The Billionaire's Secret Wife

Chapter 4: The First Real Kiss

I couldn't sleep.

Not in a $10,000 bed. Not in a penthouse that looked over all of New York. Not when the man who called me his wife was just across the hall.

I got up for water at 2 AM. The penthouse was dark and quiet.

Until I heard him.

From his office. A sound. A low, pained groan.

I peeked. Adrian was on the floor. His hand on his chest. His face pale. Sweat on his forehead.

"Adrian!" I ran to him. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

He tried to push me away. "Go... away... I'm fine..."

"You are not fine!" I touched his forehead. He was burning with fever. "You have a fever! Why didn't you call me?"

"Because... Clause 5..." he whispered, his cold grey eyes now vulnerable, like a little boy. "Don't care about me..."

My heart broke. This cold billionaire... he was sick and alone and pushing everyone away.

I helped him to his bed. I put a cold towel on his forehead. I stayed.

"You don't have to do this," he said weakly.

"I know," I whispered. "But you are my... you are my husband. Even if it's just for 30 days."

He looked at me for a long time. Then, with his shaking hand, he cupped my face.

"Elena..." His voice was hoarse. "Has anyone ever told you... you are too good for this world? Too good for a man like me?"

Before I could answer, he pulled me down.

And he kissed me.

Not a brush. Not a fake kiss for his ex. A real kiss. Deep, desperate, feverish. His lips were hot against mine. His hand tangled in my hair.

I should have stopped him. Clause 2: No intimacy. Clause 5: Don't fall in love.

But I kissed him back. God help me, I kissed my cold billionaire husband back like my life depended on it.

When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

His eyes were wide, shocked at what he had just done.

"Elena, I..."

Then his grandfather's voice echoed from the living room: "Adrian? Elena? Are you two awake? I came early!"

Adrian froze. His feverish eyes went back to cold and panicked.

"My grandfather can't see us like this. He will know it was not a business kiss."

He pulled me closer under the blanket.

And at that moment, I realized two terrible things. One, I was already falling for Adrian Knight. And two, his grandfather standing at the door had just seen us kissing.