Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3)

by Sadie Grubor

  I groaned. "Sort of, it’s just that we agreed not to get this involved, at least not until we had discussed it. Now that it’s happened, it just complicates everything so much more."

  "Stop. There’s nothing complicated about this. We’re married and –"

  "I know we’re married. I was there." My words were harsher than I’d meant them to be. "However, it’s an arranged marriage of convenience for both of us. Not because we knew we were meant to be together and wanted to get married."

  He sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

  "I don’t know what the big deal is." He looked back up at me. "You’re on the pill right?" I nodded. "So, we don’t have to worry about a baby, though we do need to talk about that sooner than later, it’s just a physical release. Are we supposed to set up some damn schedule or something?"

  I looked at him – annoyed.

  "Of course not," I rolled my eyes.

  "Then what? Because I don’t think I’m getting what you’re saying." He crossed his arms over his chest with a pout.

  "I’m saying we need to slow this down."

  "Why?"

  "Because we’d agreed to no sex, yet here we are going at it at almost every free moment."

  "I was against the no sex rule."

  I pursed my lips at him.

  "Hey, I just want to throw that out there."

  "You don’t think we should slow down the physical aspect and maybe learn more about each other?"

  "We know each other."

  "If there wasn’t the necessity for marriage, would you be married to me right now?"

  "I doubt it, but –"

  "Why not?"

  "Why wouldn’t we be married? Well, we would probably just be getting to know one…" He paused for a moment, "Okay, point made."

  "Okay, well now that you understand." I took a breath. "You don’t have to know every detail about me, that’s not what I am asking. I would, however, prefer not being a stranger in your bed." Standing, I left him to think about our discussion. I also needed some alone time.

  Wandering, I found myself in the pool room. I changed into a bathing suit and dove in. Swimming laps, I let my brain take the backseat for a while. When my muscles and lungs started to protest, I got out and went to take another shower.

  Entering the bedroom, Aidan was standing at his closet going through his things. He turned to look at me, taking in my wet appearance, and smiled. I smiled back before going to the shower. Maybe things wouldn't be so awkward.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Aidan

  I made the arrangements for the night and did some work from my office for a couple hours before I set off to find Lilli. It felt like she was hiding, again. Finding her in the library wasn’t a surprise.

  After telling her a little about our arrangements for the evening, I couldn’t help but feel aroused. She’d left me hanging this morning and now just the smell of her skin was causing a reaction. I didn’t know about her, but it was becoming more and more difficult to keep my hands to myself.

  My desire was brought to a halt when she began the conversation I was trying to avoid. I knew we needed to talk about it, but I just wanted her naked and screaming my name.

  When she left me alone in the library I wanted to go after her, but I could tell she wanted some space. Pacing around the room, I thought about what she’d said.

  I knew Lilli, but what I knew of her was very limited. As I turned that over in my mind, I formed a plan. I went to the bedroom and got showered. Tonight would be different for us. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel like a stranger in our bed.

  While getting my clothing together, Lilli entered the room. She was in a bikini, damp from the pool. She was making it terribly difficult for me to stick with my plan. I smiled and she returned the smile before disappearing into the bathroom.

  For the next hour, I preoccupied myself by making some necessary work calls and going over documents. Once everything was handled I got dressed.

  Having been interrupted by a phone call, I paced the floor in my unbuttoned dress pants. Lilli emerged from the bathroom and I did a double take.

  Her hair flowed in large curls down her back, her makeup simple, yet perfect, and she was wrapped in only a towel. Swallowing hard, I watched her stroll from the bathroom to her closet. I ran my hand through my hair and took a deep breath before finishing up my call. In my own closet, I leaned against the dresser, trying to calm my desire.

  "How much longer?" Eventually, I stepped from the closet, fully dressed, my jacket over my shoulder.

  "Maybe fifteen minutes. Is that okay?" Her voice carried out of her closet.

  "That's fine. Meet me downstairs?"

  "Okay."

