The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

I wake up when the door to Daniel’s bedroom opens and freeze. Thankfully, Daniel is on his side with me tucked against his back. He gasps as he’s startled awake and I scoot down a little, hiding myself. Daniel pulls the blankets tight and clamps it underneath his arm so he creates a little tent around me.

“You’re still asleep, darling?” Mary asks. I don’t dare to move. I’m wearing nothing but my panties and Daniel is naked. I’m pressed up against him, my face against his back. I desperately try to remember where we threw our clothes. Daniel’s clothes must still be tangled somewhere in the sheets while mine are on the floor on my side of the bed. So long as she doesn’t walk around the bed, she won’t see me or my nightgown.

“How come you’re sleeping in? Usually you’d be up by now in the kitchen. I was looking forward to your breakfast, you know. It was so nice to have you back in the house for a couple of weeks. No one takes care of me like you do.”

I relax against Daniel, my heart melting. “Uh… Mum… I’m just tired. I thought I might sleep in longer. Why don’t we have a chat later?” he says, sounding genuinely sleepy. I hear Mary shuffle into the room and if I’m not mistaken, she’s just sat on the lounge chair by the door. It doesn’t seem like she has any intention of leaving, but at least she won’t be able to spot me from where she’s seated. I exhale in relief and place my hand on Daniel’s waist, making myself a little more comfortable.

“I guess Alyssa and Dominic are still asleep. I thought for sure things would’ve changed between you and Alyssa with you two being by yourselves in that apartment of yours, especially since you two haven’t been coming back here much… But she and Dominic seem closer than ever. The way he hugged her yesterday and then dragged her off to his room surprised me. You weren’t there and I didn’t know what to say either.”

Daniel’s entire body tenses and I shake my head gently, trying to reassure him wordlessly. I slip my arm over his chest and squeeze myself against him tightly, crushing my breasts against his back.

“I used to think they were just friends, but now I’m wondering if I was just blind to what was happening between them… Daniel, if I’d known I’d never have let you get married to Alyssa. I would’ve made that nasty grandma of hers an offer she couldn’t refuse and buy back the shares.”

I press a silent kiss against Daniel’s spine and push my forehead against his skin. I was foolish to think there’d be nothing wrong with following Dominic, when I knew full well that my friendship with him makes Daniel uncomfortable. I guess it’s not actually the friendship he dislikes, but the feelings he thinks I have for Dominic. How do I now convince him otherwise when a couple of months ago I admitted to being in love with Dominic?

“You should start seeing someone, Dan. I’ve let you be and let you sow your wild oats, but you aren’t getting any younger.”

I freeze, my entire body tensing against Daniel. Why would she say that to him when she knows we’re married?

“Mum, I’m only thirty-two. Chill,” he murmurs, relaxed. I’m tempted to poke him and ask him what the hell he means by that. He should be reminding her he’s married and not planning on seeing anyone else.

Mary huffs. “Yeah, but it’d probably take you a year to find a good girl, then another year or two of dating before you finally get engaged. Then another year while we plan the wedding. By the time I’m finally holding my grandchild, five or six years will have passed.”

Daniel chuckles. “There we go. So that’s your real objective. You just want a grandchild. Why don’t you just go adopt one?”

“I want a grandchild that looks like you. You’ll have to make me one, and I’m running out of patience. You and Alyssa won’t work out. You’ve been married for months and you’re still sleeping in separate bedrooms. You didn’t even speak to each other all day yesterday, and I checked. She was with Dominic all day while you hid in your room. You two don’t even seem to be friends. I would’ve loved to have her as my daughter-in-law, but your marriage is clearly just a paper marriage. It shouldn’t stop you from seeing someone. I’m sure if you find the right person, she’ll understand the situation. Or otherwise you just buy out Alyssa’s grandma and divorce her. Lord knows we can afford it.”

I squeeze my eyes closed and tighten my hold on Daniel. I don’t want that. I don’t want him to see anyone else, and I don’t want to divorce him. Thank god we’ve got the fidelity contract. Though technically that won’t stop him from seeing anyone, so long as he doesn’t have sex with them. The thought of Daniel on dates with someone else doesn’t sit well with me.

“Mum, I don’t know. I’m still married. It would feel too much like cheating to me. I’d rather not,” he says carefully, but even to me his response sounds lacklustre, like he doesn’t actually care but can’t be bothered dating.

“Hmm,” Mary says. “Well, you have no choice. I invited Olivia and her mother over for lunch today. They should be here in an hour or so. Do you remember her? She’s always been crazy about you. Besides, she’s a university professor and she’s really pretty. Very sweet and polite too. I think you’ll like her.”

I remember Olivia very well. I never liked her. She always used to tag along whenever her mother came over for lunch or dinner at the Devereaux mansion. She’d spend the entire time staring at Daniel as though she wanted to drag him to the nearest room and have her wicked way with him. She’s indeed always been polite, but something about her rubs me the wrong way. It always has.

“Seriously, mum? With Alyssa here? What are you thinking?” he snaps, his anger rising.

His mother tuts. “She won’t care. I doubt she’ll even notice that I’m trying to matchmake you. It’s just lunch, isn’t it? Not like we’ve never done that before. It’ll also relieve your brother’s guilt. Maybe Alyssa’s too.”

“So, what? You’re trying to push me towards someone else so Dominic can covet my wife without feeling guilty about it?” he asks, his tone harsh.

