The Tie That Binds: A Marriage of Convenience Novel

Not even a long shower could calm me down. My heart is in disarray from seeing Daniel, and I’m annoyed that Dominic lied to me. By the time I get into bed, I’m so frustrated that I’m wide awake, unable to fall asleep.

I sit up in surprise when my bedroom door opens. Daniel walks in wearing his usual sleepwear — pyjama bottoms and nothing else. How does his body look even better than I remember? I hate how hot he is.

He closes the door behind him and walks up to my bed. “Y… you… what are you doing here?” I stammer. Daniel’s eyes are flashing with anger and he’s silent as he sits down on my bed.

I can’t keep my eyes off his pecs and abs. I’m longing to touch him and knowing I can’t do it freely anymore just makes me want it more. His eyes land on my pyjamas, which happen to be one of his t-shirts that I may or may not have stolen from him. He smiles but thankfully doesn’t comment on it.

“Overheard your little chat with Dominic. Sounds like you’re looking for a rebound? That’s no reason to sleep with someone, Alyssa. You shouldn’t fall in bed with someone if there’s no mutual affection.”

I laugh. “Is that what you had with all the women that came before me? Mutual affection? If that’s the case, then there’s plenty of affection between Liam and me.”

His eyes flash, and he turns towards me. “You know what I meant. You shouldn’t sleep with someone unless you love them.”

I roll my eyes. “Are you serious? Are you telling me you loved all the women you’ve fucked? You either fall in and out of love frequently, or you’re confusing lust for love. Either way, you’re being a hypocrite.”

Daniel groans and pulls a hand through his hair. “Lust, huh? You want Liam?”

He looks tortured and I’m embarrassed to admit that I like this look on him. I’m hurt and I want him to feel a tiny bit of what I’m feeling.

“Well, he’s handsome, that’s for sure. I doubt he’d ever tell me the sex wasn’t good if I slept with him. I have a feeling he’ll never make me doubt my own sensuality. Besides, even if I do suck at sex, the only way I’ll improve is by practising.”

Daniel looks hurt and looks down. “I didn’t mean it that way. When I said that, I had no idea it would impact you so much. Hell, it isn’t even true. Every time I’ve slept with you has been the best sex I’ve ever had.”

I look away in disbelief. “The only man I’ve ever slept with told me the sex wasn’t bad. What did you think that would do to me? I mean, it’s fine. I’m glad you were honest with me. You don’t need to take it back now, and you don’t need to try to make me feel better. It’s fine.”

Daniel sighs. “It’s clearly not fine. Very well. If you want to improve your skills, I can teach you. There’s no need to sleep with anyone else. You and I are already familiar with each other, so it stands to reason that I’m the most logical candidate to help you with this endeavour.”

I stare at him, speechless. “God, don’t sound too excited to sleep with me. Damn. Forget it. I doubt I’ll struggle to find someone that actually wants me. I doubt Liam would tell me he’d be a logical candidate to help me with this endeavour.”

Daniel grits his teeth and glares at me. Before I can react, he rips away my blankets and spreads my legs with his knees. He lies down on top of me and pushes his erection against me roughly.

“You think I don’t want you? Alyssa, does this feel like I don’t want you?”

My body automatically responds and I subconsciously grind my hips up against his. He moans and bites down on his lip. My hands find their way to his chest, my palms moving up and down his skin. God, I’ve missed how he feels against me. I struggle to hang onto reason and push against him weakly.

“Aren’t you seeing that girl you’re oh so in love with? How can you even think of sleeping with me when it’s her you love? Didn’t you just say that I shouldn’t sleep with someone I don’t love? So why are you doing it?”

Daniel groans, his frustration obvious. “She and I aren’t together. It’s complicated. You’re the last person I slept with, Alyssa. There’s been no one else.”

He pushes aside my underwear and slips a finger into me, eliciting a moan from me. I stop thinking, my brain malfunctioning.

He chuckles. “Such a good girl,” he whispers. It only takes him a couple of minutes to bring me to the brink of an orgasm, and it takes all of me to not give in.

“Didn’t you say you’d teach me?” I snap. He pulls away and grins as he undresses himself. I gasp when his dick comes into view. He’s ridiculously hard and throbbing. He pulls me up and helps me take off my clothes, his eyes lighting up when we’re both finally naked.

“What do you want to learn, Lyss?”

I lick my lips and look down. “Teach me how to suck you off good.”

Daniel’s eyes darken, and he swallows hard before scooting towards the headboard. He sits up and then beckons me closer, instructing me to sit between his legs.

