Scandalous Games (Arranged Games Book 1)

The whole ride Dash doesn’t spare me a glance or say a word. The small distance as he sits on the opposite end in the back seat feels oceans apart. His cold demeanor and silent treatment, throwing me off balance and making me question the choices I’ve made in the past few weeks. I knew I fucked up bad when he didn’t pull me close or tease me with his touch, which he loves to do in public.

The most daunting thing about all of this is, I secretly miss it, that I never really hated it as much as I pretended, and I didn’t realize how much I became used to it.

And isn’t that what I wished for?

He’s been nothing but thoughtful and supportive in his own domineering way ever since he agreed to marry me. And all I’ve done is fight and argue with him. My first impulse seems to be defiance when it comes to him.

It’s like my mind is subconsciously listening to Niall’s warning from long ago.

I don’t want Dash to think I’m not grateful for everything he’s doing for me. Standing up to my family, having my back as though I’m his to protect when he could just stay to the side and do only what’s necessary. He doesn’t have to care for me behind closed doors, yet he’s done it since day one.

And now, I’ve gone and ruined it with my insecurities.

The iciness—close enough to indifference—seeping from him could chill the hottest of deserts. My body feels cold and shivering despite wearing the beautiful woolen overcoat he got me. In purple. My favorite color. It’s simple yet chic and fits me perfectly.

When was the last time anybody gifted me something? I can’t even remember.

My eyes are drawn to his profile which is just as sexy as the rest of him. That chiseled jawline under the light scruff could cut glass while his mouth that always had a secret smirk for me, is now set in a firm line. The all-black suit stretched over his muscular frame sending off untouchable and fuck-with-me-and-I’ll-destroy-you vibes.

Till now, I believed he had his walls up and was keeping me isolated. Oh, how terribly wrong I was. This is what it feels like to be on the outs from him.

The silent, vacant, and inscrutable Dash Stern with the arctic chill in his bones.

One second, I was in the shadow of his warmth and suddenly, I’m thrown aside and put with the rest of the measly humans. My life split into two conflicting worlds.

If we could go back in time, I never would’ve answered him. The raw sincerity, the longing in his voice when he uttered that question, shook me to the core. There’s no way he could want me beyond our arrangement, right?

All my fears and demons came swimming to the surface and I blurted out yes as I retreated into myself. It was second nature to me. Just like Rosa revealed. Living with the truth that there’s something broken inside me, a piece that would never fit into place and leave me warped, is a sad burden. It’s continuously weighing me down and I never felt its heaviness as tangible as I do now.

By some miracle, if I wasn’t as afraid of letting someone in, there are a million reasons he and I can never be anything but two people bound by a painful history. A history I’ve tried so hard to forget and run away from.

As we drive down the roads of Paris with its picturesque beauty and vintage yet modern architecture, I reminisce about a future that could’ve been.

Perhaps, Dash and I could have fallen in love in another lifetime.

A lifetime where our past didn’t exist.

A past without guilt.

Without thorns.

The intense ride ends after what feels like ages, when in reality it was an hour despite the traffic. The driver opens the door for me while Dash steps out from his side and I’m crushed when he doesn’t react as the strange man takes my hand to help me out. He quietly waits by my side until I right my clothes and guides us inside the luxury jewelry store, which appears to be closed from the outside.

The guard at the door holds it open for us and I’m proven right when I notice that it’s empty except for the two of us and a beautiful woman welcoming us with a polite smile. Her blonde hair is sleek and shiny as it falls down her back in waves and she steps forward, then greets us.

“Good evening, Mr. Stern.” I notice her eyes stay on Dash a little longer but it’s enough for jealousy to flare inside me. Next, she turns to me. “Miss Chopra. So nice to have you both here. I’m Chloe and I’ll be helping you today. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show  you the pieces I’ve set up for you in the back.”

As we follow her, I’m struck by the ambience of the store and the gorgeous diamond pieces adorning each of my sides. Each one, more mesmerizing than the last. The two chandeliers alone are made of intricate gold patterns. I thought I had seen luxury but this is in a whole other league.

