Merger (Triple Threat Book 3) (5 page)

His lips compressed, and he was clearly swinging toward anger. “I’m glad you know me so well. If you know what I’m thinking, then tell me at this minute what’s on my mind.”

She shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not trying to claim I can read your mind.”

“Obviously you can’t, or you’d either be running away or throwing yourself against me.”

She pressed her hand to his abdomen, allowing her fingers to brush gently against his semi-hard cock. It wouldn’t take much to arouse it back to full functionality, as she had quickly learned over the last few days. “Did you have something kinky in mind?”

With a sigh of impatience, he took her hand away from his tempting parts and folded it in his, placing it against his chest and covering it with his larger hand. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you here, not get distracted by sex.”

She barely bit back a giggle at his putout expression and grumpy tone. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to distract you with sex.”

Dominic rolled his eyes, looking unconvinced, but he seemed willing to move the conversation forward. Still holding her hand, he twined his fingers through hers. “I don’t want to let you go.”

Her heart softened slightly, but she forced herself to remain focused on practicalities. “I don’t want to let you go either, but my flight is tomorrow. We should really make the most of the time we have left.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.”

She tilted her head slightly in puzzlement. “Thinking about what?”

“Thinking about letting you go, and I’ve decided to keep you.”

She laughed softly. “You can’t just keep someone, Dominic.” Even if they wanted to be kept, and she did with all of her heart.

He cocked a brow in her direction. “You think not?”

She hesitated, uncertain if he was teasing for a moment, or being completely sincere. It was a slightly unnerving reaction, and she pushed aside any hesitation or doubts. “I’m sure you could do whatever you want, and whatever you set your mind to, but we both know I’m leaving tomorrow, and we shouldn’t pretend like that isn’t happening. Unless you prefer it that way? Do you want me to wake up in the morning and slip away quietly while you’re sleeping?”

His lips compressed further. “No, I want you to get on a plane with me, and we’ll fly to Vegas.”

She frowned at him. “That sounds fun, but I have to be back for classes on Monday.”

He grinned at her. “If you really have to be back in time for classes, I’ll make sure you’re home by then. On the other hand, if you’d like to take a few extra days and indulge in a honeymoon, I’d be perfectly fine with that too.”

“I can’t really spare time off school—” She stopped speaking abruptly, and her mouth dropped open in shock as his words penetrated her brain. “Honeymoon? What are you talking about, Dominic?”

He squeezed her hand and wrapped several strands of her hair around his other fingers, which felt like a show of possession. “That usually follows getting married, doesn’t it? Why else do you think I want to go to Vegas?”

She cleared her suddenly dry throat with a raspy cough. “Vegas…for gambling?”

He laughed. “I’d say marriage is about the biggest gamble of all. So do you want to?”

She frowned at him, still having a difficult time comprehending what he was saying. His words had to have another meaning. They just simply did, because she wasn’t equipped to deal with this. “Do I want to what?”

Dominic let out a small sigh, sounding impatient. “Do you want to get married?”

Her mouth gaped open. “We barely know each other.”

He lifted his shoulder in a shrug, appearing unconcerned by that fact. “We’ll learn all the little nuances and details later, but we know we’re good together, and neither one of us wants to be apart. What’s the problem? We get married and settle down, and then we don’t have to be apart. We already know we both live in the same city, so that’s not an obstacle. What do you think of the idea?”

She shook her head. “I think it’s crazy.”

His lips tightened. “Okay, what does your heart think of the idea, since your head is being so damn stubborn?”

She opened her mouth to reiterate her statement, but hesitated as she took a moment to consider what he was suggesting. She really focused on it, able to sharply envision a future spent with the man beside her. It should have been way too soon, and she wasn’t given to crazy, impulsive decisions, so she was slightly shocked when she heard herself say, “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I want to marry you, and I will.”

He let out a small whoop before lifting her and plastering her across his chest. His hands cupped her face, fingers digging into her hair, and he dragged her down for a long, drugging kiss before releasing her with clear reluctance. “You won’t regret this.”