  In my study I’d planned on shutting down my laptop, but got caught up in a large email chain regarding a client. I hadn't realized the time until I heard the creak of the door. My head snapped up.

  "You coming or did you change your mind about going out?" Lilli walked into the room smirking at me and standing in front of my desk, her arms crossed over her chest.

  "Sorry. I got sidetracked, I guess." I closed my laptop and stood.

  "Yeah, I guess," she teased. "If you have things to do, I can go to the library. It's not a big –"

  "It is a big deal."

  "Well, then let's get going." She smiled and walked out the door.

  As she left the room, I took the time to check out her outfit. Lilli was wearing a shimmering chocolate brown dress. It barely made it to the top of her knees and looked like second skin, in a good way. The dress seemed designed specifically for her curves. I had to stifle a laugh when I saw it was a turtleneck.

  Apparently I hadn't hidden it too well.

  "What?" She looked over her shoulder.

  "Nothing," I fought my grin.

  She stopped walking.

  "What? Is there something wrong?" She started looking over herself. I felt guilty for making her feel like she looked anything less than gorgeous.

  "Lilli, you look beautiful. It's just that...well...it's a turtleneck..." I pressed my lips together trying not to laugh.

  "Oh..." then she started laughing too. "Well, that's your fault!" She stepped to the door, slipping on her coat as she walked.

  Taking larger strides, I reached for her arm and walk her out to the car waiting for us. After helping her into the car, I slid in next to her. That’s when I noticed Lilli's shoes.

  As I got situated in the backseat with her, she crossed her legs. Immediately drawn to her beautiful, long, toned, legs wrapped in brown, knee-high, leather boots. My imagination went crazy; Lilli on our bed only wearing those boots, my head beneath the hem of her dress, knee-high, leather boots on my shoulders. I shivered at the images I conjured.

  "Are you cold?"

  I shook my head.

  It didn't take long to arrive to the restaurant and soon the door was being opened. I stepped out and held out my hand for Lilli. She took my proffered hand and stepped out, those damn boots making their appearance before anything else.

  Damn fuck me boots. Jesus!

  "Thank you," she smiled and straightened. Offering my arm, we entered. "Isn't this the –?"

  "The Tavern on the Green? Yes." I smiled as we were met by the hostess. "Mr. and Mrs. Iverson."

  "Of course, Mister Iverson, please follow me." The hostess smiled a little too friendly, but we followed her.

  "Why are we going away from the tables?" Lilli whispered into my ear.

  "Because, I reserved a private table." Just as I finished my sentence we were shown into a private room large enough to seat thirty to forty people easily. However, it was currently filled with red roses and a single table.

  "A private table, huh?" I looked at her face just in time to see her raise her eyebrows at me.

  "Okay, so it's an entire room," I shrugged.

  She laughed.

  "You always have to be over the top, don't you?" I pulled her chair out for her.

  "Sometimes i
t's good though, right?" I took my seat.

  Her smile was bright and wide – infectious. She nodded.

  "Sometimes, it’s very good."

  The waiter was quick to get our wine selection, appetizers, and anything else we desired. Once he returned with the wine, water, bread, and small appetizers, he took our main entrée orders and was on his way again.

  I took a drink of wine and cleared my throat.

  "Did I tell you that you look gorgeous tonight?" I raised one eyebrow and smiled crooked at her.

  "No, you said beautiful earlier."

  "Oh,." I smiled.

  "You know, you're giving mixed signals the way you change your mind. Is it beautiful or gorgeous?" She teased and sipped at her drink.

  "Hmm...how about delicious?" I offered.

  "Wow, delicious. Do you plan on eating me later?" She blushed and put her hand up before I could answer. "Never mind, don't answer that." She giggled.

  "Favorite movie?"

  She gave me an amused look before shaking her head. "I didn’t mean you had to go the whole twenty questions route when I talked about slowing down.

  "Honestly, I don't have a favorite. I like a lot of movies, though, I'll say I've seen Breakfast at Tiffany's the most. What about you?"

