Wicked Bride Games Read online

  She sighs and closes her eyes, her hand dropping to her lap again.

  “Fifty million dollars. After three weeks,” I add, and I place the pen on the piece of paper in front of her.

  Suddenly, she gets up from the chair, her face completely void of any emotion. “You’ve got the wrong girl.”

  She turns around and starts to walk away, not even granting me one more look. I know what she thinks. This is illegal. Who am I to even ask? What am I thinking? Have I lost my mind? She could sue me or call the cops for even suggesting the idea.

  But she knows just as well as I do that no one will believe her.

  Besides, we both know she needs this, so it’s just a matter of time before she comes knocking on my door.

  With a grin on my face and the memory of her perfectly swaying ass as it leaves through my door, I say, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  3.

  Accompanying Song: “Anne” by Santigold

  Naomi

  The next day

  Drip. Drip. Drip.

  I rub my temples, trying to ignore the sound, but it just won’t go away.

  Drip. Drip. Drip.

  I should find another job. I should ask more banks for loans. I should ask for a delay in payments. I should …

  I sigh. I should do so many things, yet I already know none of them will work remotely as well as the offer I was given yesterday. But the thought of what it means makes me want to tear my hair out.

  Drip. Drip. Drip.

  Still, sitting here in my apartment doing nothing drives me insane.

  I stare at the note lying on the table in front of me; the words beckon me, calling to me in a devious way. Money. It’s all I see. All I need. But am I willing to give myself to a man I don’t know? A man I’ve only met once?

  Then again, I doubt it’s going to go further than just a fuck here and there. A sex doll to the richest man in town can’t be that bad. Or maybe I’ve just lost my mind. Giving away your body to a man you don’t know can be quite risky, to put it mildly. But let’s face it—where that man lived or worked proved the amount of money he has, and I bet that isn’t even one percent of his wealth. The man reeked of money, and it made me so hungry I could practically eat him for lunch. Not to mention he was hot.

  Three weeks of him doing anything he wants with me … is that really such a punishment?

  The single lit light above me flickers, just like my resolution. And when it finally goes out, I blow out my final breath before I make up my mind.

  My home, my job, my life, my family … it’s all falling apart at the seams, and I’m not letting it crumble. Not if I can help it. And damn me for wanting to make it big, but I will not settle for anything less than what he’s offering me.

  I plant my fist on the table and get up, determined to make this choice, even if it’ll drown me.

  So be it.

  At least, I’ll have the money to wipe my tears away.

  ***

  Accompanying Song: “The Demon Dance” by Cliff Martinez

  An hour later

  My hand hovers over his door, but before I can knock, the already familiar voice booms through the wood. “Come in.”

  Did he know I was coming? Maybe the man downstairs called him to say I was going up. Or maybe he’s just been waiting for me all this time. The thought creates goose bumps on my skin. It’s not every day that a man is that determined to make me his. Then again, I’m a liar if I said it doesn’t spook me a little and turn me on in a way I can’t explain.

  It’s like a game to him, and that intrigues me.

  So I twist the doorknob and step inside his office once again.

  The smile that greets me as he stands up from his chair makes me shiver in place.

  “Hello, Naomi. I’m so glad you decided to return.”

  Again, that voice that makes me melt. God, I hate it so much … that I love it.

  “Hello …”

  “Oh …” He steps away from his desk and comes toward me, holding out his hand. “How rude of me. I never introduced myself. Max Marino.” Before I know it, he’s grabbed my hand and shaken it, his firm grip all that I can focus on as our skin touches for the very first time.

  When he releases my hand, I can still feel his warmth tingle underneath my skin. As he walks back to his desk, I quickly wipe my hand on my skirt and follow him.

  His fingers briefly skim across the paper lying neatly on the desk in front of the chair where I’m supposed to sit. “You’re here to accept my deal,” he says promptly, not even a hint of hesitation in his voice.

  He cocks his head and peeks at me over his shoulder, his fingers sliding across the desk until he’s behind it again and facing me. I stand with my heels planted in the carpet, but when my legs shake, I immediately start walking.

  “Yes,” I answer, and I sit down on the chair opposite to him.

  The smile on his face is devious. Telling. Like a young boy who just won a game of catch-me-if-you-can, even though I guess him to be somewhere near thirty. I’d like to wipe that smirk off his face, and I’m sure I will … after I receive that fifty million dollars.

  “Good,” he muses, placing a pen in front of me. “Read through the contract before you sign.”

  I cock my head. “What makes you think I’ll agree to the terms you’ve laid out?”

  “Because you want this money more than anything, and you’ll do whatever I say to get it.”

  “What if I’d like to negotiate better terms for myself?”

  “No. These terms are the only ones I’ll take.” He crosses his arms. “Take the deal or leave it. There is no in-between.”

  Fuck him for being such an asshole about it.

  Grinding my teeth, I mull it over a bit. “How far does this contract allow you to go?”

  “Anything and everywhere. There is no limit.”

  “Toys? Anal? DP?”

