Hateful Games: (An arranged marriage billionaire romance) (Arranged Games Book 2)

“I would like the all-American breakfast with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and extra crispy fries. A plate of corn tortilla chips. Fruit platter and blueberry yogurt. Chocolate Belgian waffles and two mini pancakes with choc chips on top,” Rosa recites to the furiously typing waiter, her nose stuck in the menu. “Oh, and a mint mojito.”

Once she’s done, she pushes the menu away and looks up. To find everyone staring at her, with a range of expressions.

“What?” she quips. “Aren’t you guys going to order?”

“Didn’t you just finish doing that?” asks a bewildered Nathan. While his girlfriend, Iris, sits wearing the biggest sunglasses and holding her head between her palms. The poster child for hangovers.

“That was for her,” I answer him.

“Seriously?”

“She also doesn’t share,” I explain. “So, you may wanna hurry and order yours.”

The tidbit I share about my wife, who’s trying hard not to blush, leaves her two best friends gazing at me with fascination, looking impressed.

“Someone’s worked up quite an appetite,” teases Bianca with a smirk, who is sitting on a quiet Dash’s lap despite there being an extra chair at our table. “Sleepless night, Ro?”

Rosa glares, making my lips twitch.

I shouldn’t feel so smug but every time she slightly winces when she sits on her sore ass, I want to repeat last night all over again. Her moans and screams of pleasure. The sweet symphony of her begging on her knees.

Every second is imprinted in my soul.

A memory I’m going to carry till my last day on earth.

Unable to resist, I grab her naked thigh under the table. The same thigh I licked salt off before drinking alcohol off her slick pussy. Rosalie stills, feeling my palm. I track the teasing movement when she bites the corner of her red bottom lip.

By the time I was finished with her, the lipstick was a mess.

Yet she had never looked more stunning to me.

Our eyes lock for a second and they mirror my lust, replaying last night. It was this soft glance that made me break my vow of swearing off alcohol. I should be pissed I did it so easily.

Yet if she asked me again, I’d happily fall to my knees.

As long as it is her, I’m tasting too.

Iris groans in annoyance. “Why is everyone talking? And who plays music so loud? Ughh… I need coffee. What’s taking so long?”

“Tequila does that,” teases Nathan, earning a punch to his arm.

“Were there mosquitoes in your room, Bee?” casually asks Rosalie.

Bianca frowns. “What?”

“Or just a Dash-sized one?” Expression innocent, she comments, “Judging by the hickeys around your neck. Just how many are they?”

Bianca flushes a deep red, making Rosalie relax in satisfaction. The corner of Dash’s mouth lifting in male pride. Kissing his soon-to-be wife’s neck, he whispers something in her ear that has her smiling.

We’re interrupted when two waiters arrive and serve us. Most of the plates taking up the space on the table are my wife’s, who is salivating at the view.

“Oh, thank God!” gasps Iris, quickly grabbing her coffee.

Nathan smiles and stops her before she can take a sip. “You’ll burn your tongue, babe.”

Iris groans, staring longingly at the steaming mug.

“Have my toast until then,” Nathan slides his plate to her and holds it up to her mouth.

“I’m still waiting for an answer,” informs Rosalie, while digging into the pancakes after pouring chocolate syrup over them. “How did you find us? You better not have felt guilty and spilled, Bee.”

“I didn’t.”

Dash speaks up. “I tracked Bianca.”

“Like a chip or a tracker?” grumbles Rosalie, pausing mid-bite.

“No. With a torch.”

I’m shaking my head before even my Rose responds.

“Careful, lover boy,” warns my wife deviously. “Too many hot coffees around. One might land in your pretty face.”

“Stop threatening my man, Ro.”

Outraged, Rosalie squints her eyes at her best friend. “Are you okay with this?”

“There are perks.”

Rosalie looks betrayed, her stare boring into Bianca’s, like she’s lost her mind. Just as quickly, her head snaps to mine. Her fork raised in my direction. “No.”

“I’m afraid it’s not up to you, little hellion.” I tip the sharp weapon down with my hand. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about a bodyguard.”

“No.”

“Tracker it is.”

“That is psychotic.”

“Protective, wife.” Grinning, I tease, “In the language of your book boyfriends, romantic.”

“Don’t expect to win an argument with that, hubby.”

“Au contraire.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Bianca pitches in, telling Dash, “You did ruin our girls’ vacation, darling.”

“Is that what it was?” murmurs Dash. “You voicing your unhappiness when you were screaming my name last night, wifey?”

Instead of answering him, Bianca glances at Rosalie. “You have my blessing to throw the coffee.”

“Brat,” admonishes Dash, pulling her down for a kiss that is highly indecent for public. Bianca chuckles against his lips when he stands with her in his arms.

“There’s still time for our flight, Dash.”

