The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

Iplace a glass of water and two painkillers on my nightstand and tiptoe out of the room. I glance at the clock and sigh. It’s almost midnight already. I carefully open Daniel’s bedroom door, relieved to find it unlocked.

His room is bathed in moonlight and much to my surprise, he’s sitting up in bed, staring at the skyline outside his window. He seems lost in thought and doesn’t even notice me walking in. I close the door behind me and lean back against it. His sheets have bunched up around his waist and his side profile looks enticing. How can a man be so beautiful? I open my robe and let it fall to the floor. The sound catches Daniel’s attention and his head whips towards me. He looks surprised to find me standing there.

I walk up to him slowly until I’m standing right beside him. I’m feeling insecure and I’m scared he might push me away.

“I put Dominic in my bed,” I tell him quietly.

He stares up at me as though he can’t quite figure me out. “Hmm,” he answers.

I want to push his blankets away and climb on top of him to kiss away any misunderstandings that might have occurred, but I don’t dare. Instead, I fidget with the hem of my nightgown and walk around the bed. I hesitate before slipping underneath the covers on the empty side of the bed. Daniel follows my movements with his eyes but doesn’t say a thing until I’m in his bed. I sit up against the headboard, mirroring him.

“What are you doing?” he asks, crossing his arms.

I look down at my hands. “I told you. I put Dominic in my bed.”

Daniel studies me with a carefully blank face. “That doesn’t explain why you’re in my bed, Alyssa.”

I freeze, suddenly second guessing myself. Does he already regret our kiss earlier? I don’t understand why he’s suddenly being so distant.

“I… well, I mean… if it’s okay with you, could I sleep here tonight? If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll move to the sofa, it’s not an issue. Actually, maybe that might be better.” I’m rambling, but I can’t help it. He’s making me nervous.

I lift the sheets to get up, but Daniel places his hand over mine and shakes his head. “It’s fine. You can stay.”

I nod and turn to him, expecting him to say something more. Anything. But instead he lies down and turns his back to me, seemingly going to sleep. I’m surprised, but follow his lead. I lie down and stare up at Daniel’s ceiling. I expected him to want to talk. To question me about Dominic’s drunk confession. But there’s nothing.

I’m nervous just being in the same bed as him, but he seems unaffected. I turn to my side like he has and scoot closer to him, little by little, until there’s barely any distance left between us. I gently place my trembling hand on his shoulder and let it glide down his arm until I’m covering his hand with mine. I close the remaining distance between us and press my body against his, my breasts crushing against his back and my hips against his strong, muscular ass.

Daniel doesn’t respond. He doesn’t even grab my hand. I rest my forehead against his back and slip my hand underneath his arm to caress his abs. His muscles tense where I touch him; he’s definitely not asleep. He’s ignoring me. I slide my fingers down his abs until I reach the waistband of his pyjama bottoms. I hesitate before slipping my fingers underneath. Daniel grabs my wrist and keeps my hand in place.

“You’re playing with fire, Alyssa,” he murmurs.

I press a kiss to his back and wiggle my fingers, trying to reach deeper. “I thought I was playing with my husband. I mean, you’re hot… but likening yourself to fire is a bit over the top, isn’t it?”

Daniel’s grip on my wrist weakens, but he doesn’t let go. I expected him to reply, but he’s gone back to ignoring me. I sigh and press soft kisses to the back and side of his neck. When I hit the right spot, he shivers and tightens his hold on my wrist.

“Go to bed, Alyssa,” he whispers, sounding pained.

I smile to myself and graze his neck with my teeth before sucking on it softly, leaving red marks on his skin. It won’t bruise and turn into a kiss mark, but seeing the red spots gives me an intense feeling of satisfaction.

Daniel groans and suddenly turns around so he’s on top of me. He grabs my wrists and pushes them above my head, pinning me down with his weight. He settles his erection right where I want him and glares at me, his eyes flashing with anger and impatience.

“Stop,” he snaps. “Go to sleep. Don’t try me Alyssa, or so help me God, I will throw you out.”

I freeze, my playfulness vanishing. He’s rock hard and was clearly responding to my touch. So what is happening?

I nod slowly and look away, unable to look into his eyes. “I’m sorry, Daniel,” I whisper. “I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you without your consent. I wasn’t thinking.”

I can feel tears gathering in my eyes and I’m burning with shame. I turn my head away. I’m unable to escape while he’s keeping me locked in place, but the sofa is starting to look like a good option. I regret walking into his bedroom.

Daniel sighs and lets go of my arms. Instead, he holds himself up above me on his forearms, his lower body still locked with mine. I wrap my arms around my chest protectively. I feel vulnerable and exposed, and all I want to do is hide.

“Hey, look at me,” he whispers, adopting a gentle tone. I look out the window and ignore him.