“Are we the only ones here?” I whisper to Dash. Since we came during the day, I thought at least a few customers would be inside shopping.

Dash doesn’t miss a beat as he replies smoothly, “Yes. I wanted privacy.”

My goodness. Is this real?

Who books a whole store just to shop privately and just how rich and powerful do you have to be for them to actually consider it? In a whole other country, no less. Well, the answer is becoming a billionaire. The sky’s the limit once you are one, apparently.

I feel like I’ve stepped into the body of Vivian from the movie Pretty Woman. Except, I didn’t grow up poor and I’m definitely not a prostitute.

If I’m being honest, though, I can’t seem to enjoy any of it with him being a moody jerk. I have the insane urge to shake and yell at him until he goes back to being mischievous and possessive.

Knowing his famous control, he either won’t react or easily manhandle me into submission. That’s if I’m able to move him in the first place. My strength is no match for his.

The back of the room is way prettier and classier than the one we came from and notice that it has less pieces on display. These pieces, however, look more expensive and one of a kind. We are seated on a comfy sofa in front of a round glass table and soon, two glasses of champagne are served. Dash refuses while I grab mine.

I’m here so I might as well enjoy myself. Everything else revolving around this trip has gone downhill since we arrived. And yes, I know I’m to blame. Another video call is due with my best friends to take their help to turn this trip around. I glance briefly at my broody fiancé and I do something I never would’ve until yesterday or even this morning.

“You sure you don’t want a sip, darling?” I softly purr to Dash, laying my hand on his thigh. His green eyes flash with a primal warning.

Bingo.

His muscles bunch and tense underneath my fingertips and I slide them an inch higher, feeling emboldened, before rubbing my thumb back and forth. Deftly gripping my wrist, he rests it back to my side.

“I’m good.” His voice is cutting.

No kitten or wifey. Just two dry words with no emotion. Except, his piercing gaze doesn’t lose its edge, betraying the fact that I’m getting under his skin.

A heady rush of power courses through my veins.

Holding his unwavering stare, I casually take another sip of the fruity champagne and slowly lick my bottom lip. I smile when he tracks the movement with quiet intensity.

Feigning nonchalance, I shrug. “As you wish, my love.”

As graceful and predatory as a panther, he grips my jaw and brings my face back to his before I can turn away. I’m held in place by an invisible thread and notice a little too late that he’s taken the glass from my hand until he brings it to my parted lips.

“Drink.” I obey without a single thought and he issues another command, “Don’t swallow.”

In a trance, my body realizes his intention before my mind catches on. Strong hands pull me closer and his lips lock on mine, drinking the liquid straight from my mouth. Our lips touch for a fraction of a second before he leans back, leaving me dizzy.

My legs press together as a rush of wetness, different from the alcohol, runs between my folds until I’m nothing but a puddle at his feet. It wasn’t long enough to be a kiss, yet it felt like one and was enough to imprint the feel of his soft lips on my soul.

A non-kiss that stole my breath away.

I should’ve listened to the warning.

When I focus on him, I half expect him to be smug and satisfied for ripping the semblance of control I thought I had but if possible, he looks even more dangerous. Barely restrained. Instead of running away, I want to drown in him until he breaks me apart.

“Miss Chopra.”

My gaze connects with the woman and I want to vanish into thin air. I can’t believe Dash did it in front of her because it’s written all over her face she saw the whole thing. Should I even be surprised? He’s shameless and confident.

“Yes,” I speak, my voice hoarse.

“I would like to show you a few pieces based on what Mr. Stern detailed. If there is anything specific you’d like, do let me know,” she informs, her voice professional. Pulling the first piece, she sets it in front of me and continues, “This is a two-carat diamond with an oval cut and yellow tint, which is very rare.”

The ring is simple yet stunning and before I’ve finished admiring it, she pulls out another piece while Dash sits beside me quietly. I can feel his attention on my face, capturing every emotion with his hawk-like intensity.

