lane'

m my racing heart, even as my chest tight

tillness before a storm, and for a split s

ght? If he had, he would h

ned-unreadable, cold as the Baltic in winte

ed finally, his vo

, confuse

aid, tilting his head. Then, he wheeled closer an

speaking again. "You're lucky

y chest as I hesitantly

you standing there?" My voice came out sharper than I i

ore his expression shifted into a knowing smile. "Oh,

cing the unease in my

w shaken I really was. So, I did what I alway

d there and stare at me?" I asked, keeping my v

on me, sharp and calculating, before he broke the

startling me." I interrupted

y my interruption, but the faintest trace

't quite read-amused, m

y, his voice low, as i

rriage is nothing more than a business arrangement between my mother and your uncle,

s sharp, genuine disbelief lacing

aze unwavering. "

ally did, what part of the conversa

guy on the phone. Then, the moment you turned and saw me, you

one apologizing when it was the fear of being caught

what he thought? That meant he didn't hear

my throat, and I let i

his lips pressing into a th

one teasing, "we've known each other for what? Two, three days?

remained furrowed, but then his expression shif

or him, smirking. "He was jus

you'd tell him you loved him too, considering he raised you since-"

nowing smile. "Since

, almost

ook my parents happened a long time ago. I was reall

fore nodding. "I'm sorry. I g

a brow. "

rried. Whether it was arranged or no

ng marriage, then cheating should be off the table. More

way of asking whether I have any, shouldn't you go first?" I leaned in

ore a faint smirk curved his lips. "Alright." He exhaled,

nth ago, just so happened to be one of my exclusive st

he niece of someone as wealthy as Zane Lanca

ut my mind raced-so, he

unless they made a lasting impression on him. I never thought

heelchair. He was still eng

be called off, and that no other wealthy family would agree to marry their daug

ere w

mirk widening. "It w

. His brow lifted. "It wa

pping was just a hobby for me," I mused

hed. "Was just

And marriage-especially to someone like you-comes with some sacrifices.

guess you're not as naive a

aive. But who stays that way fore

readable flashing in his eyes. "You know," he said slow

skeptical loo

ed. "Str

e. "You're not the kin

I'm the only man

rossed my face-was he fl

s how he wante

e briefly drift down to his groi

I don't strip for men who can't get their dick up.

n exasperated scoff. "Oh, come on. That's

ailed off, gesturing toward his groin. "...dick doesn't."

, giving him a

ose awful rumors yourself." His voice dropped, teasing yet lace

the armrest of his wheelchair, effortlessly whe

istakable, an invitation-one I hadn't expected from him, considering how cold he

but it seemed he was going to make my job of

th the belt of my robe before loosening it and letting it slip off my should

er me, hunger flickering beneath h

nged. His gaze froze on o

hat ran from my h

ed-not with desire, but with somet

ine, his tone now serious. "

m, trying to understand why he seem

hly, "I was in a car accident as a child-the same one that killed

ked on mine, as if processing my words w

he nodded

placing my hands on his shoulders before sliding onto his lap. "Let's

as if still trying to read something deep

then it deepened-urgent, consuming, as

slightly, stunned. Okay, that...

him, which was dangerous, considering how those g

mn

mes during our days back in the university. Back when melti

ing to compose myself-only

ge pressing

ped back to

smirked. "

lin

order a dancing pole for you? Or should we skip the foreplay and

in closer, and let my breath graze his