Mary sighs. “Nothing like that, and you know it. Those two aren’t right for each other. Maybe they need to get it out of their systems or something. It doesn’t matter. It’s not like you and Alyssa are actually together. She’s only your wife on paper, Daniel. Besides, I’m sure you’ll really like Olivia. Just give it a chance, sweetheart. Please. Just do it for me. I’m tired of worrying about you.”

Daniel scoffs but nods at her. “Yeah, okay mum. Anything to make you happy,” he says, sighing. Pure liquid fury runs through my body. He fucking agreed? I pinch his waist and he yelps.

“Are you okay?” Mary asks, confused.

“Uh, yeah. Just cramp,” he stammers.

I hear shuffling in the room before the door opens. “Wear something nice, okay? Maybe a nice button-up? What do girls these days like? Maybe a t-shirt, actually. Just don’t come out wearing your pyjamas like you have been doing.”

She closes the door behind her and I push the covers off me, my eyes blazing. Daniel looks at me, his expression unreadable. I glare at him, gritting my teeth in anger. I sit up, not caring that I’m half-naked. Daniel’s eyes fall to my breasts and a flicker of desire shatters his unreadable mask, transforming his face. I get out of bed and storm into his walk-in wardrobe, giving him one hell of a view of my barely covered ass.

I grab two of his ties and walk back into the bedroom, making my way to the door to lock it. He follows me with his eyes but doesn’t say a thing. He doesn’t even try to make excuses for agreeing to let his mum arrange a date for him.

The small sliver of daylight that still manages to find its way in through the curtains makes the room look dusky, allowing me to see him clearly as I pull the blankets off him entirely. I pause, startled. He felt big last night, but to see him like this. That’s definitely more than I can take.

I glance at his face. He’s lying back with his arms behind his head, his eyes on me. He doesn’t even try to hide his body. There’s not a trace of embarrassment on his face.

I climb back on the bed and straddle him, his eyes widening as I do so. I lean over him and grab his wrists, tying one of his ties around each before linking them together. He doesn’t fight me. He just looks at me with heated eyes, as though he’s waiting to see what I’ll do next.

I raise his arms and tie his knotted wrists to his bed frame. He tries to tug his hands loose but fails, and I smile in satisfaction.

“What are you doing?” he murmurs, his voice husky. I glare at him, still infuriated. His eyes drop to my breasts and he tries to tug his tied wrist loose again. He fails and licks his lips, watching me hungrily.

“Punishing you,” I snap. I lie down on top of him and bury my hands in his hair, pulling on it hard enough to make him tilt his head. I lean in and place my lips against his neck, right below his ear, and bite down before sucking on his skin harshly.

Daniel moans and turns his head to the side to give me better access. “Fuck, Alyssa,” he whispers, sounding turned on beyond reason. He bucks his hips, squirming until he’s sliding against me. My underwear prevents him from entering, but it doesn’t stop him from driving me crazy. It was meant to be me torturing him, but before long I’m panting and close to coming.

I tighten my grip on his hair and turn his head to settle my lips against the other side. I bite down bang in the middle of his neck and suck harshly, leaving a clearly visible kiss mark. Daniel moans loudly and I cover his mouth with my hand. He presses a soft kiss against my palm and thrusts against me more frantically. I love seeing him so out of control. So desperate for me.

I lower my lips to his collarbone and he groans. “No,” he whispers. Moving down meant he’s no longer pressing his erection into me and he tugs on his restraints before hooking a leg around me to try and move me up. I chuckle and take my time giving him kiss marks on his collarbone, and then his chest before moving on to his abs. He’s breathing hard and watching me with heated eyes as I press my lips against his adonis belt, marking that too.

I grin up at him as I follow the trail of hair on his lower abs down and down with my lips, pressing small kisses against his skin. Daniel is lying still, his body tense. He watches me with ardent eyes as I grab his throbbing erection, wrapping my fingers around the base.

“Baby, you’d better let go of my dick now.”.

I smile at him. “Or what?” I ask, lowering my lips to kiss the tip. He moans and bites down on his lips.

“What if I don’t want to let go of your… dick?” I whisper, almost stumbling over the word. Daniel gulps and stares at me with wide eyes as I slowly take the tip of him into my mouth. His eyes close and he moans loudly when I swirl my tongue.

“Alyssa, baby. Please,” he moans. “Oh fuck, Lyss.”

I bob my head up and down, taking him in deeper each time. With each of his moans, I get wetter myself. I never thought this would turn me on as much as it does. I clench my thighs together as Daniel roughly pulls on his ties.

“Baby, you gotta stop. I’m gonna come. Lyss, I — I can’t…”

He tries to pull his hips away from me, but I take him in deeper, trying my best not to gag. Daniel’s moans get louder and his pleas get more desperate.

“Please, my love. Alyssa… I can’t hold it…”

He bucks his hips and pushes deeper into me, coming deep in my throat. I struggle to swallow it all down and pull away, coughing. I wipe my lips and look at him, pleased with what I’m seeing. He looks spent and intensely satisfied. Daniel looks at me through lowered lashes and grins lazily. The mere sight of him has my heart skipping a beat.

“Baby…” he says. “I don’t think you quite understand the definition of punishment.”

I burst out laughing and shake my head. “Don’t you provoke me. I’m tempted to leave you tied here so you’ll miss that damn date you should never have agreed to in the first place. If this wasn’t your mother’s house and if I didn’t love her so much I would’ve really done it.”

I lean over him and loosen the tie enough for him to be able to get out of it while giving myself time to escape his room. I glance at him one more time, satisfied with the countless bites on his skin that mark him as mine.