The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 1) (12 page)

Merina nodded and let her parents go up ahead of her. She lingered by the sink, refilling the glass and popping two Advil in the hopes she’d stave off the headache that would no doubt hit her tomorrow morning.

She adjusted the ring on her finger, admiring its beauty and hating what it stood for at the same time. A sham of a marriage that was already hurting the ones she loved.
You’re doing this for them
, she reminded herself. Then she climbed the steps and fell into bed.

I
deal wedding weather” was how Penelope Brand had described the day when she texted her congratulations on Saturday morning. Merina could state with conviction that the weather was
not
her main concern.

Her goal was simple: Remain in the here and now, standing in front of God and her parents, her best friend, and the man to whom she’d soon be lawfully wed, without passing out or bursting into tears.

And she didn’t mean tears of joy.

For most of the ceremony, she’d kept her focus on Reese’s bow tie. His tux was stunning black, his dark blue eyes welcoming, his hair perfect. Her dress had been altered, the lace fitted snugly, the back low but not too low. Her ring was now paired with the matching wedding band and the weight of it on her hand was almost overwhelming.

She was in the process of being
married
. Unbelievable.

On her “husband’s” side of the room were Reese’s father, Alex, his brother Tag, and a man named Bob, who Reese had referred to as a member of the board. Merina didn’t like Bob. It was partly his fault she was in this mess.

The officiant’s voice was a distant murmur saying words she’d heard before at friends’ and family members’ weddings, only now those recited promises were coming from her lips. Things like “to have and to hold” and “from this day forward” and “until death do us part.”

Part of her screamed from the inside that she was essentially lying and the lying part of her argued that for now, at least, she meant it. This marriage would die when Reese became CEO of Crane Hotels.

So that sort of counted.

The officiant said, “You may kiss your bride,” and Merina thought she was ready for Reese’s mouth on hers again. She was wrong. His kiss was as heady as it had been before and even in the midst of uncertainty she found herself leaning in. She didn’t have to fake her physical attraction to him. Not even a little.

The marriage may be for show, but her reaction to him was very real. How could he taste this good, feel this good if this was supposed to be pretend? He deepened the kiss and she stood on her toes to get closer, aware of Tag cutting in with a sharp whistle and a shout of, “Hell, yeah!”

She lowered to her heels as applause engulfed them. Reese kept his gaze locked to hers, and she wondered if his smile was as genuine as his kiss.

The reception was a tidy affair, by Reese’s choice. He may have let his wedding planner go overboard with the flowers out front, but inside was a neat buffet-style table. Well, mostly neat. She’d littered the table with candles.

Reese plated up a selection of meats and cheeses aside Merina as their guests lined up behind them to do the same. He’d tried to read her during the ceremony as much as he’d tried to manage his facial expressions. He wasn’t nervous, but the “till death” part made him twitchy. He didn’t take promises or commitments lightly. But then he reminded himself that was why he was marrying Merina in the first place.

Her parents were in attendance, as well as her best friend-slash-lawyer, Lorelei Monson. He’d learned shortly after issuing the prenup that Ms. Monson was in the know about what was really going on between him and Merina, but given her best friend and client had something to gain and plenty to lose, Reese trusted the other woman to keep the knowledge to herself.

She seemed to be on board with the whole thing, save for a few sharp, assessing looks she’d shot him during the ceremony—and oh, look, there was one now. He’d survived steelier scowls than hers.

In the board member department, Bob and a particularly unsavory character, Ronald Dice, stood behind Reese, but Dice had largely ignored them while he plated his food.

“Thank you,” Merina said as he handed her a set of silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin.

“Champagne or wine?” he asked. He could use a scotch.

“Oh, um, champagne. We are celebrating.” Her smile was faint and her voice heavy.

Reese leaned close and under the guise of placing a kiss at her temple, he said, “This is a party, and, yes, we are celebrating.” He heard the sharp intake of breath, watched her breasts lift with the inhale. They may be partying, marrying, for show, but their reaction to each other was so grounded it practically vibrated the floor.

When he’d put his lips to hers during the ceremony, she’d softened, her rigid shoulders lowering, her body loosening. Then she came closer and held on to him. Attraction was not something they’d have to fake—good news, considering they’d need to convince the media as well as the board—but the implications of being truly attracted to the woman he lived with could prove dangerous.
And fun.

