Marriage of Convenience (The Raven Brothers 1)

I glanced at Sara beside me. She looked a little shell-shocked. “Let’s go home.”

I guided her to the limo where I had champagne waiting. This might have been a sham wedding, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy the traditions that went along with getting married. I certainly was going to consummate the marriage when I got home. Maybe a baby would get made.

My heart had a strange flutter at the thought of making a baby. Fucking nerves.

“You alright?” I asked, popping the cork and pouring her a flute.

She had a funny smile on her face as she nodded.

“What?” I asked handing her the glass.

“I didn’t think we’d have a celebration like a real wedding.”

I shrugged. “No reason not to enjoy the finer parts of a wedding, like champagne and the honeymoon.” I held my glass out to clink against hers.

She swallowed hard and then took a long gulp of her champagne. I realized she must be nervous. I remembered that until last Friday, she’d been a virgin. The sexual encounter we had was a bit rough, so perhaps she wasn’t eager to repeat it.

“We don’t have to start the honeymoon right away,” I said. While I’d be happy to have her again, I wasn’t so sure I was ready for a baby yet.

“A deal is a deal.”

I frowned as I realized I was bothered by that statement. “Now that I know about your lack of experience, I’ll take better care.” It was important to me that she didn’t think I was some sort of uncaring monster. Yes, I was using her in the same way many men in her past had, but I wouldn’t touch her if she didn’t want to be touched.

When we arrived back at my penthouse, we took the private elevator up. As we walked into the apartment, she looked at the hallway table.

“You got a new vase.” She leaned over and smelled the flowers my housekeeper put there.

“The old one was demolished in a fit of passion.” I hoped I could make her feel more relaxed with light humor.

She smiled, but it wasn’t that bright one I’d first seen before I’d fucked her and then promised to pay her ten million dollars to marry me and bear my child.

“Why don’t I give you a tour,” I said, extending my hand toward the living area. I showed her around the main room, the kitchen, my indoor gym, and home office. I also showed her the room that could be made into a nursery as well as a room she could have as her own office for whatever she wanted to do. I didn’t take her to my room, and instead I showed her the guest room. Like mine, it was spacious, with a king-sized bed and its own full bath. A bucket of ice with a bottle of champagne sat on a table in the corner.

“Want more champagne?” I asked.

She sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head. “Too much of a good thing is bad.”

I laughed. “Were you hungover?”

She shrugged and gave me a small smile. “A little. Besides, alcohol isn’t good for babies.”

My dick perked up at that. It told me that while she was subdued, she was committed to this plan. With that said, I didn’t want to touch her unless she wanted to be touched.

I squatted down in front of her. “We can wait, Sara. Really.” The truth was, I wasn’t in a hurry to have a kid. Maybe getting married would be enough to placate my father. “We can work on the contract later.”

She gave a small laugh. “You and your sexy contract talk.”

I took a chance and rested my hands on her thighs. Her dress was thin and filmy, so I could feel the heat of her legs. “Tell me something, and I’m not accusing you of anything when I ask you this.”

“Okay.” She held her breath, as if she was expecting me to say something she wouldn’t like.

“Why did you give your virginity to me?” I knew I was appealing to women, but I still found it odd that she’d let me be the one to touch her first. I wasn’t worthy.

She sighed. “I told you.”

“You thought I was different.” In that moment, I wished I was.

“And you were the first one that made my body want to be touched.”

I grinned. “I turn you on?”

She rolled her eyes. “You turn everyone on.” Then she shrugged. “I don’t know. My body responded to you.”

“Is it responding now?” I rubbed my hands on her thighs gently as I looked up into her lovely young face.

“Yes.”

“It’s important to me, Sara, that we don’t do anything you don’t want to do. I’m afraid I may have scared you away from sex. I worry you’re afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid of you. Nervous maybe, even though we did it before.”