The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

I enter the mansion soundlessly, relieved to find my biometrics still in the system. I open the first door I come across and walk into the large library, but I only manage to take three steps before I sink down to the floor. I bury my hands into my hair to try and force myself to keep my composure. I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to be that girl that can’t let go of her ex. I don’t know how long I sit there trying to swallow down my tears, but it feels like hours.

Just as I’ve finally convinced myself to pull myself together, the door behind me opens and I jump up, unsteady in my high heels. My heart does an automatic somersault when Daniel comes into view. He closes the door behind him and walks straight past me. I turn to follow his movements with my eyes and watch him as he walks to the corner and turns on the fire with the gas switch. The flames come to life instantly and I stare at them to keep myself from following Daniel.

He sits down on the rug in front of the fireplace and shrugs off his jacket before patting the space next to him. “Come here,” he says, his voice husky.

I move towards him without thinking. My body moves automatically. I don’t even realise what I’ve done until my knees sink to the floor beside him. The heat from the fireplace feels amazing and I raise my hands to the fireplace to warm myself. It takes me a while to gather the courage to look at him. I glance up, only to find his eyes already on me. He looks angry and intense, but there’s also a flicker of something more. Something I don’t dare to name.

“What are you doing here?” he asks. “Your boyfriend couldn’t keep you entertained?”

I look down at my knees and ignore his question. “I’m sorry for intruding,” I say. “Would you like me to leave?”

Daniel chuckles darkly. He turns towards me and within seconds he’s got me flat on my back, his body on top of mine. He pins me down with his weight, rage flashing through his eyes. He buries his hands in my hair and tilts my face up towards his.

“Liam fucking Evans, huh? I thought you were madly in love with Dominic, so where the fuck did this guy come from?”

I blink in confusion and try to turn my face away, but Daniel won’t have it. My entire body trembles with need. Just having him close to me has me craving more of his touch. I almost moan when he tightens his grip on my hair. I glare at him viciously in an effort to hide my growing desire, but I doubt I’m fooling him. He knows me too well. He knows my body too well.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business, Daniel,” I say. I meant to sound angry and detached, but instead I sound husky and breathless.

He laughs and lowers his face until his lips are hovering above mine. It takes all of my willpower to keep from closing the remaining distance between us.

“Is he the reason you signed the divorce papers after refusing so adamantly?” Daniel looks tortured, as though the answer actually matters to him. “Answer me.”

I smile at him and push against his shoulder. “You’d better let go of me. I’m sure Olivia is waiting for you.”

Daniel’s hand slips out of my hair to cup the back of my neck, and he lowers his lips to mine until he’s almost touching me. My heart is beating wildly and wetness pools between my legs. I want him so badly. I’m dying to have his lips on mine, just one more time.

“So are you dating him?” he whispers. His lips brush against mine on the last word and my eyes shutter closed.

“Does it matter?” I ask.

Daniel bites down on my lower lip and I tilt my head in a silent bid for more. He smiles against my lips before we kiss fiercely. Daniel moans when my tongue finds his and he pulls away long enough to grab my dress and push it up. I lift my hips to make it easier for him and tug on his bowtie.

“I’ve been wanting to rip this damn thing off ever since I saw you wearing it,” I whisper.

Daniel chuckles and kisses me as his fingers find their way between my legs. His eyes widen when he realises I’m not wearing any underwear, and for a second I see a hint of insecurity in his eyes.

“I can’t wear anything underneath a dress this tight,” I whisper. The relief in his eyes is instant, and the way he smiles at me has my heart beating in overdrive. He slips two fingers into me and I moan loudly. He shuts me up with a kiss while I fumble with his suit trousers, trying to get it off. My eyes shutter closed when I feel how hard he is.

“Look at me,” he snaps. I blink, startled, and look into his eyes. He looks tortured, turned on and hot as hell. “So fucking wet for me, Alyssa. Such a wet fucking pussy.”

I’m trembling with need and bite down on my lip when he aligns himself right where I want him. He pauses there when he knows full well that I need him inside me already. My hands fumble with the buttons on his shirt and I push the fabric away, exposing his delicious skin. Instead of waiting for him to give me what I want, I lift my hips and push against him so he falls onto his back. He looks startled and I immediately climb on top of him, straddling him. He grins and yanks on my zipper. His eyes widen when my dress finally pools around my waist, exposing my breasts.

