Chapter One
The wedding was rushed, and it was over before I knew it.
Brad and I both agreed that the sooner we got married, the sooner the year would be over. Neither of us wanted a big party. The only people I would have invited were my distant relatives - they truly wanted the best for me and would probably be thrilled at my marriage. I didn't want to get their hopes up and dash them after a year.
Brad had his own reasons for avoiding a big wedding, and I knew it had to do with evading the spotlight as much as possible, and trying to minimize the amount of play-acting we'd both have to do in public. Instead of inviting guests, we'd decide d to send them cards after the event, effectively announcing , "Hey, we got married!"
The wedding itself was held in Brad's townhouse. A minister came over to read the vows. George Neilson, my former boss and Brad's lawyer, was the witness. Eva was also there - I'd learnt that Brad had known her for so long , he trusted her completely. I couldn't say I was surprised, since I liked Eva myself and thought she was smart and down-to-earth.
Once the vows were read, we had some tea and scones, and George, the minister and Eva went home.
There had been a moment minutes before the ceremony, when I'd panicked. Everyone was downstairs waiting for me, and all I had to do was slip on my black dress and join them. But thoughts of real life and possibilities had flooded into my head, and I'd wondered how I could possibly commit such a serious deception . I remembered my mother, who'd raised me alone as a single woman, and I felt deep in my heart that I was letting her down.
But when I heard Eva knocking on the door to check if I was ok, the moment passed and I slipped the short black dress over my white bridal lingerie, reminding myself that this marriage was just a career move.
Of course, the thought that this was just a career move left my head soon after Brad and I came home from our celebratory dinner that night . When we were inside the house again, and I was about to step into the bedroom, Brad held my hand and pulled me back.
When he locked my fingers inside his palm, I felt the electricity travel up my arm and through my spine. I looked into his eyes and saw he was smiling at me, and I saw the desire in his face . Those blue eyes pierced mine with their depth and longing , and he put his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him.
I arched my back against him, anticipating his warm lips, my own lips parting slightly in expectation. I was breathing deeply as he bent down, bringing his face nearer to mine. His tongue traced my lower lip , before he moved forward another inch and let his lips crush against my own. O ur ton gues lashed against each other, and I felt my knees weaken.
When he moved away, I breathed in deeply. His hands left my waist and held my face steady between them as he looked at me briefly. I felt one hand move back, grazing my ear and finding that sensitive spot on the back of my neck. It travelled downwards slowly, inching along my spine, and wrapped itself around my waist.
Before I knew it, Brad had hooked his other arm below my knees and lifted me up in his arms.
"Congratulations, Mrs Reinehart ," he said, as he carried me through the door and laid me on the bed. "I hope you'll enjoy your wedding night."
He grinned at me briefly, and went to lock the door. Of course, no-one else was at home, but that motion made my stomach do knots and I waited as he took his time locking the door.
Finally, he turned around and I watch ed him as he unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, standing bare-chested in his jeans. He removed his shoes and walked over to the bed, placing a hand on my shoulder. My eyes followed his fingers as they trailed down my arm to my wrist, which he lifted up and kissed gently.
His scent was warm and oceanic, and just being near him made me want to strip naked and throw him on the floor. But instead, I waited, breathing deeply, as he took his
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