“Gisele…” a soft voice tried to pull me out of my slumber. A warm hand took hold of my shoulder, lightly shaking me. “Gisele…time to wake up, sleepy head.”

My lips parted, deeply breathing, ready to dive back into sleep until another shake brought me out of the sleepy haze. “Uhrgggh,” I groaned with frustration before I reluctantly drew my eyes open. The illumination coming from the lamp made my sensitive eyes squint in vain before I found a grinning Jared lazily situating half of his body across the unused side of the king size mattress. His striking face merely a foot away, cerulean blues avidly scrutinizing my sleepy ones.

How long was he staring at me before waking me up? “What do you want?” My grumble somehow turned into a soft smile. How could I get pissy when his lovely self greeted me upon waking?

“Your father granted me permission to wake you up, so I don’t deserve the moody pout. Dinner’s waiting in his suite, princess.” His eyes flickered towards my head and snickered. “Your hair’s a crazy riot.” He found entertainment in seeing me in such a disheveled state.

“Yeah, let’s see what you look like waking up, too. I bet you drool all over the pillows.”

“I do not!”

“You seem like the kind to be farting in your sleep, too.” I cackled at his stricken expression.

“I certainly do not!” He took hold of a pillow and lightly thumped it on my head. “A gentleman never addresses when ladies fart, but with you, I’ll make sure you’re thoroughly fart-shamed.” He began to tickle me, and I screamed with delight.

“Ladies don’t fart, and that’s a fact!”

“It’s fiction.”

I squealed when one hand tickled the side of my hip while the other was on my neck, simultaneously driving me into a squeaking, giggling mess. Then he abruptly stopped, confusing me.

“What?” I beamed, blinking at him as I brushed my hair aside.

His throat bobbed.

My robe came undone, and he could fully see my nakedness, breasts and my daring warmer (wetter?) region.

His eyes were glued to my breasts before they excruciatingly gazed below, in between my slightly parted legs. His lids masked his eyes so I couldn’t very well see them, but I knew his gaze was stuck to my smooth, bald slit.

What is he doing? My heart rammed viciously against my chest. Did the view please him or…

Yeah, the or part got to me. Bad.

“Oh, don’t look so horrified. Relax. It’s not going to bite you.” I tried to make a joke out of it as I gingerly teased him.

When those hypnotizing eyes snapped to mine, I was jolted by electricity. I was transfixed. My lips parted before I slowly began to pant, aroused beyond comprehension.

“Do you sleep with only a robe on?” His eyes dipped towards my full breasts then southwards. Again. Summoning the horny gods to provoke me.

“Yes, Jared…Will that be a problem?” I liked getting a rise out of him. Besides, the man was too serious; he needed to lighten the hell up. It felt mighty wicked to toy with him; it couldn’t be helped. Call it lunacy, but I considered it foreplay. There was nothing like a good mind-fuck.

“No, that won’t be a problem at all.” He shook his head, looking away as if the novelty of seeing my bare body had already expired and it no longer interested him.

I had expected this. Of course I did. But I wasn’t going down with embarrassment. I loved my body. I owned it. I was damn proud of it. “Yes, yes, yes, we know…tight eighteen-year-old bodies don’t do it for you.” To prove a point, I slid out of bed, audaciously slid the robe off my form, and then I cheekily strutted towards the closet to change for dinner. His eyes lingered, getting quite an eyeful of my backside.

“Stop staring at my ass, Jared,” I hollered at him without stopping my stride.

He remained mum.

I grinned. Yes, the man had gotten his comeuppance. I hoped I didn’t make him blush. Ha.

Stepping into my color-coordinated closet, I strode over to the floral dresses section. Dinner was to be a simple affair, so I opted for a simple white short dress with pale pink daisy flower imprints. I then lazily piled my hair into a messy bun. Once finished, I walked over to the adjacent room where my shoes were on glorious display. My mother specifically had these built because we both had a serious fixation on beautiful, well-crafted footwear.

I tiptoed and skittered across to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth. Except for a subtle pink matte lipstick, I didn’t bother with any makeup.

Where’s my phone? I pondered as I retraced my steps back into the bedroom and was shocked to find Jared lying on the bed with one leg hanging off the edge, hands behind his head, silently staring at the ceiling and looking like a delicious piece of heaven. My mouth salivated. I wanted to devour him—all of him.

“You’re still here?” I bit my lip, wondering if he was ticked off at my little naked display earlier. “Have you seen my phone?”

Jared untangled his hands before sliding it across a pillow and casually handing me the device. “Jack Yates called.”

Shit.

“Thanks,” I murmured, grasping the phone in my hand. What did Jack want now? After that explosive confrontation we had, he hotheadedly walked out the second we moored off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, only to be never heard of again…until now.

Unlocking my phone, I stared dismayed at his name, weighing if I should bother with him again. He and I had tons of fun…up until his arrogance surfaced and when I caught his phone unguarded…and the plethora of lies was discovered.