She hesitated, waiting for uncertainty or doubts to hit her, but finding none. It was with a sense of wonder that she nodded her head. “I think you’re right. I can’t imagine I’ll ever regret choosing you, Dominic.”

Dominic focused all of his attention and considerable amount of charisma on Lily, ensuring she didn’t change her mind or back out of the decision. Now that she’d agreed to marry him, he was going to ensure she went through with it. It was the key to his entire plan, and he tried to dismiss any other emotions associated with her agreement, like pleasure or warmth. She meant nothing to him, and that was the way it should be. As soon as she learned why he’d married her, if she ever did, it would destroy their relationship anyway. The past week had been nothing but a gossamer illusion he had built one strand at a time, weaving it into a fanciful fairytale for her.

He certainly didn’t need to fall in his own trap and get ensnared. Yes, his young bride was attractive and compelling, and no matter how many times he was inside her, he couldn’t seem to get enough, but that was just a physical reaction. He had to maintain a façade of feeling something else, but he didn’t have to try to fool himself about it. It was better to be coldblooded and admit he was manipulating her, at least with himself.

All those pep talks did nothing to ease the sudden racing of his heart when she appeared at the head of the aisle in the small chapel where they were eloping. She had tried to convince him to wait on the wedding, at least giving her time to involve her family, and meet his, but he’d steamrolled her objections. He wanted his ring on her finger, and his name added to hers, as quickly as possible. It was simply a protective measure, and had nothing to do with how it would make him feel.

It was all right to want his bride, and it was an unexpected bonus to feel attracted to her, so he should view it as a good thing. It would make it that much easier to stomach having a wife if he actually wanted to bed her. And he did, multiple times per day. Even when he wasn’t with her—which admittedly the times had been few and far between since she had moved into his suite at the hotel—she dominated his thoughts. He was certain that would change as soon as he had what he needed from her, and they were back home. He tried to dismiss any concerns or other thoughts as he focused on her floating down the aisle.

It had been a thrown-together elopement, and they had planned all the details upon arriving in Las Vegas that morning. Considering how quickly it had all come together, it was a surprisingly beautiful ceremony, and she made a stunning bride in a traditional flowing white gown. When he took her hand in his and prepared to slide on the wedding band they had purchased at Harry Winston, he suddenly found it difficult to breathe
.

After clearing his throat, he chalked it up to a reaction to the strong scent of incense clinging cloyingly in the air. He’d never been a fan of the stuff, and that had to be the reason why his lungs were tight and his eyes burned. He cleared his throat again, and the reaction went away a moment later. It was simply a coincidence that it coincided with the moment she said, “I do,” which practically sealed their marriage at that particular moment. There were legalities to deal with, but as soon as she’d agreed, she was his.

He had no explanation for why he got choked up again a moment later when it was his turn to say, “I do,”, and he pressed on through, ignoring the reaction as he focused on completing the ceremony and claiming Lily Faulkner as his wife.

As soon as she had signed the marriage certificate, a wave of relief went through him. Now he had everything he needed to secure his family’s future and keep them safe from the threat of prosecution. No wonder he was giddy with relief, his heart pounding with excitement. The worst was over, or would be after he confronted her father.

***

They spent the night in Vegas before flying home, and he had the driver take them directly to his house. He ignored her objections and protests about needing to retrieve her possessions from the sorority house. “Is there anything you can’t replace?”

After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head. “No, I guess not.”

He nodded. “That’s settled then. There’s no reason to go back to that hellhole and risk facing those barracudas again. I’m going to protect you, since you’re my wife, and that means taking you to my home.”

She let out a little sigh, looking annoyed with him, which made him want to chuckle. “Fine, you Neanderthal.”

He did chuckle then. “Guilty as charged, dear wife.”

