Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ
Chapter 53

Another step closer

I felt like I kept exploring new levels of intimacy with Aren, even though most twenty-year olds had already experienced everything I considered new at the age of twenty-six, going, twenty-seven. When I was with Aren, I felt as if I'd been discovering the new me, and I had to admit that I was beginning to like mysell.

Would it be weird if I said that I enjoyed showering together nearly as much as I enjoyed having sex with Aren? It was sensual and crazily intense, My skin was hypersensitive, and the slightest touch of his hand was able to build my climax all over again. We stared at each other in admiration, cherishing each other's bodies. Observing Aren wet and naked was an insane turn-on. Once he combed up his hair with his fingers, all of his mouthwatering features were searingly emphasized. His black eyebrows, twice as visible and darkened by water, underlined the mesmerizing flame in his black irises, while his sharp-cut jaw increased the unspoken threat the sight of him sent. Every second of being close to him brought a new wave of shivers and heat.

Our peculiar meeting in his office filled me with a new kind of confidence. I knew that he wanted me just as badly as I wanted him. The way he looked at me while we stood under the shower's water stream proved that. His perfect muscles tensed under the touch of my fingers, and I knew he wished that we had more time to pleasure each other, preferably the rest of the day and night at least. He was semi-hard even when we got out of the shower, and I couldn't hide the fact that my whole body ached, craving more of him.

Nonetheless, it was time to get back to our working reality, although I was now certain that I would invade his thoughts throughout the day, and that alone gave me an unimaginable boost of energy. Wrapped in a towel I wandered around his office, searching for my clothes. I collected most, and fortunately, they were still wearable, but I froze when I realized I lacked a certain part of my lingerie... "What the hell is this?!" I glared at Aren, picking the scraps of my panties from the floor. He grinned mischievously and licked his lips as he put on his shirt back. "That's proof of how much I love your pussy." I blushed, struggling to keep the frown stuck to my forehead. "Would you please don't say such things?"

He stepped closer and took the shreds of lace from my hands. "Sunshine, don't try to act innocent around me" -and added, purring seductively, "or should I remind you how lewd you sounded with my cock inside you." I gasped, helplessly searching through my mind to replace the right words to talk back. I ended up letting out a frustrated growl as I put on the pieces of my clothing that weren't torn. Aren offered that he would tell Neil to buy me new panties, but I firmly refused. I couldn't even start to imagine explaining why I needed underwear, especially when there was a huge probability that he heard my screams and moans coming from his boss's office. I would definitely die of shame. I'd chosen a lesser evil - I'd spent the rest of the day without anything underneath my skirt. Aren loved that idea immensely. I wasn't a fan. cursed him with every step I took around the office, feeling like an exhibitionist.

With losing my panties as a downside of our morning encounter, I had to say that it changed a lor in my relationship with Aren for the better. The first sign of that change was him letting me know in advance tha he wouldn't be spending the night at home. He also started to actually reply to the text messages 1 sent him. If I wanted to replace clouds to fit my silver lining, I would say that he merely enjoyed me as an instrument to have good sex, but I would be a damn liar trying to deny that I didn't enjoy him for that reason as well. I had a tiny little hope that there was more to it, but for now, I decided to stick to Miranda's advice, trying not to push and simply wail.

I had just walked out of the bathroom, getting ready for bed, when the phone rang. When I saw Aren's caller ID on the screen, I smiled and couldn't hide my excitement as I answered. "Hello?" I sent my breathy voice through the speaker.

"Sunshine, I forgot to tell you that we have a lot of work tomorrow. Marcus will come to pick you up at seven-thirty," he said, sounding tired.

My whole body tensed. "Was there another breach in the system?" I asked, presuming the worst.

"No," he said, amusement audible in his voice. "We have... a different type of work to do."

"Like what?" My mind restlessly processed through the issues I might have forgotten about. "Our wedding." He chuckled.

"Oh..."

Was it weird that I stopped thinking about the fact that we needed to actually get married to become husband and wife? Contractual married looked a whole lot simpler in romances and dramas. Two people went to the registry office, signed papers, got their stamps, and were married. Aren needed proof that our relationship was genuine, although I still wasn't sure how far he was willing to go to prove that. Luckily, we had no problems with our intimacy anymore... I couldn't restrain my lips from curving into a shameless smile as my mind displayed the most recent example of it. Until now, my strange contractual relationship brought me mainly benefits, even though I kept wondering whether that was going to change.

"So... What do you need me for exactly?" I asked hesitantly.

"You'll see, but there's nothing to worry about," he assured before alluringly lowering his voice, "Sweet dreams, beautiful."

His voice made thousands of tiny sparks explode, brushing my skin in the most sensitive places. My hand rushed to clamp my mouth shut, preventing me from letting out any odd sound that would undeniably announce what he'd just done to me.

"Goodnight, handsome," I breathed out, ending the call.

***

Somehow, all those mysterious preparations for our wedding made me nervous. I had always been a minimalist type, and I truly hoped that no one would force me to take care of picking flowers and decorations. If they do, then Aren Lan's bride would walk down the aisle alongside raw benches the color of... wood. I kept walking on pins and needles, waiting and ready for

Marcus two hours earlier than I should have. When he finally arrived to take me, I was paler than pale, with my lips stretched in a thin line. It was fortunate that Marcus stayed professional and didn't ask me if there was something wrong with me. He kept quiet and simply drove me to some fancy café, telling me that I had a meeting with someone there. That secrecy made me even more jumpy and anxious...

I walked inside the industrial, brick-and-metal space, decorated with adorable soft pillows and bright linen ornaments, wondering who that mysterious person I was supposed to meet with was. Suddenly, a red-curly-haired woman appeared out of nowhere.

"Here comes the bride!" she sang, giggling, and rushed my way with her arms open wide. I burst out in nervous laughter as she hugged me with a cheerful grin glued to her face. "E excuse me... who are you?" She stepped back, chuckling. "Apology, Ms. Bell-soon-to-be-Mrs. Lan. My name is Veronica Adkins. I'm your wedding planner!" she exclaimed, with the jazz-hands gesture. I could almost see the imaginary fanfares all over her. My anxieties rose by the second. She grabbed my hand and led me to a table by the window. A second later, she pulled out four thick wedding catalogs and presented them on the table in front of me. "Excuse me... shouldn't we wait for Mr. Lan?" I asked, smiling nearly hysterically. She snickered, waving off my suggestion. "Mr. Lan told me that his loving fiancée would make all the decisions." "He did what?!" I snapped. She burst out laughing as if she didn't acknowledge my irritation. "Isn't that wonderful? Such a powerful man and yet he lets his woman make all the decisions concerning the most important day of his life!" My temple vein started to throb. Seriously?! I would rather hack the Federal Reserve Bank than choose the right type of flowers, tables, and decorations! What if I offend someone or pick the flowers that were more suitable for the funeral?! He was supposed to be here with me! I knew that he was busy, but to leave me alone with all this crap?! "Don't worry, deary!" Veronica giggled. "I will lead you through every single step, and I'm sure that you are going to choose something that will make this wedding spectacular!" I stretched my lips into the driest smile possible. "So, you are telling me that whatever I choose stays?"

Her bright eyes widened as she called out merrily, "Yes! Mr. Lan said that costs don't matter!" "Fine." I released the full extent of my dark aura. "Let's get started then." I clenched my fists, ready to make decisions my fiancé surely would never forget.