sweet agony and stiffened his cock. Their negotiations over this night still turned him on. He’d never met a woman so worthy of pleasure. The sharpness of her intellect was as much of a turn-on as her luscious body. A body she didn’t know how to use or to take pleasure in. The dom in him howled to release such a prize and claim it for himself.

The possessiveness surprised him. He’d shared women before without a thought—not to hurt them but to make sure he didn’t restrain them with false expectations. Sawyer realized long ago he’d never be whole enough for a healthy, long-term relationship. With a past filled with abuse, neglect, and mental games, there was nothing pure or good in him to offer. He made sure women knew there was no future going in so he never gave fake hope. But since Julietta, his inner caveman broke out with a primitive impulse to mark her as his.

He’d just have to get over it.

Still, he couldn’t believe he’d persuaded her to spend the night. When she calmly informed him he’d only get a few hours and she’d leave before dawn, the need to claim her till morning shocked him to the core. Usually it was the other way around. A rueful smile touched his lips. Guess he got a taste of the other side. And it sucked.

A knock sounded on the door.

His fingers tingled as he opened it and wondered if she’d obey his first request. His scrawled note with the gift box probably intimidated her. Had he gone too far? Sawyer flung open the door.

Instead of a trembling lover, he faced a pissed-off ice queen.

A scowl settled on her brow. “you actually think women like wearing this crap? Do you know how humiliating it is to have people think you’re not wearing anything under your coat? I got stares from the taxi driver and doorman.”

She stalked in wearing a short cream-colored wool coat.

Stiletto heels. Black stockings. And not much else.

Loose mahogany waves fell past her shoulders and continued to her waist, emphasizing the nakedness of her col-larbone, teasing an onlooker to try to take a peek. Her skirt was so short it disappeared under the hemline and gave the impression of erotic hide-and-go-seek.

oh, yeah. She obeyed perfectly. His gaze roved over her with pure greed, even as he fought a grin at her entry. She was so different from any other woman—he was endlessly fascinated by the twist of confidence and vulnerability she exhibited.

“you didn’t like the stares of the other men?” he chal-lenged. “Doesn’t it make you feel desirable? Sexy?”

“Dirty,” she quipped, dropping her purse on the chair and glancing around. She obviously wasn’t ready to lose the coat. “Puttana?”

He poured her a glass of champagne and crossed the room. The scent of rich coconut and mocha drifted from her skin. “Slut, huh? Ah, you are judging by society’s expectations again. Why shouldn’t a powerful woman want to be a slut in her own bedroom? Such a negative connotation for a woman who demands pleasure and will do anything to get it.” His words caused a delicate shudder to rip through her body. Good. She liked the verbal images, and it reached her on a deeper level.

She dived into a change of subject. “I don’t know if I feel comfortable at this hotel.”

“Why?”

She nibbled at her lower lip. “The rooms are close.

People may hear us.”

He handed her the delicate flute. God, she was ador-able. one moment a lioness, the next a shy virgin. “I’m glad you’re thinking you’ll enjoy yourself enough to scream, but I’ve taken care of the problem.”

“How?”

He smiled. “I bought all the rooms on this floor. We are completely alone.”

She blinked. “oh. Good thinking.”

“Thank you.” He dropped his voice. “And necessary.

Because you will be screaming, Julietta. A lot.”

Her fingers tightened on the stem of the glass, but she refused to cower. She tipped the glass up and took a long sip. Then met his gaze. “If you’re lucky.”

“Why don’t you take off your coat?”

“Not yet. So, tell me, Sawyer. Is this what men fantasize about women wearing? Because I’m here to tell you it’s uncomfortable as hell and not much fun. This thong is rid-ing up my rear in a permanent wedgie. And my breasts are held so tight together it’s hard to breathe. Not the best way to get me in the mood.”

He reached out and touched a glossy wave. The heat from her body burned and pulled him in, making a mockery of her calm demeanor. oh, yeah, she was definitely aroused.

She just didn’t know what to do with it and hoped to lock it up in a neat little closet. He looked forward to causing her much discomfort in the next few hours. His cock twitched in his pants.

“you’re not pushing past the surface,” he murmured.

“Behind the vague discomfort is the opportunity to let your body take over. The corset I picked out for you pushes your breasts out and makes your nipples more sensitive. every breath you take is controlled and earned, so you’re aware of the rush of air in your lungs.” He kept up the slide of his fingers over her hair, tugging gently to wake up her scalp.

“When you’re aroused, your nipples will harden and poke against the lace. The scratch will be a reminder of what my stubble may feel like against your breasts. The edge of your panties separate the globes of your buttocks and barely skim your mound. As you get wet, you’ll be aware of each sensation. Discomfort brings awareness, Julietta. It’s all part of eroticism.”

Her pupils dilated. yes. He knew she dampened at the stroke of his voice, her body finally letting go enough to make the connection with her brain. He imagined the tightness of her nipple under his tongue and the sweet arch of her hips as she opened for him. But first, he needed to strip all of her mental defenses.

He released her hair and took a deliberate step back.

“Now, back to my original request. Take your coat off.”

Surprise flickered across her face. “I’m cold.”

His lips twitched. “I’ll warm you up soon. For now, let this be a gentle reminder to the terms of our agreement.

Full command. Full surrender.”

His queen rallied. Crap, she was magnificent. Her eyes snapped cocoa brown heat and her fingers tugged open the buttons. “This is ridiculous.” one. Two. “I can’t believe I agreed to this sex scene. Just so you know, this is not turning me on, so I hope at least you get a thrill from this episode.”

Three. Four. She shrugged off the barrier and threw it on the velvet chair to cover her purse. “Satisfied?”

Oh, yeah.

He took in the fine black lace of her corset, which nipped in at the waist, squeezed her breasts, and lifted them up like a gift to the gods. The minuscule black skirt barely covered her ass. Her skin was flawless and a golden brown that begged for a man’s touch. endless legs clad in sheer black hose ended in a pair of four-inch fuck-me heels where her fire-engine-red toenails peeked out in rebellion.

Time to reel in his stubborn lover-to-be. He switched to his dom voice, which vibrated with a confident power, and whipped through the room like a lash. “Turn around.”

She jerked. Blinked. But obeyed immediately, turning in a full circle so he could feast on the full globes of her rear, where the wisp of fabric hugged her most intimate body parts. His fingers clenched to touch the lush flesh and warm it to a nice pale pink. Instead, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and studied every inch of her. A delicate flush bloomed in her cheeks. Good. She was aware of his full attention and was off balance. “Have you ever had a man look at you like this, Julietta?”