Chapter 27

27

Knox

"Not for real, of course," I add.

Her eyes bug out. It would be almost comical, but for the fact that I'm being perfectly serious about my proposition.

"You want to fake marry me?" Her tone is puzzled.

And rightly so. I went by Priscilla's place right after my discussion with Mary. Priscilla told me she sensed I had feelings for my assistant at the lunch at Arthur's place when we announced our engagement. She accepted my decision to break off the engagement with relief, not least because she has feelings for Tyler. No, she didn't admit that, but it seems clear.

I insisted I'd be the one to break the news to Arthur and her brother Toren. She was grateful, and the two of us discussed the best way to do it.

The mess is my fault, and I should be the one to clear it up. I'm sure she's a perfectly fine person, but we hardly know each other. I should have known there'd be no future for us, not when I'm so preoccupied with my assistant and the things I want to do to her.

Now, I widen my stance. I needed to find a solution to deliver on Arthur's stipulation, else Gramps was sure to hold it over me, and I really want that house in Cumbria. It's only when I walked in here and saw my assistant that I realized what my subconscious had planned all along. And the more I think about it now, the more it seems like this is the only way out.

"I want you to be my wife for all practical purposes, except in the real sense."

The furrow between her eyebrows deepens. "So, there will be?—"

"No fucking." Not because I don't want to fuck her, but because she's too pure for me. If I touch her, I won't be able to hold back from sullying her with the kind of filth I'm into. And no way, am I letting that happen.

Her already pink cheeks blaze crimson.

"And now, you're thinking this means I won't deliver on the orgasms, but I will."

She gapes. A myriad of expressions crosses her face, and she seems incapable of speaking.

I raise my palm and wiggle my fingers. "I don't need to fuck you to make you finish."

Her gaze widens.

"And I'll make it worth your while."

Golden sparks ignite in her eyes. "You'll make it worth my while?" Her voice is high.

"I'll pay for your mother's living arrangements and any care she may need in the future, so you won't need to worry about that anymore. I'll buy your apartment for you. I'll also take care of your siblings' university fees, and ensure they have jobs waiting for when they graduate."

She begins to speak, but I hold up my hand.

"Or if they want to study further, I'll ensure they get admission into the best schools in the world. And pay for it. I'll also put money in trust funds for them, so they'll be set for life."

"Trust funds? For them?" she asks in a faint voice.

"And I'll pay off all your student loan debts and ensure you also have a trust fund, so you can do as you want with the money from the interest it brings you."

She wraps her arms about her waist, "Hold on, you're saying that?—"

"That all of your and your family's material needs will be taken care of. If you agree to marry me." I'm aware, I'm pulling out all the stops, but I need her to say yes.

She swallows. "And I'd be your wife, only in name?"

"For all practical purposes, to the world and to my family, you'd be mine."

Mine. Mine. Mine. She was mine from the moment I saw her. It's why I'm going to protect her from my need to own her, and break her, and make her submit to my needs. Because, while she's a natural submissive, I can't do that to her. She's not strong enough to endure the things I want to do to her.

A shadow darkens her eyes; her lips turn down. Then she collects herself and angles her chin upwards. "I… I need a moment." She walks around the bed and toward the kitchenette. She fills a glass with water from the tap and drinks from it.

I watch her carefully, knowing she's buying time, and allow it. I need her to consider this before she agrees. I want her to understand that this proposal is going to benefit her. "Surely, you can see that this is a win-win for the both of us?"

"So, all my financial difficulties are over, and you get to keep your word to your grandfather."

"Exactly."

She turns to face me. "You're buying my agreement to marry you?"

I allow myself a small smile. "If it feels better, you can tell yourself that you're accepting my proposal for the sake of your family."

She narrows her gaze.

"Your mother experienced a lot of challenges raising you. Surely, you want to make sure the rest of her life is comfortable. And you want to make sure your siblings have the kind of future they deserve."

She swallows. A look of helplessness flits across her features, and for a second, I allow myself to feel contrite. I'm pressing my advantage, but what else can I do? I must provide an alternative when I tell my grandfather I'm not proceeding according to his plan. And this way, I can ensure she's always within my purview. I can ensure she doesn't end up with anyone else. Is that selfish? Maybe. But I'm also helping her and her family out, right?

When she hesitates, I walk in her direction and come to a halt when I'm a foot away from her. I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to overly influence her. Even though I am. I mean, I'm not ordering her to marry me, knowing she'd agree if I did. That subservient part of her needs to be told what to do. I'm the man for that, I'm aware; and while I could use it to sway her to agree to my arrangement, I'd prefer she arrive at that decision herself. However, I am going to coax her along in that direction. Surely, you can't blame me for doing so.

"There's something else I can do for you; something that money cannot buy."

"Oh?" She looks at me with suspicion. "What's that?"

It's something I've been saving up as a last resort to convince her, and much as I hate to use it, I don't think I have a choice. I slide my hand into my pocket, then offer, "I can help you track down your birth family."