The Billionaire’s Stubborn Bride

PROS AND CONS

RUBY

One minute, we had been talking, and the next, I couldn’t get enough of him. I had run my hand through his hair and sighed into his kiss. Archer had kissed like a god. He had tasted like sunshine and sin. His body pressed against mine felt heavenly, his body was so sculpted, and I couldn’t feel an ounce of fat. Kissing him had been a revelation; it had felt as good as I remembered. It hadn’t been the drink; it had been us.

He moved me until my back was against the dining table. Neither of us wanted to stop the kiss. I hopped on the table, kicking off my heels, and he walked in between them, pressing his center to mine.

"Archer," I moaned loudly as I ran my hand down his back. I arched my back and rubbed against his erection, then wrapped my legs around his back.

He kissed my jawline down to my collarbone, then my neck, where he suckled on the spot where my pulse beat widely.

We could hardly stop ourselves. I dragged his lips back to mine and continued our kiss.

His hands went to my thighs and moved up steadily. Just as he pressed on the spot where I was arching and wet, we heard footsteps approaching. I quickly pushed him backward and came down from the table when my Papa walked in.

Papa raised his eyebrows in surprise at how close we were standing, probably looking like we just had s*x.

"Hope I'm not disturbing?" He asked with a look of mischief in his eyes, letting me know that he had an idea of what kind of discussion we were having, and he wasn't fooled.

Archer cleared his throat. "Not at all, Aolo," he replied while I stood there with my lips probably kissed swollen and without my heels. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. I was caught in the act by my father. Jesus Christ.

"Well, goodnight, Archer. Ruby will see you out," my father said, walking away and closing the dining room door behind him, wanting to give us some privacy. I was sure Papa wouldn't mind if I got pregnant at this stage. I sighed.

"That was close," Archer chuckled.

"Yeah. And embarrassing," I complained, dropping my face into my hands.

Archer laughed, and I raised my head to look at him. He looked so good; no wonder I had lost my mind for a minute and made out with him where anyone could see us.

"It’s okay, Ruby. We're getting married," Archer said, taking my hands in his as he tried to assure me. "Or are you embarrassed by me?" he asked.

I looked at him with narrowed eyes. Archer couldn’t be feeling insecure, could he?

"No, I’m not embarrassed of you. It was the situation, that’s all."

"Good," he nodded. "Good."

I inhaled and moved closer to him, like metal to a magnet. His pull was so strong. "I want to get to know you before we wed, Archer. It's important to me."

"Of course, Ruby."

I couldn’t control this need any longer. I raised my hand to his neck and pulled him to me as I went on my tiptoes and kissed him. At first, he let me kiss him, and I took my time to explore his lips and dive into him. When I opened my mouth and touched his tongue with mine, I felt the shudder that ran through him, mirroring my own, and then he took over. He kissed me like a general laying siege to a castle—dominant and powerful.

We kissed for so long that I lost track of time. When we finally broke apart, we were breathing heavily, as if we had just finished a marathon. Our foreheads pressed together, and our eyes locked on each other. We burst out laughing. As we came down from the high, Archer sighed and kissed my forehead. He hugged me and placed his chin on my head.

“See me out?” he asked quietly.

“Okay,” I whispered.

He held my hand as we walked to the lawn where his car was parked. He stopped to look at me.

“I’m really glad it’s you,” he said without elaborating, but I knew he meant he was glad it was me he was getting married to. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you since that night. Finding out you’re my bride-to-be makes it perfect.”

I looked into his sincere eyes. "I'm glad it was you. I was initially surprised, but I'm glad," I assured him.

He gathered me close, his hands on my waist, and kissed me.

“Goodnight, Ruby.”

“Goodnight, Archer.”

I stepped out of his embrace and watched him enter his car and drive away. I felt breathless from his last kiss and empty, as if I had lost something important. As I turned to walk inside, I saw Papa watching from the window of his study. I shook my head and giggled. Papa must have been so pleased that Archer and I got along well.

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but think about Archer. Getting married to the person my father wanted was never part of my plan. It would only make my father believe he had the right to make life-changing decisions for me. I worried about that and what else he might do in the future.

I turned around in bed, searching for a comfortable position. Should I refuse to marry Archer now that I know who he is because of my father? Should I just be grateful that it was Archer I was marrying and accept my fate? How had I forgotten about Diavolo so soon? Was Papa right, or was I just fickle by nature?