Forced to Love Page 5

  I start my car and speed off. As soon as I’m out of her street, I reach for my phone and call Shannon. She answers almost immediately, like she’s sitting there, waiting for me to call. I bet she has a special ring tone for me. I chuckle at the thought.

  “I don’t suppose you’re free tonight?” I mutter.

  “Two nights in a row? Sure. I’ll see you there,” she says.

  She giggles and I wince, her voice grating on my nerves. I hang up and then head in the direction of the hotel. My plan is to fuck the stress out of my system so I can look at this with fresh eyes tomorrow. Who knows, maybe by then, Charlene will have come to her senses.

  Shannon doesn’t waste any time. Before I can even close the door, she’s all over me, expertly undoing the buttons on my shirt. She peels it off my shoulders, her lips kissing their way down over my chest and past my stomach until she reaches my belt. I let out a groan and push her down onto her knees, allowing her to unbuckle me.

  She lowers my zip and pulls out my dick. I groan and lean against the wall for support as she takes me in her mouth. I glance sideways and frown when I see the door wide open.

  “Please shut the door,” I murmur. She smiles at me, her eyes bright.

  “I thought you’d enjoy the risk that someone might walk past and see us?”

  I smirk at how well she knows me. “Fine. Leave it open then.”

  My mind goes back to the task at hand as she sucks along my length. I let out another groan, my fingers raking through her hair. As I watch her work my cock, I can’t help but wonder—I gasp as she sucks me harder and faster. Her lips glide along my shaft, making me lose my train of thought.

  I groan, jerking forward as I come hard and fast, releasing in her mouth. She swallows, her eyes on mine and then she jumps up. She smiles at me, like she’s waiting for praise. I smirk, feeling like I should pat her on the head and tell her job well done. Instead, I pull her against me and kiss her roughly on the lips.

  “That was incredible,” I say, and her eyes sparkle.

  It wasn’t bad head, but it certainly wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. I wasn’t about to ruin her night and tell her that, though. I lead her over to the bed, peeling off her dress along the way, while my hands move over her body. Out of nowhere, I pick up my earlier train of thought.

  Why not Shannon?

  I know she would be in it for the year. And let’s face it, she could certainly use whatever cash I decide to throw at her. She’s a decent mother. Well, I assume she is, because if she wasn’t, her kid would’ve been taken away from her by now. I frown at her. Maybe this wasn’t the worst plan I’ve ever had.

  This could work.

  It’s one year that I’d have to be married to her. But a lifetime of being connected to her on some level. I lay down on the bed and she climbs on top of me, straddling me as her lips find mine. My hands roam her body, massaging her breasts. I roll her nipples between my fingers and squeeze them, while she gasps.

  “I need to ask you something,” I say.

  She glances down at my cock and raises her eyebrows. “But I’ve already done that tonight.” She grins.

  I frown at her. “This is serious.”

  “Okay,” she says, her smile disappearing. “What is it?” she asks, still straddling me as she stares down at me.

  “I’m in a bit of a predicament,” I begin. “I can’t really reveal why, but I need to find a wife for a year.” Her eyes widen, and she throws back her head and laughs.

  “Are you are asking me to marry you?” she says, biting her lip.

  My frown deepens. “Yes, but you haven’t heard the whole story yet.”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t need to. Tell me we what you need me to do and I’ll do it.”

  I frown at her, wondering what the catch is, because this is just too easy. I didn’t even need to mention money. In fact, I think she’d do it for free. I roll her over so I’m on top and groan as I slide myself inside her tight pussy. She gasps, wrapping her hands around my neck as I bury my face in her shoulder. I lay there, fucking her, but all I can think about is whether I made the right decision in asking her. But if not her, then who? It isn’t like I had any other choice.

  “I cannot tell you how good it feels to be fucking my fiancé,” Shannon gasps. She arches her back as I drive my cock inside her. I frown, my erection dissolving at the sound of her words. Fiancé? God, next she’ll be telling me she’s in love with me. Way to ruin the moment.

