Clarissa rubbed her eyes, then opened them. She yawned, glancing around the bedroom.

She expected to find Beck’s large frame next to her, but she was alone in bed. The alarm clock on the nightstand read ten o’clock. Did he change his mind about the whole thing and just leave? Her heart sank.

She’d waited for his return until after midnight. She’d called him a couple of times, but he hadn’t picked it up or texted. He left me. She wouldn’t know what it was like to have sex with him—they’d come so close. She should have mentioned she was on a birth control pill to help fix her period instabilities. Beck was a worldly guy, and probably felt safer if he was in charge of birth control. Perhaps he wouldn’t even believe she was on it, too—especially after her goading him into the marriage.

“Morning,” he said in a deep, sexy voice.

She turned her head to face him carrying a breakfast tray, filled with pastries, juices and more. Fully clothed and with his hair wet. Her heart did an impossible flip in her chest.

Don’t get any ideas. This marriage is just a practicality. Though there was nothing practical about how her body reacted to him. Now she understood what he meant about sex making things more complicated… yet it was too late to go back.

“When did you come back?” she asked.

“After one. I’m sorry. I ran into your father in the lobby and he summoned me for drinks. He talked a lot, and I couldn’t just ditch him.”

“Okay. Hmmm…” she glanced down at the tray. “Bacon. This is an obvious sign the rest of my day will be amazing.”

He lifted a piece of bacon and she opened her lips. Soon, the crunchy meat slid into her mouth, and she tasted the warm, salty flavor. When she finished, she licked her upper lip, and realized he’d been watching her, his gaze darting between her lips and eyes.

“What?”

“I never considered eating pork an erotic experience… until now,” he said, looking at her like she was the main mean of a starved man.

A wave of heat spread across her face and neck. She reached for the glass of water took a sip, desperate to cool her ardor. “And here I thought a guy like you had seen it all.”

“So did I,” he said softly, then blinked and stood up. “So. I was supposed to drop you off two nights ago, and go back to my place. Now, I need to go back and you should come with me. Since we’re married.”

“Thank you,” she said.

He nodded. “I’ll let you finish eating and gather your stuff.”

---

An hour later, he opened the door of a penthouse in an exclusive area in Vegas. She walked into his domain, appreciating the modern décor with a few traditional touches. The dark hardwood floor added warmth to the set of buttery leather sofas and the state-of-the-art entertainment center.

“I’ll put your stuff in the guest room,” he said. “My drawers need some overhauling.”

Did he mean she’d also be sleeping in the guest room? The question burned on the tip of her tongue, but she hesitated. “Thanks.”

The doorbell rang, and she almost sighed out loud. She opened it, and found a slim, tall woman in her sixties wearing an elegant suit and an Anna Wintour-type hairstyle. “May I help you?” she asked as if she worked in a designer store and that lady was her most exclusive client.

“You must be my son’s new bride. I’m Katherine, his mother.”

His mother. Of course. She had the same eyes as Beck.

Feeling silly, Clarissa stretched out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said. During their drive from NY to Vegas, he hadn’t talked much about his parents or childhood. So, Clarissa opted to leave out any I’ve heard so much about you bullshit.

Katherine gave her a firm handshake, with a smile.

“Please, come in.” Clarissa gestured for her newish mother-in-law.

Before she said anything else, she heard Beck’s footfalls. Would his presence make it less or more awkward? “Mom. I didn’t expect to see you today,” he said.

Katherine arched her eyebrow. “I know we’re to have our weekly lunch tomorrow, but when my friend Jacquie told me she saw you entering a chapel with a woman, I just had to make sure and see it for myself.”

“Of course… meet Clarissa Garubo,” he said.

“Anderson. Remember, honey?” I’m Clarissa Anderson now. She winked at her husband, who sadly still saw her as her father’s daughter. Her heart raced at the base of her throat. Why did that matter so much?

Katherine placed her Chanel bag on the console table, and turned around. “Garubo? As in Antonio Garubo?” she asked, and even though the elegant lady didn’t flinch, a pang of surprise leaked into her voice. Clarissa knew such reaction well.

“Yes,” she said at once.

“Interesting,” Katherine clutched her pearl necklace. “When did you two meet?”

“It’s a long story,” Beck said.

“Then make it short,” Katherine said, then a vivacious chuckle filled the air. “I mean, this is a shock to me. Weren’t you going to tell me? I didn’t even know you were dating.”

Beck shook his head, and sighed with frustration. “Mother, I’m not seventeen. You don’t have to know everything.”

“How about some coffee? Or a mimosa? A shot of tequila?” Clarissa asked.