He smirks. “I know.”

Rosalie turns to me as soon as they leave. “What flight?”

“Don’t worry, ours is in the evening.”

“Why?”

“You want to invite your friends to our honeymoon?”

Her eyes widen into saucers. “Honeymoon? But there’s still a few days.”

“I moved it up, since you’re in the mood for a vacation.” She opens her mouth to try her weasel her way out of this. But I shut her up with a kiss.

It’s time to make her mine irrevocably.

***

Rosalie is pouting through the whole flight in my private jet—an indulgence I couldn’t resist.

I mean, her version of a pout, which is to give me the silent treatment.

Never been a fan.

Since I knew she was going to react like this, I came prepared. For every defensive wall she creates between us, I have the tool to tear them down. Until she can never shut me out.

Walking down the aisle, I approach Rosalie in the front, sitting in the club seat. She’s looking out the window, but the shiver that runs down her back tells me she senses my presence. But is being a stubborn little brat.

On our way to the airport, she recited all the reasons we shouldn’t go to Italy. Our first destination—Portofino. I’ve already made arrangements for my family’s yacht, Oasis, to be ready for cruising along the shores of Riviera de Levante.

Her most obvious excuse was her fur babies and I told her they were perfectly fine with Raghu, who I begrudgingly had to call.

Next was the shelter, how she couldn’t just abandon them. I took care of that by giving the responsibility to my assistant to help them if they need it.

When that didn’t work, she tried to guilt-trip me about how I shouldn’t leave my father in the lurch with the new merger and all. My expression was enough to make her backpedal. Since then, I’m being flat-out ignored.

Instead of sitting across from her, I take a seat beside her.

“I brought you something.”

“Don’t want it.”

“You haven’t seen it.”

“The clouds are a far more beautiful view.”

I place the item—her shiny black laptop—in front of her. She notices it from her peripheral, freezes, and slowly faces it.

Her fingers trace the top and she murmurs, “My laptop?”

“I thought you’d want to write your current book,” I reply. “I saw it is set to release in three months. I’m guessing you have a deadline coming soon to send the finished manuscript to your editor.”

She reacts the same way she did when I brought her a Kindle e-reader.

Astonished.

Tenderly.

Passionately.

She watches me like she’s seeing me for the first time. Like I’m a figment of her imagination. Beneath it, there’s also a shadow of fear. As if she’ll blink and the moment will pass. The soulful look makes me uncomfortable. Not because I don’t like it, but because I’ve never earned it from anyone.

I didn’t even realize I wanted to until now.

Desperate to bask in it more, I confess, “I also preordered it, so I don’t miss the release.”

“When?”

“The same night you told me.” Pushing a strand of her deep red hair that falls from her messy bun, I tuck it behind her ear and let my finger linger. “Actually, I bought all your books in every format available. As soon as we get home, I need you to autograph all of them. I will keep them in a display in my office.”

Her gaze softens as she blinks. “You want me to sign them?”

“Yes.”

“Last I checked, you don’t have a bookshelf in your office.”

“I had one installed.”

“Are you sure?” Mischief lights up her face. “Justin will tease you about reading romance books.”

“Worth it.”

Her chest expands in a rough exhale at my answer. I hate the way her insecurities make her believe that what she does is any less what talented artists do. That it’s something to be disrespected or made fun of.

I will not tolerate it.

Sliding my palm to the back of her neck, I bring her mouth closer to mine and proudly say so she doesn’t miss it, “If my wife writes it, I will read it.”

Her eyelids fall closed as if it’s too much.

Deep down, I know she believes me.

Slowly, they open. Lighthearted and warm. Resting her hand on my chest, she bites her lip and teasingly whispers, “And help with research too?”

“That too.”

“Like how I can make my fictional Nova’s death painful and bloodier? If the details are accurate or not.”

“You little hellion!” She yelps, laughing and squirming when I tickle her mercilessly.

“Stop! Stop!” she pleads. “I was kidding.”

“You’re awfully obsessed with fictional Nova and call him yours when you have me, alive and a lot handsome, vying for your attention for years.”

A light flush darkens her rosy cheeks and the slope of her neck. The cute top she’s wearing not concealing her hard nipples. She arches her back, catching me staring. The air in the cabin shifts from amusement to dark cravings. I pull down the neckline, baring the dark brown tip.

I don’t touch it, making her squirm.

“Where do you want my tongue, Rose?”

“M-my nipple.”

“Then what?”

Her tongue peeks out, leaving her lips glossy. “You know, Nova.”

“I need to hear you say it.” I cup the underside, lifting it but not giving her what she’s aching for. “Tell me exactly what you want my lips, my tongue doing to your pretty nipple.” Squeezing the soft globe, I coax her, “Talk dirty to me, Rose. If it were a scene you were writing, what would the man be thinking and doing if he had her naked and willing.”