  “What happened?” she asks me.

  She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my chest. I frown and shrug her off me. She sits on the edge of the bed, her perky breasts bouncing as she looks up at me with her wide blue eyes. Standing up, I run my hands through my hair. Fuck. She was already being all clingy and shit. I knew this was a bad idea. Why the hell had I asked her?

  “Matt? Did I say something wrong?” she asks.

  “No,” I growl, then I turn back to face her. “You do understand that this is a fake marriage, right? As in, nothing about it is real?”

  “Yes, of course I do. Is there a problem with me enjoying the idea?” she asks, pouting at me. “I’m just having some fun.”

  “I didn’t ask you to marry me because I love you, or for fun. I did it because I thought you were level-headed enough to handle it in a non-emotional way,” I growl.

  She stands up, walking over to me, where she wraps her arms around my neck. “Jesus, Matt. Just relax. You asked me if I would marry you and I said yes. If you’re having second thoughts, feel free to go find someone else.”

  She stares at me, her eyebrows raised, like she knows she is probably my last resort. I sigh. At least that means she knows where she stands.

  “All I’m asking is try to enjoy this a little less,” I grumble, knowing she has me by the balls.

  “Fine,” she says, shaking her head. “Can you at least tell me a bit more about this marriage, then?” she says, making a face.

  I shrug. “What’s left to tell? You marry me for a year, then we get divorced. End of story.”

  “Okay, can you tell me why? Or whether we have to live together?”

  “Of course we need to live together. I figured you’d move in with me.”

  “And Beth?” she presses.

  I frown. “Who the fuck is Beth?”

  Shannon stares at me. “My daughter?”

  Shit. I hadn’t even considered her. The last thing I wanted was a fucking toddler running loose in my house, getting into everything. It’s bad enough that we have to produce a baby to satisfy the requirements of the will. I have no intention of playing father until I have to.

  “Is she old enough to be put into boarding school?” I frown.

  Shannon’s eyes widen. “She’s three-years-old.”

  Well fuck me.

  I reach down and grab my pants, throwing them on. Shannon stares at me, a frown on her face as she watches me dress.

  “Where are you going?” she asks, her eyes wide.

  “I just need to work things out,” I mumble. Like how to get your kid out of the picture. Maybe I could leave them both here at the hotel? That could work…

  “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?” she says, alarm ringing in her voice.

  I turn back and lean over her, cupping her chin. I kiss her roughly, then toss her back on the bed, then I force myself to smile at her. The last thing I need is for her to flake out on me.

  “I’m not having fucking second thoughts,” I growl.

  Seven

  Charlene

  I sit on the floor of my apartment in the dark with my legs tucked up under me. I’m shaking and every noise has me jumping. It’s been a weeks since they spoke to me at the graveyard and I’m terrified that they’re coming for me, because the last few days, things have escalated quickly.

  It began with a few phone calls. There was never anyone speaking, just heavy breathing. Then the text messages started, saying I’d better be prepared to pay back my debt an
y way I could. They were clearly angry that Matt kept interrupting their attempts to contact me, and now I’m paying for it.

  I shake my head, thinking about Matt. Did he really think I would go for something like that? And god knows what he would want from me in return. He is probably into all sorts of kinky things that a normal girl wouldn’t do for him, so he preys on girls like me, who were struggling, and he offers to buy them out of trouble.

  I have no one to turn to, except Margie. I pick up the phone and dial her number. She doesn’t answer, but the second I hang up, she calls me back.

  “Hey, sorry, I couldn’t find my phone,” she says. “Are you okay?”

  “I…” My voice cracks, and I begin to sob.

  I didn’t plan to fall apart on the phone with her, but that’s what happened. And once I started crying, I couldn’t stop. It’s like all this emotion has built up inside me and is finally coming out.