As I try each ring on my finger, I fall in love with them all, yet my heart is not completely in any of it. My conscious, saying I cannot let Dash purchase any of these for a fake fiancée. There’s no way I’d let him spend an obscene amount of money and I don’t give a fuck if he’s a billionaire or a king of his own universe. The woman he falls in love with is the one who deserves it.

And it will never be me.

Just as I’m about to tell him my thoughts, I’m struck by the sight of the next piece the lady sets down. My throat closes when I see the lightest shade of violet I’ve ever seen on a diamond. Blinding, rare, and mesmerizing. Every little detail from the cut to the pattern about it is meant to draw eyes.

“It’s stunning, isn’t it?” Chloe smiles. “It’s from our yet-to-be-launched collection and when Mr. Stern said he wanted a diamond with a purple tint, I had to show this and now I can see why. It’s a three-carat round brilliant-cut ring.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper before politely asking, “can I have a minute alone with my fiancé, please?”

“Of course.”

As soon as we’re alone, I turn to him. “I want to leave.”

“Why?” he asks in an infuriatingly calm voice.

“Because I asked.”

“Why?” he repeats in the same baritone.

“You’re not buying me a ring,” I declare with as much steel as I can muster. “Especially one where the cost could feed a small country.”

“Know what I think, kitten?” His frame straightens from his casual posture before he picks the ring I was eyeing and grabs my small wrist in his rough palm. With his hold firm and tone velvety smooth, he says, “You secretly enjoy pushing me just so I make good on my promise.”

I’m stuck staring at his lips when I feel him slide the ring on my left hand. It fits fucking perfectly like it was custom-made for me. I tug my hand as my pulse kicks up but he tightens his hold. “Take it off.”

“Remember what I said?” I swallow as his words flash in my mind. Bold and unbending. The emotions I have no business feeling wrap themselves around me when he coaxes, “Say it, kitten.”

“I’ll wear your ring even if you have to force it on my finger.”

Still holding my hand possessively, he demands. “Whose wife are you going to be?”

“Yours.”

“Whose last name will you take?”

“Yours, Dash,” I whisper, my fight crumbling with each declaration.

“It means you belong to me, Bianca, and as your husband, if I want to buy you a thousand rings, you won’t fight me.” He growls roughly before yanking me into his arms and gripping the back of my neck. “If I wish to spend my fortune along the way, you can’t stop me.”

“Why? Because you like to spoil the women you’re with?” I throw his words back at him. The jealousy and hurt I shouldn’t feel, swirling together. “I’m not your flavor of the month you can throw money at and think I’ll be impressed and fall at your feet. This is nothing but a mutual—”

“I swear if you tell me this is fake one more time, I’m going to bend you over my knee and spank your ass until everyone in this store knows you’re mine.”

My mouth closes at the warning pulsating from every inch of him. My stupid body rejoices and shivers, desperate from his rough touch. I push at his chest, desperately wanting to get away because he’s messing with my head. All my senses become jumbled around him. One second, I want to push him away and the next, I’m falling under his spell.

I lower my gaze to his chest and demand, “Let go, Dash.”

“Look at me.”

I shove harder but he’s like a mountain. Resolute and relentless.

“I said, look. At. Me.”

The force and plea in his words have me obeying him before I can stop myself.

“I lied, kitten. I don’t date nor have I spent time with any woman in the past. Period. I especially don’t spoil them and the most they get from me are orgasms before I’m out of their lives.” His voice is raw and eyes peering down to the broken girl inside me, he cups my cheek. “Ever since you crashed into my life with your fierceness and sass, I’ve done everything except what I used to do. Because when I’m around you, no one else exists for me. And when I’m without you, you’re the only one I ache to see.”

Is it possible for your heart to soar and beat out of your chest? Because mine will at any second if he continues to hold and stare at me like the world around us is nothing but smoke and I’m his center.

Who would have thought this man would evoke hope inside me?

Make me wish for a dream that felt so far-fetched? And until yesterday, terrified.

“Dash,” I whisper.

His thumb silences my lips. “Until the day our arrangement lasts, you’re my woman and I’m going to worship you like you deserve. When this ends, I’ll be out of your life once again. The only difference is, I won’t be your one and only regret.”