Daniel lowers himself a little and holds himself up on one arm so he can cup my cheek with his hand. He turns my head towards him as a tear escapes my eye. I look up at him, all my insecurities on display.

Daniel looks hurt, even though I’m the one crying. He kisses away the tear that’s rolled down my cheek, his lips lingering on my skin.

“It’s not you who should be sorry, baby. I’m sorry for snapping at you. You always have my consent to touch me. Whenever, wherever. I told you I’m yours, right?”

I sniff and shake my head. “You say that, but then you’ll change your mind and go eat your stupid cotton candy with Kate, or you’ll tell me you want to see other people and ignore me for a week straight. You say one thing and do another. I’m tired of guessing, Daniel. I’m tired of wondering whether you want me too. I’m done.”

I push against his chest in a feeble attempt to throw him off, but he lowers his upper body against mine and presses a sweet kiss to my forehead. He pulls back a little to look into my eyes.

“Alyssa… you do the exact same thing. You agree to go on a date with Liam Evans, then you go running when my brother calls, and even now you disregard me as soon as he’s here. I bet you’re happy he returns your feelings after all. You’ve loved him for as long as you can remember, right? Must be nice to have him love you back. You don’t need to come in here and pretend it changes nothing when it changes everything. I bet you really regret signing that fidelity contract now, huh? How long do you think you’ll last before it’s his bedroom you’ll be sneaking into?”

He looks distraught and… jealous. I smile to myself, which only increases his anger. He’s behaving this way because he’s jealous?

“Hmm. Well, I see your point,” I tell him, my own annoyance mounting. “By that reasoning, and since you’re threatening to throw me out of your bed if I so much as touch you… I guess I’ll just return to my own bed. To the person you say actually loves me back.”

A burst of panic flashes through his eyes before he manages to control his expression. “Very well,” he says, pulling away from me. He lies back on his own side of the bed and throws his arm over his face.

“I’ll have the share transfer agreement ready for you tomorrow morning,” he says, sounding angry but resigned.

I rise to my knees and stare at him, a wide grin slowly transforming the scowl I had on my face. So Daniel behaving this way is him lashing out in jealousy? Interesting. He doesn’t snap or behave in any obvious ways, he just pulls away from me.

I pull the sheets out of the way and straddle him. He’s no longer hard, but I make myself comfortable. He pulls his arm away from his face and looks at me, dazed and confused.

“What are you doing?” he asks, tensing.

“You did just say that you’re mine, right? That I always have your consent? That I can always touch you? Didn’t you say something along the lines of whenever and wherever?”

Daniel stares at me, his confusion mounting. “Alyssa, I’m not in the mood to play games with you,” he says. I see it clearly now. He’s feeling as insecure and vulnerable as I do.

I lean forward and kiss his chest. I make my way down his abs, kissing each one gently. Daniel’s muscles tighten where I touch him, and he pushes himself up on his elbows to look down at me. I don’t stop until I reach the waistband of his pyjama bottoms. He’s breathing hard and his eyes are glazed over with desire.

“I promise I’m not playing with your feelings, Daniel. But I can’t promise I won’t play with your body.”

I kiss his erection through the fabric and he twitches. He’s staring at me intensely, like he’s scared to find out what I’ll do next.

I grab the edge of his pyjama bottoms and slowly pull them down, exposing more of his delicious V line. Daniel swallows hard as he grabs my hand. I look up at him, disappointed. He shakes his head and sits up to grab me by my waist. In one fluid motion, I’m flat on my back with him above me.

He kisses my cheek before he hovers his lips above mine. How could he possibly still be hesitating? I thread my fingers through his hair and pull his lips down on mine. He relaxes on top of me when our lips finally meet, his insecurities resolved. He kisses me gently at first, but within seconds the kiss turns scorching hot. It doesn’t take long for me to be moaning against him. I wrap my legs around his and roll my hips underneath him, eager for more.

Daniel kisses my neck, nipping at me the way I did to him. He moves down slowly and pauses at the top of my breasts. He looks up at me for permission and I nod. He hesitates before his lips brush over my nipples through the fabric. I’m eager for more. I want his lips on my skin already.

“Daniel… more,” I plead.

He grins and drags my nightgown down with his teeth. He inhales sharply when my breasts come into view and grabs one while he lowers his lips to the other.

“So fucking perfect,” he whispers. The way he flicks my nipple with his tongue sends ripples of pleasure straight to my core. I never knew I was so sensitive.

I whimper in disappointment when he lifts his head and moves back up. He grins and shuts me up with another long kiss.

When he pulls away, we’re both panting. “We need to get some rest, my love,” he whispers. I look at him in disbelief. Rest? Now?

He kisses me again, gently this time. Then he turns onto his back and pulls me into him, hugging me. He closes his eyes and I stare at him, confused.

How could making out be enough for him? I huff and close my eyes, knowing it’ll take me forever to fall asleep feeling this hot and bothered.