  “Hey, calm down and tell me what’s wrong,” Margie says. “Are you hurt. Did something happen? Are you okay?” she asks.

  “No, I’m a mess,” I say. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Are you at home?” she demands. I mumble yes. “Stay where you are. I’m on my way over,” she orders.

  She hangs up and I drop the phone to the floor, a new wave of tears hitting me. All I can think about is Matt and how I got it so wrong. I thought something good was finally happening for me. Learning he was just as bad as everyone else is not what I needed right now.

  I hate myself for it, but it keeps creeping into my mind how easily this could all be resolved. All I have to do is stay married to him for a year. But could I do that? Can I sell myself out like that, because essentially that’s what I’ll be doing? I’ll be selling myself to him for forty grand. I’ll basically be a whore, whether sex is involved or not.

  Of course, it will be involved. What would he be getting out of it, if not sex? But if that is all he wants, then why marriage, and why does he need to be married to me for a year?

  He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with any information, which made me even more curious. He made it out to be that he was helping me, like he was doing all this out of kindness. I laugh, annoyed at myself for even entertaining such a ridiculous idea. I’m not actually considering this, am I? My heart pounds, because I wouldn’t be thinking about it if I wasn’t.

  The knock on the door makes me jump. I freeze, terrified that it’s them, until I hear Margie’s voice, prompting me to open up. I sigh with relief and get to my feet, yanking open the door and then falling into her arms. She gently soothes me, patting me on the back and kissing me on the cheek as I sob in her arms.

  “Talk to me, Char,” she says, her eyes full of worry. She guides me inside and sits me down on the couch. “Why are the lights off?” she asks. She flicks on the lights, and I wince. “Jesus, Char. You’re a mess,” she adds. “What’s going on? Is it your new job?”

  I shake my head. “The job’s fine. It’s everything else that’s a mess.”

  “For God’s sake, Char. Talk to me. I’m worried about you. I’m like five seconds away from calling the police.”

  “No, don’t do that,” I say, a little too loudly than I need to. She stares at me, looking shocked and confused. I sigh. “Fine, I’ll explain everything,” I say. “Just don’t get the police involved.” She stares at me, waiting for me to speak. “My dad apparently left me with a lot of debt,” I begin. “I’m not talking banks and credit cards, he had a gambling and drug problem and who knows what else. The point is now I apparently owe this guy forty grand to cover my father’s debt.”

  Margie’s eyes widen. “You owe someone forty grand for something your father did? That’s ridiculous,” she exclaims. “Why should you have to pay it back?”

  “I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head. “But that doesn’t change the fact that if they don’t get their money, I don’t know what they’ll do to me.”

  “Holy shit,” she mumbles. “You poor thing you, must have been terrified, keeping all this to yourself.”

  “Oh, I’m not done,” I say. She looks at me, shocked that there is more. “Things get worse than that, trust me,” I say grimly. “Do you remember when I was telling you about my hot, sexy boss?” I say. Margie nods.

  “He propositioned me,” I say, struggling to think of a better word. I guess that’s what it was.

  “What?” Margie gasps. “How? When?” she suppresses a giggle.

  “It’s not funny,” I say, frowning at her smile.

  “I’m sorry,” she winces. “It’s just that most women probably wouldn’t mind being propositioned by a hot, young, rich bachelor. So what happened?”

  “He found out about the money I owe and offered to pay the debt in full. On the condition that I marry him for a year.”

  Margie’s eyes grow so wide that I’m afraid they’re going to fall out.

  “He wants you to marry him? For a year? And in return, he’s going to give you forty thousand dollars?” she repeats.

  I shake my head. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

  “What’s ridiculous is that you’re not even considering this,” Margie retorts. “Do you have any idea how often I dream that some dude will walk in to the coffee shop and offer me a million dollars to sleep with him?”

  “It’s not the same thing,” I growl.

