Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 5)

I opened my bedroom door and headed out. A moment later, I was in front of James's bedroom and lightly opened the door so as to not wake Aria. As for James, I knew instinctively he wasn't yet asleep. It was too early for him.

The moment I slid myself in, I noted that the bedside light was still on, which cast a lovely golden glow to the room. When I shifted my eyes to the king-size bed, I saw James watching me with interest.

"Hello?" he greeted, a devastatingly handsome smile on his face.

I knew it must be weird for me to be here in his room at this time of the night and with his daughter in his bed sound asleep too. I must have looked very desperate.

I blushed instantly in embarrassment. I licked my lips and felt the need to explain. "I want to kiss Aria good night." Which wasn't really a lie.

He chuckled and invited me in by summoning me with his finger. I obliged and eagerly went over to him. Once I was on the side of the bed, I caressed Aria's cheek. The little girl was embraced in her father's arms, and her face was snuggled against his chest.

I leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek. Then I said, "Good night, Aria."

There was no reply, which wasn't a surprise because she was already fast asleep.

I raised my eyes to James and said, "She's adorable."

"So are you," he said bluntly. "Care to join?"

Is this an invitation?

James peeled back the duvet for me, which enticed me even more. The longer I stared at that inviting space before me, the more I was drawn to it.

I succumbed and climbed in. A large, warm bed with Aria and James was way better than my cold, lonely one.

James chuckled as I settled myself on that side of the bed. In the end, there I lay with Aria next to me on my left and James on the other side of Aria. God, I felt I was a part of this family. I felt I was Aria's mother and James's wife.

The feeling was oddly pleasant for me, and I grinned with glee.

When I turned my face to James and gave him a smile, he reached out to caress my cheek. It felt nice, and his hand was so warm against my skin. I closed my eyes, savoring this beautiful moment.

When I opened my eyes again, James made a move that made my heart skip a beat. He leaned his head toward me, and once close, he placed his firm, warm lips against mine.

His kiss was deep, hot, and demanding. It was as if he were starving for me as his tongue urged my lips to part. So eager he was that I obliged without protest.

Once I opened my mouth for him, James plunged his tongue in and ruthlessly devoured me, stroking and caressing me. I became breathless and dazed as I let him taste and tease me.

I groaned against his seductive assault, wanting more.

James finally drew back and chuckled. "Good night, Mia," he said.

I gazed at him and asked, "Was that your good night kiss for me?"

He nodded, and I smiled. "Good night, James," I said and snuggled my face against the pillow, my hand on Aria's shoulder.

A moment later, I felt James's large, warm hand intertwining with mine, and I smiled as I drifted off to sleep.

When next I woke up, it was already morning. The bright sunlight was shining brilliantly into the bedroom, which made me flinch and groan. Once I managed to adjust my vision to the intensity of the light, I saw Aria staring at me. She was so close, in fact, that we were almost nose to nose. I didn't miss the fact that she had a sunny smile on her face.

I blinked and said, "Good morning, Aria."

She giggled and replied, "Good morning, Mia."

I was about to ask the little girl what time it was when I realized something was odd. I was pretty sure Aria was on my left before I'd fallen asleep in James's bed last night. So how did she end up facing me on my right instead?

I made a move to figure out what had happened when I felt a hard, manly body behind me on my left. I turned my eyes that way and, not so surprisingly, saw James watching me.

The moment I sighted him, my stomach flipped deliciously. God, but the man was handsome, even with bedroom hair and a five-o'clock shadow.

"Good morning, Mia," he greeted.

I licked my lips and said, "Hello, James."

I wanted to ask him how in the world I had come to swap places with Aria. I was now in the middle of the bed and squeezed between him and his daughter instead of where I'd been on the other side before I'd fallen asleep. Then I thought I didn't really need to ask. Sometime in the middle of the night, James must have moved me and Aria so I was in the middle instead. I wondered if he had taken advantage of me while I'd been deep in slumber.