She shivered in pleasure, either from the endearment or the way he brushed his lips against her knuckles when he brought her hand to his mouth. He was certain if he lifted up the dress she’d worn for traveling home, he’d find her wet and ready for him. The thought was intoxicating, and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself as he pulled her onto his lap and began to kiss her with all the pent-up passion that had built between them during the last few hours of the flight.

If they hadn’t been on a commercial flight, he would have spent the trip from Vegas back home making love to her in ten different ways, but even in first-class, there was no opportunity for such a display. Now, he had her all to himself, and he planned to enjoy it.

It was only when they reached his house, alerted to the fact by a subtle chime from his driver as he opened the security gate, that he spared a thought for the coming showdown with her father. The thought was unpleasant, and he shoved it aside as he focused on Lily instead, sweeping her from the car, across the threshold, and up the stairs as quickly as possible.

***

It was Lilly who prodded him to meet her father, and Dominic was disconcerted to realize he had spent the last two days immersed in his bride, who had insisted on tearing herself away to attend classes. During the hours she was gone, he’d accomplished very little in the way of work, but he tried not to think about why he might be procrastinating. His mind was still in vacation mode. That was all there was to it. He was also rehearsing how he would approach her father, and what he would say, so no wonder he was too preoccupied to be the one to suggest she set up a meeting.

It was still slightly startling when she told him they were having dinner with her father that night after she came back from her Tuesday classes. Since it was the whole reason he’d married her, he didn’t protest her making plans without his input. He was relieved to have the operation moving forward. Soon enough, he could get back to a more normal life, with his familiar routine. He’d be able to call up Claudia and set up discreet meetings with her, because he might be stuck with a wife, but he had no intention of behaving like a conventional married man.

It was slightly worrisome that he didn’t experience even a spark of desire for Claudia at the thought of her, when she had been preoccupying his thoughts up until he’d hatched the scheme to get Lily’s father off his family’s back. He tried not to dwell on it as he dressed for dinner, gearing up to meet his new father-in-law. He was certain Philip Faulkner would not have taken the news of his daughter’s elopement well under any circumstances, but the old man was going to be particularly pissed when he realized just who his little girl had married. Dominic smirked at his reflection in the mirror, enjoying the idea of throwing Philip for a loop.

***

Lilly blotted her damp palms on her khaki pants, struggling to control the bout of nerves seizing her. She was certain her father was going to be disappointed in her decision, and though she was an adult and shouldn’t worry about what he thought, it was difficult not to take him into consideration. Not that she’d been able to think of anything or anyone else in the face of Dominic’s strength of will and determination to get his ring on her finger.

At that reminder, she glanced down at the large diamond surrounded by the platinum band, running her thumb lovingly over it. It was larger than she would have picked for herself, but it had grown on her in the last couple of days it had rested on her finger. She hoped Dominic would grow on her father too, because she was certain he would be dead set against whomever she brought home in these circumstances, at least in the beginning.

It was a casual family dinner, so she hadn’t bothered to dress up for it. Dominic had worn a button-down shirt, and she had stripped him of his tie before he left the house, telling him there was no need to be so formal. He’d looked briefly disconcerted as she had taken the garment, but he had shrugged and allowed her to guide him. It was a refreshing change, since he was usually overbearing and required every last ounce of her stubbornness to counter.

Not that she’d succeeded in countering him yet, she admitted, but there wasn’t anything she’d really wanted to win anyway. When he’d asked her to marry him, it had seemed crazy, but she’d wanted to do it. Something about Dominic tapped into her wild, impulsive side and overrode common sense.

They walked up together to the front door, her hand in his, as she rang the doorbell. Her father opened the door a moment later, and she realized what a stark contrast his suburban home was to Dominic’s imposing residence. She hoped they wouldn’t be too disparate to be able to get along, because she loved both of them, and she couldn’t imagine having to make a choice between her husband and her father.

Philip looked at her first, stepping forward for a hug before stepping back again. He eyed Dominic with interest and clear puzzlement. His gaze flicked to Lilly’s before returning to her husband. “Who’s this, Lily? You didn’t tell me you were bringing a guest.”

