BOUGHT BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

THE FIRST NIGHT

Chapter 4: The First Night

The party was finally over.

The car ride back to the penthouse was silent. Ethan stared out the window, his jaw tight. Amara stared at her hands in her lap, her red dress feeling too tight, too exposed.

The penthouse was dark when they entered.

"You can take the guest room," Ethan said abruptly, loosening his tie. "Second door on the left."

Amara nodded, relieved and somehow disappointed at the same time. She started walking toward the room, clutching her bag.

"Amara."

She stopped.

"Tomorrow you will move your things into the master bedroom."

Her heart stopped. "What?"

"My mother is coming tomorrow," he said, his voice unreadable. "She will want to see that we share a room. She will want to see that this marriage is real."

"I... we had a contract. You said..."

"I said you will do whatever I tell you to do," he reminded her, stepping closer. He was taking off his suit jacket now, throwing it on the sofa. "Don't worry, Mrs. Blackwood. I will not touch you unless you beg me to."

Amara's face turned red. "I would never beg you!"

He smiled, a slow, dangerous smile. "We will see."

He walked past her, so close that his arm brushed hers, and went into the master bedroom. The door closed with a soft click.

Amara stood alone in the dark living room, breathing hard.

She went to the guest room. It was bigger than her entire apartment. But it felt cold.

She took a shower and changed into her old oversized t-shirt she used as pajamas. She looked at the red dress on the floor. For a few hours, she had felt like a princess. Now she felt like a prisoner again.

A knock on her door made her jump.

Ethan stood there, holding two cups of tea. He had changed into black sweatpants and a grey t-shirt. Without the suit, he looked younger, less like a billionaire and more like a man.

"You didn't eat at the party," he said gruffly, handing her a cup.

She took it, surprised. "Thank you."

He didn't leave. He leaned against the door frame, watching her.

"Vanessa," Amara whispered. "Is she... was she your girlfriend?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "Vanessa is my ex-fiancée's best friend. She thinks I ruined Chloe's life. Maybe I did."

"Do you still love Chloe?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Ethan stared at her for a long time. Then he set his tea down.

"Chloe is the past," he said quietly. "You are my present. And the mother of my future child. That is all that matters."

He reached out and touched her cheek. His hand was warm.

"Sleep early, Amara. Tomorrow, you meet the woman who will judge if you are worthy to be a Blackwood. My mother is worse than any board meeting."

He turned to leave.

"Ethan?" Amara called.

He turned.

"Will you... will you be there tomorrow? With me?"

Something softened in his grey eyes.

"I will be right beside you," he said. "No one will touch you. Not even my mother."

He left and closed the door.

Amara touched her cheek where he had touched her. It was still warm.

Outside her door, Ethan stood for a minute, his hand clenched into a fist. He had told himself this was just business. A contract. A convenient wife.

So why did the thought of her meeting his cruel mother make him feel protective? Why did he want to go back into that room and hold her until she fell asleep?

He had bought her. But he was starting to feel like he was the one who was trapped.