  "Hmmm...well, that's not an easy one to answer. I have different favorites for different reasons. I mean, I love The Godfather movies, James Bond and Team America World Police; however, there are others."

  "America...Fuck Yeah!" She sang, just before she brought her wine glass to her mouth.

  "Durkah, durkah."

  I thought wine was going to come out of her nose. Once she calmed down, she removed her hand from her mouth and nose.

  "Don't do that when I'm taking a drink." She teasingly scolded.

  "Here, try this," I stabbed some of the lobster bisque close to me and held it up to her. She leaned a little and took the fork into her mouth. She moaned and licked her lips. My pants became increasingly tight.

  "That's really good," she sipped her water.

  "I know, it's one of my favorites, which brings another question." She looked at me with her full attention. "Favorite food?"

  "Oh, now that’s almost impossible to answer," she seemed to really have to think about it. "I really can't answer that." She sighed. "I like a lot of different things; pizza is a consistent staple, along with Chinese."

  "Okay. Favorite book?"

  "That's easy, Little Women." She smiled and I couldn't help but smile at her.

  Our food arrived and we fell into a comfortable silence as we enjoyed our dinner.

  "What about musicals, do you like those? Or plays?" I hoped I wasn’t being too obvious or giving away my surprise.

  "Well, I really have only seen musicals made into movies. You know, like My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, etcetera, but I like them. My Fair Lady is one of my favorites. Though, that may be because of Audrey Hepburn, who I adore."

  "Hepburn fan?"

  "Definitely." She pushed her plate away and leaned onto the table again.

  "Really?" She nodded and sipped at her wine.

  "So what about you, Iverson? What are you hobbies?"

  "Hmm...I guess baseball. Or at least it was my hobby." I sighed.

  "What?" she asked with concern.

  "I don't have the time anymore to meet up with the guys and play. It kind of sucks." I chuckled halfheartedly.

  "Sorry," she mumbled.

  "It's not your fault, why are you sorry?"

  "I brought it up." She shrugged.

  When I realized time had flown by and it was passed seven, I had to hurry us out of the restaurant to our next destination. Pulling up to The Gershwin Theater, Lilli looked a little perplexed.

  "Ready?" I offered my hand and helped her out of the car. We headed into the theater, straight to the VIP section.

  "Mr. Iverson," the attendant nodded to me. "Mrs. Iverson," he nodded to Lilli.

  She paused momentarily, but quickly recovered.

  "I’m still not use to being called that," she giggled, quietly, into my shoulder. I chuckled.

  "Well, get used to it, Mrs. Iverson." We sat down in our box.

  "So, what are we watching?"

  I handed her the playbill.

  "Wicked? Really?" I nodded. "I've wanted to see this."

  "Good, cause I wasn't sure if this would be your 'thing'." Silently, I released a breath of relief.

  We talked a little more about each other before the lights started to lower and the stage lit up. Lilli grew very quiet and stared intently at the performance. I mostly watched Lilli. Every so often she would lick and chew on her bottom lip, which turned me on.

  She really did amaze me. She was clueless as to the effect she had on men. Not once did she seem to realize how the waiter stared at her or the way the men waiting to be seated at the restaurant turned to watch her walk by. The power she held was something she wouldn't believe.

  At intermission she excused herself to the restroom, but I insisted on escorting her. If she thought I was going to let her be alone, she was crazy. I felt justified in accompanying her when I noticed two men eying her hungrily on her walk to the ladies room. Then I watched as they moved to stand near the ladies room. When Lilli walked out, one man stopped her. She shook her head and started to walk away, but he placed his hand on her arm to hold her back. That was it.

  "Lilli, love, are you ready to return to our seats?" I stressed 'our' and stared daggers at both men.

  "Yes, of course. It was nice to meet you both." She smiled politely and latched onto my arm. I was more pissed at how uncomfortable they’d made her.