  “Maybe not, but hey, it’s close.” Margie sighs. “Maybe you should be looking at this as an opportunity.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask with a frown.

  “Think about it. He wouldn’t be asking this of you if he wasn’t getting something as equally big in return. He’s making himself out to be a hero, but he must really need this too. A year of marriage is a pretty specific condition, right? So play this in your favor.”

  My heart races. “You mean ask him for more? Could I really do that? I don’t feel like I’m in the position to bargain with him.”

  I can’t believe what I’m saying. Five minutes ago, I was outraged that he propositioned me at all, now I want to argue the terms?

  “But you are,” she argues. “But you need to find out what he is hiding so that you have the upper hand. Find out what he has at stake and use that against him. You can at least make this an even playing field and not one where he’s helping you. Put the ball back in your court,” she says with a shrug.

  Frowning, I think about what she’s saying. Margie is right. He must be hiding something. What I need to do is find out more before I dismiss the idea all together. Maybe I should sit down and listen to him. I should hear what he has to offer and why he needs this. Then I can give him my terms, starting with no sex.

  “Hey,” Margie says. “If you want me to stay over, I will.”

  “God, I was hoping you would offer,” I mumble. I reach over and throw my arms around Margie, almost in tears.

  She rolls her eyes. “You idiot. Why didn’t you just ask me if you were that desperate?”

  “Because you’ve been so nice to me already by letting me crash at your place. I didn’t want to put you out any more than I already have.”

  “Char, you could never put me out,” she frowns. “You’re my friend. Of course I’m going to be there for you if you need help. Why don’t you think about moving in with me, just until all this blows over?” she says.

  “I’d love to, but it’s just too far to commute for work,” I mumble.

  “You’re going to keep working there?” she asks skeptically. “I mean, if you don’t take him up on his offer, won’t it be weird?”

  “Of course, I’m going to keep my job,” I snap. “Why should I quit when he is in the wrong?”

  “I’m not saying he isn’t, I just mean, won’t it be awkward, seeing him every day?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t know. I think he’s avoiding me anyway.”

  Margie grins. “That’s good news, if he’s avoiding you. It means he’s embarrassed about what he did.”

  “He should be,” I said.

&n
bsp; “So use that to your advantage. Surely, the guy has got another place somewhere. Maybe you could get that in the deal too. Get you out of this place,” she giggles.

  I roll my eyes. “I think the point is if I agree to marry him, that I move in with him,” I tease her.

  “Well, that’s not a bad thing then. If it gets you out of here…” She glances around, a frown on her face. I laugh.

  “And what’s wrong with here?” I say. No sooner than the words are out of my mouth, gunshots ring in the distance. Margie jumps, her eyes wide as I giggle.

  “Oh, you are fucking kidding me,” she growls.

  I laugh. “You kind of get used to them. After a while it’s almost relaxing.”

  She shakes her head. “So can we order a pizza? I mean, do they even come out here, or is there an extra charge for risk of death?”

  “Oh, shut up,” I say, tossing a can of soda at her. She cracks it open, swallowing a mouthful.

  “I’m serious. Will they deliver pizza here?” she asks.

  “Yes,” I say with a grin.

  After we have stuffed ourselves full of pizza and watched a few old reruns of Dawson’s Creek on my tiny TV, we curl up together in my bed. Sirens ring in the distance, but Margie still manages to fall asleep very quickly, while I lay there and think.

  This can’t be my life.

  This can’t be all there is for me. But I know, unless I do something drastic, I’m going to get stuck in a worse situation than this. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad being his wife for a year, even if it didn’t really mean anything. If it gets me somewhere in life, then maybe it’s worth it.

  I close my eyes, knowing what I need to do. Tomorrow I need to walk into Matt’s office and tell him that I’m considering his offer, and that I need know more about it. As much as I hate who he is and what he stands for, I know he’s right.

  He’s my only hope of getting out of this place.

  Eight