Katherine sat on the couch. “If my son got married without me, I might need all three.”

Clarissa nodded. “I’m sorry this is so sudden. We’re planning on throwing a bigger party for friends and family. And of course we’d love for you to be part of it.”

“Mom, can I speak with you in private?” he asked.

Clarissa watched him take his mother to what she assumed was his home office. She wondered exactly what he’d tell Katherine—the truth or their version of it. Clarissa headed to the kitchen, for a moment pondering on mixing tequila, mimosa and coffee into one train wreck of a drink. Why couldn’t he just talk to his mother in front of her?

Because this isn’t a real marriage. He doesn’t owe me anything. She had pushed for the marriage, to have a better chance at taking what was rightfully hers and protecting her mother’s legacy. But, for the first time, a pang of disappointment moved through her.

Beck closed the door.

His mother’s visit had lasted longer than usual. Clarissa had been the perfect hostess, and ordered some delicious Thai food for them to enjoy while they talked. His mother didn’t believe him at first—and he almost told her the truth.

The truth, however, meant he was a lot like his father. So he had just said he’d fallen irresistibly in love with Clarissa and in an uncharacteristic way, decided to take the plunge and marry her. When you know, you know. Wasn’t what people said about love and relationships?

By the time his mother left, he saw in her eyes a twinkle of hope. She personally didn’t support his decision to get hitched so quickly, but she probably understood why a woman like Clarissa swayed him.

Gorgeous, intelligent and kind. He supposed he could do a lot worse in a fake marriage.

“Your mother is nice. Didn’t she ever remarry after the divorce?” Clarissa loaded the dishwasher. The sight of a woman doing chores in his place was both confusing and surprisingly alluring. The only woman who came near to his dishwasher was the housekeeper. He never dated domesticated types, and Nancy hadn’t enjoyed spending time at his place. She preferred to eat out, where they discussed their cases and work related stuff.

“No. She had a hard time after my dad left her for wife number two,” he said, wishing his voice didn’t sound so damn sad. Until his tenth birthday, his father had been his hero without a cape. He’d looked up to him, even if he was usually busy with his successful law firm. After the selfish way his father had simply left them, a lot had changed.

Clarissa shrugged. “I understand. My father never remarried either. Maybe he should have.”

“Marriage isn’t for everyone,” he said.

Clarissa closed the dishwasher a tad harshly. “You’re not the marrying kind, are you? Is this making you uncomfortable?”

He found an empty glass of wine, and splashed some water in it, washing. “I don’t oppose marriage. My father married a lot, and didn’t really care for the women who committed to him after he was no longer interested. I always told myself I wouldn’t make his mistakes.” He picked up the glass and dried it with a paper towel. The glass was shiny, clean, transparent—like a healthy relationship.

She angled closer. “You’re not your father, Beck.”

“Really? How can you tell?”

“Because from what you said, your dad is a pig. You’re a guy who has principles,” she erased the remaining distance between them.

“Like wanting to bang a woman thirteen years younger? Where are my principles now?” he said. It should have been a joke, but tension charged and thickened the air between them. The previous night, all he wanted was to fuck her and claim her virginity. Finally, they were alone again.

She winked at him. “You don’t have to be flawless. A little bit of wrongdoing is okay in my book.”

“Besides,” she whispered, her gaze colliding with his, “I have it on good authority such woman wants to be banged by you..”

Beck groaned. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, outlining her lips with his index finger. The moment he touched her, a shot of electricity charged up his arm, fast-tracking all his cells. Awakening his libido, and stirring it up.

Clarissa parted her lips. “But, I want to know. Oh, I want to so bad.”

He pulled her to him, and soon his hands slid over her delectable ass. His erection poked her, but this time he no longer cared. The previous night hadn’t worked out, but why not try again?

She linked her arms around him, and he growled. A possessive need moved through him, giving him no choice but to lift her from the floor. She giggled as he hooked his arms under her knees and scooped her up. Soon, their lips locked again, and the kiss became more urgent, visceral, raw. His cock swelled, squeezed in the confines of his underwear and slacks.

As he put her down on his mattress, on his bed, Beck gave himself a mental high-five. He’d worried sleeping with her would complicate things, and possibly jeopardize his partnership. Wouldn’t his situation be more difficult and vulnerable the more intimacy he shared with her?

An invisible bubble of excitement and joy burst in his chest. He didn’t know what the future held, but looking at this gorgeous, vibrant, determined young woman who wanted to share her body with him—he knew it. Even if things got complicated, shit, it’d be all worth it. She was worth it, and he refused to fight that feeling.