  I wrapped my arm around her waist both protectively and possessively, holding her to me tightly.

  "Calm down, caveman," Lilli teased. "They just wanted my number." She patted my chest.

  "That's not all they wanted," I growled.

  "And how would you know?" She rolled her eyes.

  "I'm a guy and I've been thinking about it all night."

  "Then you are no better than they are." She snorted.

  "But I'm your husband," I corrected her, "and by law I can think about it all I want." Smiling, I wiggled my eyebrows.

  "You devious little shi –" The lights lowered to signal intermission was ending.

  "Shh, the show is back on." I coughed to cover my chuckle and she smacked me. Grabbing her hand, I kept hold of it for the rest of the show.

  When the show ended, Lilli smiled widely and joined in the standing ovation. She pulled her coat tighter around her as we exited and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

  "It's so darn cold."

  I caught her by surprise when I steered her away from the curb and toward a large horse drawn carriage.

  "Aidan..?" I coaxed her to climb in. She paused and looked at me. "It's too cold," she whined.

  "Just get in." She paused and crinkled up her face. I leaned in to her ear. "Do you think I would let you freeze?" she sighed and climbed up. I followed.

  The carriage driver urged the horse to move and I grabbed a heavy blanket from under the seat, wrapping it around us. When Lilli buried herself into my side to keep warm, I mentally gave myself a high five. Her glorious curves pressed against me. I could feel her from shoulder to leather covered toe.

  Heat collected between us and the cold disappeared. When she started to shift away, I held her tightly in place.

  We rode through the cold clear night, talking about ourselves and asking questions until the carriage came to the end of the journey. I quickly ushered her into the warm car, but pulled her to my side once more. It didn’t escape me that she didn't resist.

  Once home, I stopped at the front door before opening it. Lilli looked at me confused.

  "What are you doing? Open the door it's late and cold." She urged with a smile.

  "Technically this is our first date."

  She rolled her eyes.

  "So that means you have to freeze me on the doorstep?" S
he laughed.

  "No, but I want to do something." I leaned in and kissed her lightly. Her hands slid to my neck and she pulled me closer. Slipping my tongue between her lips, she parted her mouth, giving me entry.

  It took every tiny molecule in my body to pull away from her instead of going caveman again. I pulled back and smiled at her.

  "Thank you." I whispered, my forehead pressed to hers.

  "No, thank you. It was a really nice evening." She put her right palm over my heart. I felt her shiver so I opened the door and let us inside.

  We walked hand in hand to the bedroom. As much as I wanted it, there would be no sex tonight. Tonight was about making her understand. She was more than an arrangement to me, even if I didn't have the balls to flat out tell her. I could only hope this was one small step would prove what I was feeling for her.

  Chapter Seven

  Not Always Black and White

  Lilli

  We’d kept up the general conversation that started at dinner. I have to admit the date last night was wonderful and surprising. I hadn’t expected him to take such quick action to learn more about me. The last surprise had been getting ready for bed and not having sex. I’d been surprised and disappointed when he didn’t make a move.

  I woke the next morning with his arm draped over my waist, his breath warming my shoulder blade. For Aidan’s mouth to be at that level of my back he had to be further down the bed than I was.

  Craning my neck over my shoulder, I found I was right. I was almost eye level with his messy auburn hair. Smiling, I shifted my body to get up.

  "Where are you going?" Aidan mumbled against my back, quickly pressing his lips against my skin.

  "The bathroom," I rolled my eyes, though he couldn’t see me. I shifted to move again, but still couldn’t. "Aidan?"

  "Hmm?" The sound vibrated against my back causing me to shiver.

  "Can you let go of me please?"

  He stretched out onto his back, releasing my waist.

  "Sorry," he groaned.

  I stood up and went to the bathroom. Coming out I had the perfect view of Aidan on his back and shirtless. He was almost physically perfect. I took a deep breath to calm myself before heading toward my oversized closet. I was about to walk into the closet when he spoke.