Bought For Marriage

“I’m sure she will, but I’m going to have to teach my wife to open up to me about important things going on in her life first.”

I swiveled around and found Sullivan standing in the kitchen doorway, staring at me with a mixture of stunned shock and relief in his hazel eyes. Apparently, the conversation I needed to have with him about my brother was going to happen sooner rather than later.

Chapter Seven

SULLIVAN

I searched Kinsley’s face as she stared back at me, wide-eyed. She looked a little panicked, but I didn’t see any signs that she was lying.

“Well, um…I’ll give you two a minute,” my mother murmured. She grasped Kinsley’s hand as she passed her and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then she patted my shoulder and whispered, “I like her, so don’t chase her away.”

Once we were alone, I stepped fully into the room and walked to Kinsley’s side. “Why didn’t you tell me about your brother?”

She cringed and looked past me, but I wasn’t about to let her get away with avoidance. I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and forced her to look into my eyes.

“It wasn’t your burden, it was mine. I handled it like I do everything else in my life. On my own.”

“Kinsley,” I sighed, “that’s part of being married. You don’t have to deal with everything alone anymore.” The words were out of my mouth before I could think about them. I realized it was true…I wanted her to lean on me. I wanted to be the one she turned to for help and support. And not just financially.

Speaking of financially…

“The money you asked for when we signed the contract. That was for your brother’s operation?”

She nodded, and enormous relief swept through my body. I almost staggered from the lifted pressure. It seemed I hadn’t been aware just how much the idea of her marrying me for selfish gain had bothered me. It made sense when I thought about it, though. My feelings for her were growing intense, and the deeper I fell, the more I feared I was going to get hurt.

I’d tried to go back to just business after that special day on our trip, but I simply hadn’t been able to. I was addicted, and soon, I wasn’t going to be able to put off analyzing all of the emotions Kinsley inspired in me.

“I didn’t know what would happen with us along the way, and I needed to make sure that he was taken care of first. My brother is my only family. He means everything to me,” she admitted softly.

My fingers on her chin gentled, and I lowered my face to brush my lips over hers. “He’s not your only family, baby. I can understand why you didn’t trust me in the beginning, but I hope from now on, you’ll let me help. Are you sure he’s in the best rehab facility? Does he have a private room and nurse? Should I make some calls and—”

Kinsley’s lips cut off my rambling when she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me hard. I barely had time to participate before she’d torn herself away from me and backed up until she hit the kitchen island behind her. She put a hand on each of her flushed cheeks, and her blue eyes were a little bashful, despite being full of passionate fire.

“I’m sorry, I can’t believe I just did that. We’re at your parents’ house, and I’m sure you don’t want me mauling you like that. I should have better control like you—”

“Fuck that,” I growled as I prowled over to her. I pulled her in close and crashed my mouth down on hers. Her body was plastered to mine, and I quickly lifted her up onto the counter so I could wrap her long, lithe legs around my waist. “I don’t seem to have any control where you’re concerned,” I mumbled. “And it’s sexy as fuck to see you lose it too.”

“Why don’t you kids—oops!”

Kinsley and I broke apart, and I spun around just in time to see the back of my mother’s head as she once again disappeared from the kitchen. When I twisted back around, Kinsley had her hands over her mouth, and though she looked a little mortified, her blue eyes were dancing with mirth.

“Well, that hasn’t happened since I was a teenager,” I muttered drily. At that, Kinsley lost it and burst into hysterical laughter. It was contagious, and I found myself joining in, leaning heavily on the counter next to her and trying to catch my breath.

“How will I ever face your mom again?” she giggled.

“By pretending it never happened?” I suggested with a smirk. “At least she’s most likely convinced that we are madly in love.”

Kinsley’s laughter died quickly, and she nodded before hopping off the counter. “True. Mission accomplished, I guess.”