  He taps his pen on his desk, the left side of his lips briefly perking up. But there’s no answer.

  “Bodily harm?” I swallow away the lump in my throat. Still, nothing. “Could I die?”

  His eyes shut, and he muffles a short laugh. “If you died, there’d be no way for you to collect your fifty million dollars.”

  “Convenient,” I say, leaning back.

  He places his hand on the paper. “This is not just a contract for you. It’s a contract for both of us. And if you read this small line here, it says that I must give you the fifty million dollars at the end of our agreement as promised.”

  I narrow my eyes. “But that means you get to do anything to my body. You could break my bones or cut me up. You could scar me for life and then still give me the money, and our deal would be valid.”

  He frowns as I continue.

  “You could even kill me after giving me the money.”

  It takes him a while to formulate an answer. “I suppose that’s true … but where’s the fun in that?”

  I raise a brow. “I want immunity.” I place my hand just below his, staking my claims over the contract. “If I take this deal, I will give you myself for almost an entire month to do with as you please, but … there will be no permanent changes made to my body, whatsoever, whenever.”

  He smirks, like he knows that even if he agrees, it would still be a possibility that I’d end up with a debilitation and that I’d still only get my fifty million dollars as a comfort prize. But I’m not finished yet.

  “And … if you do not follow this contract, you will give me fifty percent of the shares that you hold over your company … and my parents will receive the other fifty percent as well as the total fifty million dollars that was promised to me, should I die. Just as insurance for my wellbeing.”

  His frown deepens.

  “Oh, don’t be surprised. Of course, a man with your wealth has a company. Probably something like a bank. Or multiple. The only question is how much of it do you actually own?” Now, it’s my tu
rn to smile.

  “Enough,” he says through gritted teeth.

  “Great. Then you’ll surely agree it’s only fair. Money is your life … so a life for a life.”

  His lips twitch, and he leans back in his chair, staring at me from a distance. “You want to play hard …”

  “I know you want me more than I want you.”

  “Wrong.”

  “You chose me for a reason,” I muse. “I know you want me to believe I’m just some random girl to you, but I know I’m not. There are a million girls across the globe who’d want this just as badly, but somehow, you picked me. That’s not a coincidence.” I press my elbows against my boobs as I lean forward, watching his eyes go down the slope of my shirt. “You. Want. Me.”

  For a while, he just stares. Blatantly stares at my chest. Like he’s counting his money’s worth. Like he already owns me.

  “Fine. Deal.” He raises his brows. “My shares of the company I work for in exchange for your life. I’ll make the amendment in the contract right away.” He turns to face his computer, quickly typing something and printing it out to add another paper to the stack beneath me.

  I hold out my hand. “Let’s shake on it.”

  He reluctantly gives me his hand, his grip even firmer than before. After that, I pick up the pen and read the document through completely. It states all the rules, which includes my inability to say no. It also says that my family and close friends will be contacted through my own email, stating that I’m going to be on vacation for a month and won’t be bringing a cell phone. Supposedly, I’m going off the radar to take a break.

  Below that, it asks for my account name and password. Of course, he wants access to that. They don’t want me to send secret messages. I smirk, seeing through all of his little plans.

  At the bottom of the document are two names. Naomi Lee. Property of Marino. That last line makes my skin crawl.

  Still, I sign at the bottom. While I put the final dot on the i, I ask, “When does the contract start?”

  The wicked smile on his face makes me quiver in place. “Now.”

  4.

  Accompanying Song: “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation

  Max

  Minutes later …

  As we sit on opposite ends in my limo, I can’t take my eyes off her. Her olive skin glistens in the sun as it shines through the window she’s looking through. She hasn’t looked at me since she slid into the car with me. I wonder if she’s upset about my proposal, if she has any regrets … whether she’s preparing for what’s to come.

  She should.

  This isn’t just some ordinary deal, but she’ll find out soon enough. Then again … she isn’t an ordinary woman either.

  I admire her from a distance, but my fingers can’t help but reach for her face. I gently slide back a few strands of her black hair and tuck them behind her ear. Her eyes flash as she turns her head, her face still completely blank. I wonder what’s going on inside that brain of hers. If it’s just as beautiful as her body in that skirt.

  I can’t wait to peel it all away, layer by layer, until nothing is left.

  My hand caresses her cheek gently. She doesn’t lean away, even though I expected her to, with her feistiness. Instead, her lips tip up into a smile. How strange … and delightfully pleasant.

  “Why are you smiling?” I ask.

  “For a man who can do anything to the woman sitting next to him, you sure do pick an awfully sweet gesture,” she muses, making me smile too.

  “That’s because I’m savoring you for as long as I can before—” I cut myself off before I say too much. I don’t want to upset her. At least, not while I’m in her vicinity. She’d probably kill me if she knew, which is why I won’t say a word until we arrive at our destination.

  “Before what?” She frowns.

  “Nothing.” I pull my hand back and clear my throat. “Ignore what I just said.”