I turned my eyes to him in accusation. He must have understood me and chuckled. "I'm not such a bastard, Mia."

True, he wasn't. Not like Uncle Herbert. He was James, and James would never do anything weird, especially when his daughter was in the same bed. Of course, he had made love to me when I'd been asleep before, but that was different. Aria hadn't been present, and that sexy lovemaking had been consensual. Once I'd been awoken anyway.

Turning my attention away from James and toward Aria instead, I asked the little girl, "Did you have a good sleep?"

Aria nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. It was the best ever. We have to do it again. We have to do it again."

I laughed at her eagerness and so did James. A few moments later, James ushered his daughter out of the bed to get ready for the day. Once the two were gone, I got up as well, intending to head back into my own room. As I was walking out the door, I incidentally saw Sophie at the end of the hallway. I didn't miss the murderous glare she was giving me. Suddenly a sense of trepidation passed down my spine, and I felt sick to my stomach.

Shit! She looked like she would really love to murder me right here and now. The darkness of her piercing gaze truly scared me to my soul.

I swallowed in terror but didn't back down. I mockingly cocked my head to one side and even gave her a triumphant smile. I said, "Morning, Sophie. How was your sleep last night?"

The woman snorted and uttered, "Bitch!" in reply.

Before I could tell her we needed to talk about my destroyed dresses and messy closet, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Alone, I stared at the spot where Sophie had stood only moments ago. Why did I feel her glare meant something deeper than pure jealousy and hatred? Why did I feel as though something truly terrible was going to happen and Sophie was the one behind it?

As I headed into my bedroom, another shiver passed down my spine.

Chapter 15

James

James impassively watched Sophie turn on her heel and leave the room, her steps quick and decisive. He had coldly dismissed her from her position as Aria's nanny, and fuck, he felt relieved. Of course, there was no need for him to give her an explanation as to why, and oddly enough, the woman hadn't asked for any either.

He had given her two weeks' notice, as this would help her adjust and give her time to seek new employment. The woman had refused him on the spot and stated she'd be gone from the house by tomorrow morning.

Fuck! He still couldn't believe he had employed a woman such as Sophie to look after his daughter. The very thought that she'd fed Aria all those lies and fear still pissed him off.

Once again, his mind flashed back to yesterday when Aria had poured her heart out to him, telling him of her love for him, her loneliness whenever he was away, and her fear that he'd run away from her like Whitney had.

The thought that his adorable six-year-old daughter had to go through that shit and put up with those wretched feelings made him sick to his stomach.

What type of a father am I? Fuck, he didn't know. But he knew from now on, he'd make it up to Aria. He was going to be a good father to his daughter come hell or high water.

He was just walking out of his home office when his cell rang. He picked up on the second ring and said, "Scott, what's up?"

"Hey, bro," Scott greeted. "How's everything going?"

James gave out a big sigh as he descended the

stairs in a quick, easy pace. "I have a bit of shit going on at the moment."

"What is it?" Scott asked. "Is this about Mia?"

"Yes and no," James said, wondering where Mia was suddenly. After he'd dropped Aria off at school, his intention had been to return home, have his meeting with Sophie, and then see if he could have a peek of Mia before heading off to his office at the Maxwell Hotel. Now, however, he couldn't find her anywhere, and he was running late.

"Oh?" Scott voiced on the other end of the line.

"Look, I can't talk right now. I'm running late. I have a lot of work to do before picking Aria up this afternoon."

"What? Isn't that Sophie's job? She's the nanny, isn't she?"

James snorted. "I just fired her."

"Fuck, James! What happened?"

"She was feeding Aria a lot of garbage. Stuff like I don't love Aria because my daughter talks too much and shit like that."

"Fuck!" Scott voiced again. "What the fuck?"

James chuckled at the incredulity of it too. "Yeah, right?"

"Man, James. Did you screen her before you hired her?" Scott asked.