I grab his dick eagerly and bite down on my lips as I pump my hand up and down. Daniel grabs my hand and positions it so I’m holding him at the base.

“Now try to take it in. Don’t go all the way. Just have some fun first. Use your tongue and move however you like. It’s important that you’re enjoying this.”

I nod and follow his instructions, swirling my tongue around the tip as I move my head up and down.

“Good, baby. That’s so fucking good.”

I pull away from him and look at him with flushed cheeks. “I want to learn how to take you in deeper, Daniel. Can we try something?”

He nods, a curious and heated expression on his face. What would he say if I told him I’ve looked up how to do this? Would he think I’m crazy? I clear my throat and pull him up.

“Stand in front of the bed like this,” I whisper, positioning him how I want him. His eyes widen when he realises what I’m up to. I lie down on the bed so my head is over the edge and tip my head back. Daniel guides his dick into my mouth eagerly, his eyes on me. He pushes in slowly, steadily, and I press my tongue down to prevent myself from gagging. He stops when he hits the back of my throat and I breathe in deeply. He doesn’t move and instead grabs my breasts, playing with my nipples. Once I’m comfortable, I shift my head a little and he starts moving his hips, thrusting into my mouth.

“Fucking hell, baby. This is incredible,” he moans. He doesn’t last long at all and pulls out, coming all over my breasts. “Where the fuck did you learn to do that?” he asks.

He grabs his underwear and uses it to wipe away the mess he made on my skin before getting into bed with me. “Google,” I whisper, giggling. “Remember when you googled how to make sex more comfortable for me after we slept with each other for the first time?”

Daniel blushes and cuddles into me, hiding his face in my hair. “Where did things go so wrong for us?” I ask, my voice breaking.

Daniel rolls on top of me and looks into my eyes. “You and I started off with an expiration date, Lyss. We always knew that our marriage was going to end. Besides, we were forced into our marriage. There’s no way we could’ve survived that. We would’ve always wondered who we might have married had we been given the choice. We always would’ve wondered if there’s something else out there for us. Something better, maybe.”

My eyes fill with tears and I blink them away furiously. “I never once thought that, Daniel. You were it for me. I would’ve happily stayed married to you.”

He drops his forehead to mine and sighs. “Maybe that’s true. Maybe it isn’t. You went on a date with Liam, didn’t you? You never would’ve had that chance if we’d remained married.”

I throw my arms around him and hug him tightly. “I understand,” I whisper. “I don’t wish to tie you to me when it’s someone else you want to be with. I get it.”

He chuckles and lowers his lips to mine. He kisses me so gently that my heart feels like it’s ready to burst. I feel him harden against my inner thighs again and smile. He pulls away from me a little to look at me.

“It’s not just an end, baby. It’s also a new beginning. You now have the choice to do whatever you want… to be with whoever you want.”

My heart breaks. I guess that sums it all up. He wanted a chance to be with the girl he said he can’t get off his mind. A chance to find out whether she might make him happier than I did.

He kisses me again, this time passionately. He doesn’t pull away until I’m breathless.

“Lyss, I want you,” he murmurs, aligning himself with me. He looks at me through lust filled eyes and I nod, eager to have him inside me. I gasp when he pushes into me. It’s been weeks since I’ve had him. Weeks since I’ve felt so deliciously stretched out.

“Baby, I need you rough and hard,” he tells me. He rises to his knees and lifts me up by my hips. He thrusts into me hard and deep, just the way I like it. With every thrust he strokes my g-spot, keeping me on the edge.

“Daniel, I need you. Please. Stop teasing me, baby.”

He grins at me and increases the pace, still pulling out almost entirely before thrusting back into me. “Yes,” I moan. “Fuck yes, Dan. I fucking love the way you do me,” I moan, urging him to go faster.

He gives it to me and I shatter around him, wave after wave of delicious tingles coursing through my body. “God yes… I love you, Daniel,” I whisper, still high on lust. Daniel comes inside me, hard. He moans loudly and thrashes against me before collapsing on top of me. He takes a deep breath and then drops his forehead to mine. It seems like he didn’t hear the confession that just slipped out of my lips and I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t want him pitying me or questioning me about my feelings. He kisses me with such intensity and such emotion that I’m almost fooled into believing he loves me back.

“So how are you going to repay me for these lessons?” he whispers against my lips.

I freeze, startled. “What?” I murmur.

Daniel chuckles. “Let’s take the yacht out tomorrow. You can repay me by accompanying me. If you’re lucky, I’ll assist you with another lesson tomorrow.”

Daniel doesn’t wait for my reply. Instead, he gets comfortable in my bed and closes his eyes, his arms wrapped around me.