The Magnate's Island Bride

Chapter 1

"You belong to me, no one else!"

She stared at him, trying not to react to what he said. He irritated her with his high and mighty attitude. She shook her head and asked him, "Am I land and property to you?"

He stared back at her, and he tried his best to rein in his temper. This woman knew how to try his patience. He lifted an eye and slanted a look at her.

"You're my property," he pressed on, "No one else's."

"I am no one's property!" She snapped.

"Want to bet?" he challenged.

Curling her hands into fists, she narrowed her eyes at him and repeated, "I am no one's property and neither am I yours!"

In the blink of an eye, he stood before her, and he pressed her into his body. He lifted her chin with his finger and stared into her eyes. "You're mine!" he told her in a quiet but sinister voice, "I don't share what's mine!"

She struggled in his hold, trying to get away from his hard body that was pressed against her soft one. The more she struggled the more tightly he held on to her.

Dammit, what had she gotten herself into?

***

Nicholas Lovette stared down at the woman in his embrace and marveled at her struggle. The corner of his lips slowly curved up into a smirk. She could struggle all she liked but he would not give in except to tighten his embrace, further pressing her into his body. She was his and the sooner she understood the better.

He couldn't help getting irritated when he remembered her words about her not belonging to him. Ever since he knew her she belonged to him. She didn't know it then, but she was truly going to know and understand it now. He was determined to let her know.

She finally stopped struggling.

"Are you done fighting me?" he asked with a sly smile.

With narrowed eyes, she panted softly, and responded quietly, "Yes, I'm done fighting."

He could tell she wasn't pleased with the way she kept her body tense.

"Good. Now the sooner you accept that you belong to me, the sooner we can move forward."

She tensed up further, "In your dreams Nick, in...your...dreams. I am my own person and I ONLY belong to me!" She snapped.

He just stared at her and smiled. He couldn't help but trace a finger along her smart mouth and told her playfully, "I love it when you resist me. It makes things a lot more interesting."

He bent his face forward and brought his lips to her ears, exhaling slowly, letting his hot breath gently fan her smooth cheeks. He felt her shiver in his hands and knew she was affected by him as well.

"See your body, respond to me, no matter who you may talk to or smile with," he paused and blew against her cheek and ear again, "you will only respond to me and nobody else!"

She tensed up further as she expected him to make a move to kiss her, and was just gonna push him away when he suddenly released her and left the room.

What the hell just happened? What the hell is going on? she wondered lost.

******

It was a chilly evening. The moon was shining brightly bathing the houses, flowers, and street in its cold silver allure. The stars were twinkling like beautiful gems in the clear oblivion. Captivating all who looked up.

Dressed in a washed-out jean short, black tank top with a charcoal cardigan coverall, she stood slightly leaned against the porch, and looked out at the lights blinking in the near distance.

The tiny village looked peaceful from where she stood. She shifted her gaze to the left slightly and looked at the blinking lights of the neighboring island and wondered at what was happening with the blinking lights along the horizon.

So lost in thought that she was slightly unaware of the company that just joined her.

"What's on your mind?" he watchfully asked.

Shaking her head, she responded quietly, "Nothing."

He stared at her wanting to push but he knew that would be futile.

"Why am I here?"

He wondered at the various reasons and chose the one that would go straight to the heart.

"Because I wanted you here."

"Why do you want me here?" she asked confused, "Weren't you happy to have not been in communication with me these last five years?"

He inhaled and slowly exhaled the retort that was on the tip of his tongue. She was the one that cut all connection with him, yet she was quick to lay blame at his door. He chose carefully his answer to avoid further conflict.

"You're still my wife," he said stiffly, and he saw her flinched. He couldn't help the coldness that came to his eyes and tone. She just knew how to push his buttons. "Me wanting you here with me should have told you that."

She was his wife, but she never felt like she was. Five years ago they'd got married, but that was only a business transaction. Why now of all time did he have to come back? Why did he suddenly want her here with him?

He watched her hide. She slowly put on a mask of un-concerned and before she could utter a word he told her, "we've been married for five years and I have given you your space and independence to do what you want. Now, it's time for you to take up the role as my wife and do your duties."

She squinted at him, being witty, she asked, "what duties am I neglecting?"

Lifting an eyebrow at her, he asked, "You really need me to brief you?"

She had a feeling he was baiting her. So she ignored his statement and waited for what he had to say.

"Lately, it also seems that you have been dating a man. Have you informed him you're already married?" he asked coldly.

With unease, she looked him in the eye and asked, "what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Are you really going to play naïve with me?" he asked quietly.

She could feel the tension from his body and she racked her brain to try and understand what he was talking about.

"There is no man!"

******

 Scrambling for the door she decided, she had about enough of his arrogance.  She thought that once she could get to the door, she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.

"Just where do you think you're going?" he asked coldly.

Grumbling beneath her breath, she turned to him. "Why the third-degree chief?" She challenged.

He stared back at her cooly, leaning against the doorpost of the kitchen, and lifted the cup to his thin lips for a drink. From the corner of his eye, he watched her be uncomfortable.

She tried to edge closer to the door. Feeling like a little girl trapped before a beating.

"Make a mistake and touch that door and we're gonna have a problem, Steffie," he mumbled, and she stopped with her hand lifted.

She didn't know why she suddenly felt fear but she was indeed scared to cross him.

"I just want to leave," she responded to his question.

"Leave? Why are you leaving?" He asked, confused. "Did I say we were done talking?"

She could have sworn she hated him then. She felt a bit of rage and raised her head to look him in the eyes.