If he allowed himself to have a little.

Correction: If
Merina
allowed him to have a little.

He drew back, pleased to see an answering heat in the depths of her eyes. “Sit.” He nodded to their table and handed off their plates to a waiter. “I’ll be over with your drink.”

“Thank you, Reese.” Her voice was soft, her demeanor relaxed.

Before she got away, though, Dice stopped her with a compliment…dressed up as an excuse to bust Reese’s balls.

“You make a beautiful bride, Mrs. Crane,” Dice said, his beady eyes sharp and shrewd. Of the board members, he’d be the hardest to convince, and exactly why Alex had suggested they invite him. “Quite the speedy nuptials. Making me wonder if you two kids have gotten yourselves into a pickle.” He winked and laughed heartily, his gaze going to Merina’s belly—flat and streamlined in her gown.

Merina’s bare shoulders stiffened and Reese didn’t hesitate to wrap an arm around her.

“Ronald Dice. Goes by Dice,” Reese said of their unwanted company. “He’s been with the board for over twelve years. His wife, Monica, wasn’t able to make it. I hear she’s on another trip to Cancun?” Reese moved his hand along Merina’s bare back. She shuddered beneath his touch.

Dice stiffened, his pompous smile erasing. It was a company rumor that Monica went to Cancun to sleep with other men. Judging by Dice’s curled lip, Reese guessed it was true.

“Too bad she couldn’t make it,” Merina said, her smooth delivery not giving up her nerves. God. This woman. Cool and smooth, yet warm and lush. He allowed his fingertips to tickle her spine, enjoying the way she shifted at the touch.

“Yes. Well.” Dice cleared his throat. “Again, congrats.” He stepped out of line and scuttled to a table to ruin someone else’s day. Reese watched as he made the poor decision to sit next to Lorelei.
Perfect
. She wouldn’t let Dice push her around.

One glass of scotch turned into two, and Merina downed two glasses of champagne and finished her plate of food. Next to him, she propped her elbow on the table, chin in her hand, and watched the room.

“Not a bad first wedding,” she said after checking to be sure no one was listening. He did the same before responding.

“No one would know it was your first. You handled it like a pro.”

She sent him a wry look. “Me? Sure you’ve never done this before, Crane?”

“Positive.” He leaned close and she didn’t move an inch. Her eyes flicked to his lips and their guests immediately lifted their forks and rang the silverware against their crystal glasses.

“We have to kiss,” she breathed, her face flushing the most attractive shade of pink.

“Shame,” he murmured, then leaned the rest of the way to place a soft kiss on her mouth. They lingered and the ringing sound faded into another wolf whistle from Tag and a few female giggles.

Reese pulled his face away to admire his gorgeous bride in white, lit by candlelight.

Kissing for the public was a task he’d expected, but feeling it, responding to it wasn’t. He shifted in his seat, attraction lingering between them.

“Cake!” Tag shouted.

The perfect segue. Reese wondered if his brother saw something in the kiss that made him think Reese might need a reprieve.

The formality was quick, Reese slicing the cake, Merina feeding him a bite, and him returning the favor. Whether it was the champagne making her ballsy, or she was trying to kill him, he couldn’t be sure, but when he gave her the bite of cake, her lips closed over his finger and sucked. A muscle in his jaw twitched, but his bride didn’t let up, pulling his finger from her mouth so slowly, he thought he might die.

Vixen.

Guests came to retrieve slices of cake and congratulate the happy couple if they hadn’t already. Merina’s father, Mark, offered a hand and said congratulations, along with Jolie, who did the same. Reese accepted their handshakes, but they still didn’t look convinced.

“Where is the honeymoon?” Jolie asked, cake plate in hand.

“It’s a surprise,” Reese answered.

“Will you be home to get your things?” Jolie asked Merina, sadness stealing into her expression.

“Reese is sending movers tomorrow,” Merina answered, her tone soothing.

These two were close. Keeping such a big secret from her mother had been a lot to ask.

“Well. I wish you two the best. And do come visit, sweetheart,” Jolie said.

“Mom. It’s not like I’ll never see you again.” Merina sighed when they walked away. “I need more champagne.”

“Do you?” Reese lashed an arm around her waist and noticed Dice looking at them as if questioning his earlier suspicions. He and Merina had just about convinced the jackhole. Nice. He lowered his mouth to her ear. “We’re being watched.”