“Is that the same man those empty condom packets belonged to?” he asked in a manner where I wasn’t sure if he was merely asking or if he was piecing together a broader picture.

Jared’s question caught me off guard. “Seems like it.” A deep frown crossed my face, speculating what else he managed to analyze being in the yacht’s bedroom in such a short amount of time.

His mercurial eyes seared into mine, staunch and unrelenting. “You’ve been using protection every time?” His tone was soft, but it had something to it, a darker edge…something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand in command.

I nervously licked my lips, disconcerted. “I would like to think so.”

“Then how did you get pregnant, Gisele?”

Steady my heart. You can’t fold now. His question held too much. Answering it entailed confessing the truth, and I would rather die than reveal my dirty little secret. I nibbled on my bottom lip, tepidly eyeing him. “I don’t know? Shit happens…I guess…” Such eloquence. Well done, you.

“Was there any other man involved?”

Fuck…Did he guess I was Lexi?

My throat bobbed. It constricted so much I was almost in pain. “Once…” I made a barely audible whisper, hoping he hadn’t deciphered my secret. With Jared, I found it challenging to predict what ran in that brilliant head of his. He was brilliant at unmasking other’s thoughts but never revealing his. How did he manage that? It was beyond disconcerting.

“So, what happened with him?” His eyes glowed. Ever so persistent. Ever so unyielding.

If he had aimed to unnerve me, he had undeniably succeeded at it. My breathing turned ragged. My ears intensely burned. With a pointed tilt of my chin, I decided to answer him. “He didn’t want to be with me.”

Blue eyes flickered once as if something significant briefly occurred to him, but his eyes remained thus, still gravely trained on me. “Were you in love with him?”

My, he was hitting close to home—too close for comfort. I began to break out in a sweat, my body filled with trepidation. “What makes you ask that?” Try as I might, my voice slightly shook.

“There’s a tremor in your voice.”

I nodded before disconnecting from him, screening my eyes away from his severe probing ones. “Yeah, I suppose I am...very much.” I licked my lips, trying in earnest for my breathing pattern to go back to normal. What was with the twenty questions? I loathed that game for a reason.

He surprisingly slid out of bed and began to make his way towards me. He stopped short several inches away from my face. Instinctively, I lifted my face to meet his. Turbulent gray clashed with burning blue. “I’m here for you and the baby; that’s all that matter now. The rest of them can go to hell.”

There was a time in one’s life when they found themselves falling madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with someone. This was it—this was the moment for me. How could I not after he vehemently stated noble proclamations with such tenacity?

My father was right; he was a good man. Having him in my life as a guardian, as my protector, and as my fake husband would be an honor. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me.”

He bestowed a genuine smile on me, one where it reached his eyes. One where it probed straight into the very heart of me, to my very soul. “Come on, Peter’s been waiting too long. He’s exhausted as it is, so it’s cruel for us to make him wait for food.”

He was quite right. How had I lost track of time? Leaving my phone behind, Jared and I exited my bedroom. We strode side-by-side, heading straight towards the elevator. My father’s bedroom was on the third floor, occupying the entire level. We reached the floor in under a minute. The large white double doors were already opened, so we need not knock. It led into a lounge area. On the left led to his bedroom, and to the right was his breakfast room where six screens lined the walls, each television running different things to update him—news; US, EU, and Asian stock markets; video updates from the company’s current projects detailing and curated by our top inventors; one connected to a drone parked in the headquarters so he could spy on everyone even at home. His real time updates. My father ran his company with an iron fist but wasn’t shy in rewarding those who tirelessly worked hard. It was a well-oiled machine. His employees equally feared and loved him. He’d callously point out if one didn’t please him and would sing high praises if pleased. But everyone knew working under his umbrella wasn’t something to take lightly; it was an honor to work for him.

After striding towards my father, who was already situated at the cozy table, I bent over and kissed his forehead. “I apologize for being tardy. I fell asleep. If it weren’t for Jared, I’d still be in bed.”

“Ah, it’s all right.” My father cupped my cheek with his hand, pleased to see me. “You two look marvelous together. Such a striking couple. Don’t you agree, Thomas?” Effortless pride shone through his eyes as he glanced at me then Jared.

Jared quietly trod next to me before dipping his head to kiss my father’s cheek. “Looking well, Peter,” he murmured as he gazed down at my father with warmth and affection.

Thomas, who closely followed behind us, granted us a beam of approval. “The epitome of perfection, sir. Their offspring are guaranteed excellent genes and a superb IQ.”

Peter Weber nodded as he directed us to take our seats. “It would’ve been lovely if I lived long enough to see my grandchildren. But, alas, my time is almost running out, and I can only dwell on the blessings I have before me.”

“Have you two discussed your marriage?”

Jared cleared his throat, glancing at me before my father. “We have. We’re both pleased the wedding’s taking place tomorrow.”