Lily had hoped to at least make it in the doorway before having to make awkward introductions, but it was clear this was going down on the front step. She squeezed her hand around Dominic’s and pulled him a little closer, bringing him into the light of the outside porch light. “This is Dominic —”

“Rinaldi,” spat out her father, his expression grim, and his complexion ashen.

At the same time, while extending his hand, Dominic said, “I’m Lily’s husband.”

The look she shot Dominic was full of disbelief. Couldn’t he see this was the wrong time to make that pronouncement? “Dad, are you all right?”

Philip staggered, his expression stunned. “He’s lying, isn’t he, Lily?”

She bit her lip, slowly shaking her head. “No, he isn’t.”

Her father took a shaky step back, opening the door wider. “Get inside.”

Lily flinched at the sound of the door against the jamb when her father slammed it behind them a moment later. She eyed him with concern. “I know it seems rushed, and I’m sure you don’t approve, but it just happened. It was crazy and impulsive, and we fell in love.”

Her father snarled, a genuine animal-sounding snarl erupting from his mouth. He pointed to the stairs, barely looking at her. “Go to your room.”

She rolled her eyes. “It hasn’t been my room for more than a year, Dad, and you can’t just ground me or send me away when you don’t approve of what I’ve done.”

“Go to your room,” he roared again. “I’m going to have a talk with Rinaldi, and I don’t want you overhearing it. So go to your room. Now.”

She looked uncertainly at Dominic, who was nodding. “Dad, you’re being unreasonable.”

Dominic squeezed her hand gently before letting go. “It’s okay, Lily. Your dad clearly wants to yell at me, and perhaps it’s best if you don’t hear that. Maybe you should go to your old room, or perhaps the kitchen to check on dinner?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she glared at both of them as she realized they both wanted her gone. There was clearly something more going on here, and she was determined to discover what, but she had a feeling they weren’t going to speak freely while she was in the room.

With a stiff nod, not looking at either one of them, she darted up the stairs to her old room, leaving the door cracked until she heard footsteps moving deeper into the house. They were likely going to her father’s den for their discussion, she wasn’t about to be left out of it. She waited a couple of minutes to ensure they had time to get settled and would be less likely to realize she was lurking near the doorway to eavesdrop before leaving her room.

She walked quietly down the stairs, carefully avoiding the one tread that always squeaked underfoot. She had never been one to sneak out of the house, but she had learned how to move up and down the stairs quietly during the time she lived with her father on the off chance she had decided to embrace teenage rebellion. And it had finally occurred, just a few years later than anticipated, when she was certainly no longer a teenager.

She was still steaming at their high-handed behavior, daring to send her away as though the discussion didn’t affect her. She realized if she didn’t stand up for herself now with Dominic, she’d end up embracing the same role for him that she played for her father, which was the obedient, good girl who didn’t present problems or engender arguments. That was an unsatisfying way to live in a parent-child relationship, and it was a completely unacceptable thought for marriage.

Part of her was tempted to storm into the room and demand to hear their conversation, but she was certain they would both go mum until she agreed to leave again. She didn’t appreciate being treated like a recalcitrant child, but she also wanted them to speak openly and freely. After her father’s intense reaction, she was certain they knew each other. She had expected her father to overreact, and perhaps do a little bit of venting, but she’d never heard him raise his voice that way before, especially to her. The only way to ensure she heard the full story was to remain quiet and out of sight.

With that in mind, she approached the den, unsurprised to find the door closed. She took a deep breath and quietly turned the doorknob, moving so slowly that she felt like her muscles would scream from tension by the time she finally completely turned the doorknob and eased the door open a couple of inches. Immediately, she could hear their voices, so she stopped pushing the door. Moving just as cautiously as she had, she eased back against the wall, bracing herself against it as she positioned her ear at just the right spot to best hear what they were talking about.