“Such fucking amazing tits. No bra, huh?”

He fondles my breasts roughly and the way his thumb grazes my nipple makes my inner muscles contract. I position him underneath me and lower myself on top of him, taking him as deeply as I can. He moans loudly when I sit back on top of him, fully stretched and filled. I move my hips up and down frantically, desperate for him. He grabs my shoulders and pulls me towards him, so my upper body is on top of his. He kisses me as I continue to thrust my hips. I can’t take him in as deeply at this angle, but he’s hitting my g-spot with every move. I’m not sure I’ll last long like this. I lower my lips to his neck and suck down on his skin, marking him as I increase the pace. He’s moaning loudly and meeting my every movement, the two of us frantic and eager. I lean down and suck on his collarbone, and he groans. I sit back up and rotate my hips slightly every time I come down on him. Before long, I’m panting and barely holding on. He grins and continues to thrust into me, doing most of the work.

“I can’t… I can’t hold on,” I moan, sounding breathless.

Daniel looks at me smugly and smiles. “Then don’t, baby. Come for me, Lyss.”

My inner muscles contract hard and my entire body trembles as wave after wave crashes through me. Just as I begin to regain my sanity, he turns us over so I’m on my back and continues to fuck me.

“One more, Lyss,” he whispers. He angles his hips and thrusts into me slowly, teasing my g-spot with every move. Within minutes, I shatter around him again. “Hmm, what a good girl. What a good pussy. Always so wet for me.”

He thrusts into me harder and within seconds he comes too, collapsing on top of me. I grin up at him lazily. “You were so hard for me, Daniel. Did you miss this wet pussy?” I murmur, throwing his earlier words back at him. He grins at my foul language and kisses me. It’s a wet and sloppy kiss and I love everything about it.

“Where did you learn that language, huh?”

Irrational anger grips me as the lustful haze wears off and the painful memories come streaming back in. “Hmm, well… Let’s just say I finally understand why you said the sex between us wasn’t bad,” I say, lying through my teeth. He freezes while still inside me. His entire face scrunches up in pure agony and I regret my words instantly.

“You fucked Liam?” he asks, the colour draining from his face. He looks so hurt and all I want to do is take my lie back, but he speaks before I have a chance to. “Well, fair enough,” he says. “To answer your question… I did miss your pussy, but it was better in my memories. I’ve had better since you,” he murmurs. Daniel grabs my hands and pushes them above my head, trapping me with his weight.

“Since me?” I repeat numbly. “You slept with her?” I ask, my voice breaking. My eyes fill with tears and I try to get my wrists loose with all my strength, but he won’t budge. I should’ve known better. Of course he’s slept with her already. All those dates they’ve been on… It’s just me Daniel wasn’t eager to bed. “How long did you wait after you bought your way out of the fidelity contract? Did you do her the same day? Did you even wait at all? Were you sleeping with her before you left me?”

I sniff and try to get my hands loose again. Endless tears are streaming down my face, my agony and heartbreak on display for Daniel to see.

“Get off me, you asshole. I fucking hate you,” I yell.

He smiles at me with twinkling eyes and kisses away my tears. I sniff and push against him again as a sob escapes my lips. He pulls out of me and rolls onto his side, keeping me in his arms. I push him away and sit up.

I wipe at my tears furiously, hating that he’s seen me cry over him. I try to inhale deeply but keep choking on my sobs, making me seem even more pathetic. I yank my dress up to cover myself and try to stand up, but Daniel pulls me back to him, his own eyes filling with tears. He pulls me down to the floor and rolls on top of me, caging me in.

“I lied. I lied, Alyssa. I never slept with her. I swear. Of course I didn’t. Please, baby. I’m begging you… Please stop crying. You’re tearing me apart, Lyss. Please.”

He cups my cheeks and wipes away my tears, his forehead dropping to mine. “You didn’t?” I whisper.

Daniel shakes his head and wipes away my tears with his sleeve. “No. I didn’t. I just lashed out because for a second I believed your little lie.”

I look up to find him smiling at me indulgently. I push against his chest weakly and get up. This time he lets me go. His eyes follow me as I escape from the room, leaving him sitting there with his clothes and his hair all messed up.