He smiled, he could see that his little wife had backbone.

"Why don't you just tell me that i'm a prisoner and get it over with?" she goads him.

"You're not a prisoner here. But I do, want to know about that man who has been following you like a leech."

He observed her for her reaction.

"Whose following me like a leech? Why is a man getting in contact with me a bother to you? Hm?"

He took a sip again from the glass, and she realized she shouldn't have asked him that question. Too bad it was out already.

"You're really spoiling for a fight aren't you?" He placed the glass on the counter and walked over to her. "Steff, I'm not going to ask you again."

She could feel the cold, ruthless vibe coming from him as he approached her and it made her stand straight and tall. He reached his hand out, lifting it to her gorgeous heart-shaped face and gently caress it. She wracked her brain for something to say. Suddenly, she knew who he referred to. Unbelievable! How could he?

He could see from her eyes and face the moment she understood what he was asking.

"You had me watched?" she asked in shock.

He tilted his head to the side and lifted a brow at her and simply said.

"Baby, I protect what is mine!"

"How could you?"

"You're yet to answer my question," he said calmly, and she felt a chill.

"Nick, he is just a friend," she said shakily.

"A friend?" he asked, "Just a friend? A friend who wants to be more." he traced her eyebrows, and then an invisible line down her nose and to her lips. "Did you let him know that you have a husband?"

She trembled with fear and desire. The only man who could incite such a feeling within her.

******

Closing her eyes, she fought the longing and desire that shivered up her spine. Why now of all times did her body have to respond to a man, to this man?

He watched her fight the attraction and knew that she was done for. He slowly released her and decided to stop tormenting her. 

He took a step away from her and walked back over to where he left his drink on the counter. He took a sip and looked at her. She was back to her composed self. If she thought that her indifference could keep him away she had another thought coming.

"Well, did you let your suitors know that you have a husband and you're unavailable?" he asked again, beginning to think that she would ignore him.  She was about to do just that.  She was getting tired of this questioning and wanted to go home. What was she, a child? Or better yet, was she in court? she thought and smiled sarcastically.

"What's it to you if I informed them or not?" Lifting an eyebrow she stared at him challengingly, "What are you going to do about it? Remember you weren't here so I don't need to answer to being your wife!" she said smartly.

He smiled.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you. But remember don't push me too much cause I am just a man."

She wondered at what he said but shook it off. She looked around at the living room, she didn't pay mind to it since she was here only to meet with him and get out, never expecting to be held up here for hours talking to a block. She laughed at that.  A block wasn't even as cold as him, she chuckled looking at him from the corners of her eyes.

The living room was painted in a pale yellow, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the sunlight, giving you a natural feel of the environment. The couch was orderly placed along the walls inviting you to rest in comfort.  A few paintings were hung along the walls and they all gave that homey feel depicting images of the past - people, community, and houses.

From where she stood, she could see a U-Shaped Island kitchen layout. She guessed it was spacious, and wondered even imagined the things she could do in such a spacious space, and a smile tilted the corners of her lips.  She stopped her thoughts and cleared those thoughts away. She refocused on him.

She sighed.

"Are we done?" she asked him, lifting her hand to check the time on her watch.

"Do you have somewhere else to be?" he asked, then added, "Or someone else to see?"

She stiffened. She was about to respond but the last statement made her double-take and count to five in her head. She needed to keep her cool.

He smiled at her reaction and then walked over to the sink, washed his glass, and placed it in the drainer.

"Let's have dinner tonight, together."

She eyed him, awaiting the catch.

"Hm?" he asked, innocently.

"I don't want to have dinner with you, Nick," she said matter-of-factly.

He tilted his head at her, then smirked at her.

"I'll pick you up at 7 pm,"

She just rolled her eyes at him and turned to head towards the door and opened it, but stopped when she heard him ask.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"Yes, I did, and what are you gonna do about it?" she asked just as she slipped through the door and left.

******

At 6:30 that evening he drove up to her home and parked in the driveway.

He honked the horn just once to let her know he was there, then came out of the car and leaned along to check his email.

Five minutes later, she walked out the door of the house and towards him. He lifted his head and looked at her and was suddenly speechless. She stopped about a step in front of him waiting for him to recover from his shock.

The corners of her lips lifted into a charming smile.

He cleared his throat.

"You look beautiful," his voice was hoarse.

"Thank you," she responded sweetly.

He closed the remaining space between them, which caught her by surprise, and embraced her. He pressed her into his body.

"I love how you look tonight, almost like you dressed to seduce me," he whispered in her ear, "If that's the case then consider it done."

He heard and felt her sharp intake of breath and he was satisfied with the reaction. She was totally flustered now.

He gently gripped her neck and kissed her forehead.

He slowly let her go, turned and opened the door letting her climb into the passenger seat, then closed the door. Walking over to the driver's side he got in and started the car.

Ten minutes later they were in the parking lot of the hotel. Upon entry, the romance of the dinner could immediately be felt.  She was in awe at the setup. As a planner, she started scrutinizing everything.

It was love in a different way.  The colors were quite striking and attractive. Turquoise, gold, and lavender.  Balloons with hearts and love were placed along the walls and columns with ribbons.

Tables were placed in a U-shaped form in the conference room. Along the tables were champagne flutes with napkins and plates well placed to indicate where one sat. There was also a few lit candles along the tables to enhance the ambiance of romance. 

He walked her over to a table near the head table and sat her down.

"This is all pretty cute," she whispered to him.

"I'll be sure to tell the organizer so," he responded.

As he took his seat, other people filed in and took their places. They were all greeted with respect.