  Her mouth twitches, but she keeps it shut, thankfully. Although I can definitely see her thoughts just from the scowl on her face. I snort.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Like I said, nothing,” I say, shrugging.

  “Well …” She stares at her nails and rubs one of them profusely. “If this is how it’s going to be for almost an entire month, then I guess this is going to be easier than I thought.”

  I raise a brow. “How so?”

  She smirks. “Because not talking is boring as fuck.”

  I laugh. “Miss Lee … if there is anything you do need to know is that these weeks are going to be anything but boring.” I lean in so close, I can smell her perfume. Roses and a hint of honey. I close my eyes and take a whiff. Then I look up at her with half-mast eyes, barely able to contain myself. I’d rather just bite her in the shoulder for trying to taunt me, but I won’t. I’ll keep it civil … for now.

  “I will entertain you thoroughly,” I muse, as I grab her hand and kiss her palm. I can feel her shiver.

  Right as I lift my head again, my house appears in the distance.

  I point at the window and whisper in her ear, “Look.”

  She turns her head and places her hand on the window. “Is that your house?” Her voice sounds more like a soft breath.

  I slide over to her and smile against her earlobe, the touch of her skin on my lips making me want to nibble “That’s where you’ll be staying. Do you see the fences surrounding the property? Stay within them, or the contract is nullified.”

  “Okay …”

  “What do you think of the house?”

  “Well”—she snorts—“it’s a nice prison.”

  “Oh, don’t think of it as a prison. Think of it as a castle where all your darkest fantasies will come to life.”

  She turns her head toward me, unafraid of the fact that I’m sitting so close, so in her space. “My darkest fantasies … or yours?”

  I grin as I slide my finger down her cheek. “We’ll leave that up to your imagination.”

  When the car comes to a stop, I clear my throat and slip back into my seat as my chauffeur exits the vehicle and opens my door and then hers.

  I hold out my arm for her to grab, which she does reluctantly. “I suppose you’re not into the chivalrous kind.”

  “Oh, on the contrary. I’m just not into you.”

  Ouch.

  “Are you sure you want to be here?” I ask as I guide her along the gravel path.

  “No.”

  “Then why are you?” I tilt my head to the side.

  “Money. Plain and simple.” She smiles broadly, but it’s a fake smile, and I can see right through it.

  “You might want to start working for it then …”

  She shakes her head. “That wasn’t outlined in the contract. I’m to be yours. It didn’t specify how or what my response to your advances should be.”

  “Hmm …” I smile to myself. Clever girl. No matter. Soon, she’ll find out just how hard she’ll have to work for me.

  “Still, I hardly believe you’re telling the truth about not being into me,” I add as we walk to the front door of the mansion. “I saw you shiver when I touched you, and I know you felt it too.”

  With just one side-glance and a faint blush on her cheeks, I have all I need to confirm the truth.

  ***

  Naomi

  He opens the large, wooden front door and holds it open for me to go in first. His eyes are on me like a hawk as I go inside and marvel at the mansion and its marble floors, large floor-to-ceiling windows and drapes, and the intricate tapestries hanging from the wall.

  I saunter around the hallway, peeking into the single bedroom on the left with the beautiful red sheets and some kind of hot tub in the corner. “Is this my room?” I ask.

  “No, you’ll be staying in that one over there.” He points at a room above, up the stairs. “The one you’re looking at is my room.”

  I linger near it for a few more seconds, wo
ndering why I can’t stay with him. “I like your room.”

  “I’m sure you do.” From the sound of his voice, I’m guessing the answer is a definite no.

  “Can I explore the house? I mean if I’m supposed to stay here for almost an entire month, then I might as well make myself at home, right?” I ask with a flattering smile, but it’s only to keep up the charade.

  “You can but don’t expect to have a lot of free time on your hands.” He winks, and it makes me look away in silence. I don’t want him to see me blush. I hate it. Hate what his smile does to me. I have to focus on why I’m here.

  “C’mon,” he says, beckoning me to follow him up the stairs.

  I quietly trail behind him as we go up and then into a hallway to the right. There, he opens a door. “This is your room.”

  I frown as I walk inside, still keeping my eyes on him, as I don’t know what he’s planning to do.

  “Feel free to check it out. There are dresses in the wardrobe that you can wear, and makeup in the vanity drawers. However, you are expected to be ready within fifteen minutes so we can proceed with your introduction.”

  “We?” I turn to face him. I hope I didn’t hear that right.

  “Yes, we,” he muses. “My brothers and I own you now.”

  My eyes widen, and the temperature in the room just dropped by about twenty degrees.

  “Don’t look so surprised,” he scoffs.

  “Brothers? You never mentioned—”

  “It is in the contract,” he interrupts. “The contract only mentioned my last name, which I share with my two brothers.” A wicked smile forms on his face.

  I step backward, my hands balling into fists. I can’t believe he tricked me. Even after I read the contract twice. How did I not see this coming?

  The tone of his voice darkens. “We all own you now.”