Page 1 (2/2)

Jason froze He should probably shut up now, but he’d learned a thing or two lately "Actually, I’m currently married Have been for almost a year"

With that adht pressed into his chest, unbearable and suffocating Anger charged his veins The constant, nagging pain followed He shoved it all down and blanked his face

Samantha reared back, eyes ith shock, as if he’d just said he kept Godzilla as a pet "You married? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I tried That’s what the invitation to spend some family time last Christmas was supposed to be about"

"Oh, well I didn’t know You didn’t invite "

"It was soht that if he didn’t own that woo insane

Well, he’d slipped a ring on her finger and taken her to bed Sadly, none of that had kept hi his damn mind

He’d been a stupid bastard

Samantha’s surprise deepened "You’re never impulsive And you’ve always expressed utter contee"

For years, he had The not-so-shining examples around him had convinced him that he should never attempt happily ever after That no one should But she had been different He’d been right about that But he’d been so fucking wrong, too He’d taken a stab at e, and the blade had cut him deep

"Who is she?" Sa all around "Where is she?"

Jason dragged in a deep breath and gritted his teeth "She isn’t here"

And she was probably never co hurt

For once, his enuinely concerned about his yet?"

It had crossed his mind…but Jason couldn’t make hi that if he gave her more time, she would return

It’s been three hundred forty-four days What are the odds she’ll come back to play happy wife?

"No"

"Has she violated her prenup? You do have one, right?"

"I do, and she hasn’t"

His mother looked around his condo All sleek black leather, chro s, and pristine kitchen--without a feminine touch anywhere Every square inch of the place screaht be a pain in his ass, but she wasn’t stupid She’d know his wife didn’t live here and never had

"How has she not violated the terht?"

"I outlined how much money she would receive after every milestone anniversary if we divorced There’s a sunset clause after twenty-five years There’s a division of assets in the event ofshe violated"

Sahast "Jason Edward Denning, you know better than that You’re a young, good-looking billionaire You could have any woman you want in any way you desire Didn’t you spell out her duties with regard to the house? The living and sleeping arrangements? The type and aer He’d wanted her to be a real wife; he hadn’t wanted to buy her "I kept it si, Robert, I declined to contractually obligate her about how often I wanted oral gratification"

Hisbeside hiers on his knee "That’s your mistake You just need to be detailed with her Surely, if you made yourself clear--"

"I wanted her to choose to be with one End of conversation"

Growing up steeped in wealth, he’d seen all sorts of couples marry for reasons that had far more to do with money than devotion Not that he didn’t understand ahis assets But from those interactions, he knew that relationships were a barter, affection bought and paid for The currencyhis wife had somehow altered his opinion

He’d not only appreciated and deeply admired her altruistic, self-sufficient nature, he had married her because of it Eventually, he’d hoped she would be the mother of his children because she briht For her, nothing had been aboutHe’d trusted her more than he’d ever trusted a feined the traits he’d once admired so much would bite him in the ass Or that she’d not only leave hihts as her husband and her Do that she didn’t trust hiain, hadn’t that been a recurring theme for them?

"Call your attorney," his reen and recommit or you’ll box her into a corner and she will have to leave the , right?"

Yes, he could do all that But she would only hate him for it For some reason he couldn’t fathom, he found that idea intolerable

Jason sla out If you need a place to stay, there’s a guest rooht If you need rand on my dresser You’re welcoe isn’t a subject open for discussion--ever"

Club Dohts, but Jason kept a private playroom here and had round-the-clock access to it The eon, he realized it wasn’t the roo his way down the hall, he pictured his wife as he’d first seen her, arresting a rowdy drunk in the parking lot who’d been harassing fe the club’s owner, Mitchell Thorpe Despite the badge on her chest and the holstered gun at her side, everything about her expression and posture had shouted that she leaned submissive When she’d looked at him with her soft, dark eyes, Jason’s need to possess her had slaone before he could even learn her name