“We should give the people what they want,” she replied.

Reese kissed her ear, then her neck, pleased when she tipped her head to give him room. She might not know the effects her bared skin and tempting perfume had on him, but she certainly knew what she was doing when she backed her ass into his crotch and wiggled.

“Merina.” He grasped her waist, his voice a low growl.

“Trying to make it believable,” she whispered, half turning to give him a saucy wink.

“I can’t go to the bar now,” he said. “Part of me needs a shield.”

“The rocket part?” she asked, pleased with herself.

“Vixen.” This time he said it out loud.

She could blame the champagne for her behavior, but she could also blame the fact that she was now married and could do whatever she wanted to him. Reese had all but forced her hand in marriage, so he deserved every bit of discomfort.

Only now, his discomfort was matched by hers. The warmth in her belly trickled lower and Merina was overly warm in places off-limits to Reese Crane. He could kiss her. He could suggestively touch her. But the contract didn’t include sex.

Sex.

Just thinking the word made her chest pulse with longing. Bumping against Reese’s erection and hearing his commanding, teasing growl of the word
vixen
, her lips pulled into a smile. Who would have thought she’d wield so much power over the man who ruled them all?

“Is that my pet name?” Smile affixed to her face, she wiggled her hips again and was rewarded with a low, agonized grunt.

Reese’s hands tightened on her waist, halting her movements. He lowered his lips and pressed a kiss to her shoulder, then bit her. Just a light scrape of his teeth, but it made Merina’s pulse dance and sent her smile on vacation.

Into her ear he muttered, “You’ll pay for that.”

She heard the humor in his tone and decided whatever the cost, the wiggle was worth it.

“Champagne.” Reese loosened his hold. “I’ll be back. If pictures of me end up hashtagged by morning, I’m telling everyone it’s your fault.”

She swallowed a laugh and watched him go, admiring his very fine backside in his tuxedo pants.

“Girrrrl.” Lorelei, glass of white wine in hand, approached in a gorgeous plum-colored dress, showing off her legs and large breasts. “He looks good in black.” Her hair was pinned back, much like Merina’s, in a low twist at her nape. But Lorelei’s jewelry was the show-stealer, huge rhinestone earrings and a bracelet for each arm.

“He looks good in everything,” Merina mumbled. And probably out of it too.

“Good, yes, but you’re beautiful.”

Merina leaned forward to accept the kiss on the cheek her friend doled out. “Thank you.”

“I’m jealous.” Lore looked around the dining room. The doors were opened to the foyer where the ceremony had taken place. Candles were lit, white roses were strung, and every inch of the mansion open to guests was gleaming and warm and romantic. “I can’t believe you get to live here.”

Her best friend bemoaned her six-hundred-square-foot apartment for the thousandth time, and Merina had to smile. Lore had picked the place, justifying that with her heavy workload she’d be at the office most of the time. But ever since she’d made partner she’d complained about wanting a house.

“Where’s Malcolm?” Honestly, Merina was surprised her friend came stag.

Lorelei gave a shrug that said she didn’t care, but it was a purposeful deflection. Lore cared too much about Malcolm. And Malcolm not enough about her.

“I’ll kill him if he’s with another woman,” Merina said, meaning it.

“Pfft. Come on.” Lorelei made a shooing motion with her hand. “You know that man loves himself too much to make himself look bad. I think he’s unsure about us. I can’t blame him. I’m unsure.”

“Well, Tag’s single. Want me to introduce you?”

“No.” Lorelei gave her a slow eye blink. “What would I do with him?”

Tag moved in the background, hair down and huge arms straining the confines of his dress shirt.

“Whatever you did would probably be fun,” Merina admitted. Tag practically had “for a good time call” stenciled across his broad back.

Reese returned with the champagne right then and Merina accepted the glass. Her brand-new husband radiated control. Confidence. Stubbornness. Each of those qualities more attractive given they were wrapped in such a glorious package.

“I’m going to get myself a refill.” Lorelei cordially excused herself. “Reese, you don’t take care of my girl, I’ll have your balls.”

“Exactly what I’d expect you to say, Ms. Monson,” Reese replied easily. After she’d gone, he turned to Merina. “She’s warming up to me. Any chance your parents will do the same?”