Heart racing, shyness flickers across her beautiful and lust-drunk face.

“Tell me or we stop.”

Nails digging into my other arm holding her neck, she surrenders. “He’d pull her other breast out.”

“Like this?” I yank the material down until it’s bunched obscenely underneath her tits. Her plump fucking tits. “Then?”

“He’d stare first, licking his lips like he’s desperate for a taste. Inching his hand up, he’ll fit them in his rough palms, running circles around the tips until they harden even more. Making her shift her hips and soak her panties.”

I hold on to every erotic word spilling from her lips.

Moving my fingers as she speaks.

Sending us both into a frenzy.

“When it becomes too much and not enough at the same time, he’d grab her tits harder, fitting them into his palms before lowering his head and flicking one engorged tip with his tongue.”

Bending, I first blow on the nipple before flicking it like she described.

Except, I gaze into her hooded eyes.

I’m not missing the sight of pleasure brought by me.

“Nova!” she moans restlessly.

“Keep going,” I growl against her tit, biting harshly around the hard nub.

“He’d pull it with his teeth, lightly biting down. She’ll cry out his name… Nova!” Rosalie does just that, feeling my teeth close around her nipple. I steal a suck, hollowing out my cheeks. “Yes, harder. He’d close his fist around the other breast, twisting the nipple. Eliciting pain and becoming a savage, listening to her whimpers. Yes! Like that.”

Forcing her to watch, I leave a wet trail as I move to her neglected tit and give it the same attention. My eyes close as I torture the hard nubs. Rosalie grabs my hair, shoving her swollen nipple into my wildly sucking mouth.

“Fuck, Nova! Slow down!”

“No.” I slap her other breast, pinching the soft skin. “Not until you’re wearing my marks.”

“I’ll come.”

Unbuttoning her shorts, I shove my hand inside. I groan, finding my filthy little slut bare. Her thighs trap my hand as I rub her clit hard and fast. The second it’s swollen, I slap it with two fingers and Rosalie stills before whimpering my name as she climaxes.

Her hips jerk, riding the wave.

It takes her a while to come back down to earth and for her breathing to calm down.

“And then he makes her come,” she murmurs, making me chuckle.

I hide my surprise when she quickly rights her clothes and sits up straight, opening her laptop. I rub my jaw. “Are you writing it?”

“Yep.” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Her fingers fly over the keyboard, typing the password. The concentrated and quirky side of her brings a smile to my face. A joy like no other that only I witness this side of her. Possessiveness too.

“Here.” I nudge her arm.

She glances down. “What’s this?”

“Computer glasses.” Confusion dots her features. So, I explain. “To protect your eyes against the blue glare of the screen.”

“You’re worried about my eyesight?” Her tone small and thick with emotions.

“Yes, I care, Rose,” I murmur. Has nobody ever pampered her? Like she isn’t used to anyone doting over her. Anger flares inside my chest at her mother. Even Jasmine. Pushing it down, I encourage her, “Try them.”

“Thank you.” I hear the hitch in her breath. Like an excited kid, she flips the box open and gasps at the premium and custom-designed glasses. I used her sunglasses to get the right size. “It’s pretty.”

Sliding it on, she shows me. “You look adorable.”

“You’re turning me into a nerd. Something you teased me about the first time we met.”

“I was being an ass. You’re too hot to be a nerd, Rose,” I praise. “I did have a fantasy to see you dressed as a sexy librarian. Then fuck you in nothing but these glasses on.”

“Your good deeds always have an ulterior motive.”

“Can you blame me? I have a sexy wife.”

“You got lucky.”

A thousand percent.

“Now, do not disturb me while I write,” she sternly orders.

“See, you’re a natural, Miss Sexy Librarian.”

Rolling her eyes, she focuses on the laptop. I’m about to go and grab mine to work when her confession stops me.

“I told the girls I’m an author.”

I caress her soft cheek. “That’s amazing, Rose.”

“It was freeing. They were mad I kept it a secret but still super happy for me.”

“Did you think they wouldn’t be?”

“No. I was scared for no reason.”

“Listen to me, Rose. If you want to achieve something big, you need to believe in yourself and take a big risk. No one has reached the top without going all in or nothing. At some point, you just have to take that leap without worrying about the consequences. No matter what the people around you are saying. Those are the same people who don’t have the balls to chase their own dreams and let the world dictate the course of their lives.” Peering into her shiny eyes, I tell her, “But none of that can happen if you keep hiding, Rose. You’re the fiercest women I’ve ever met. I wish you would see it from my eyes. Be brave. If your heart says to tell everyone that you’re gifted and achieved your dreams, don’t let anything or anyone stop you. Especially your fears. When you’re ready, I’ll be by your side. Somebody dares to make you feel otherwise, I’ll end them.”