Ropes of Lies

by Kathy Noumi

  Eden tightened her grip on my hand. “So it’s true?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “And you still want to take the company from him?” she questioned, cocking her head to the side in an attempt to find my line of sight.

  “More now than before,” I assured her.

  “Okay.” Eden shot out of her seat. “Yes.”

  As she paced back and forth in the tight kitchen, I watched her. “Yes?”

  She froze. “Yes, let’s get married. And we’re going to get that asshole out of our lives for good.”

  I grabbed her, yanked her into my lap, and kissed her with everything I had. When we pulled back to catch our breaths, I asked, “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure if you agree to the following conditions,” she said.

  “Which are?”

  She kissed me again. “One: you never lie to me ever again.”

  “Done,” I mouthed over her lips as I gave her another peck.

  She held up two fingers. “Two: we get William behind bars.”

  I nodded. “Working on it.”

  “And three: you promise to tie me up as often as I like,” she said in between her infectious laughter.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way, future Mrs. Winthrop,” I assured her. “Tying you up and having you at my mercy is fantasy turned reality. Not continuing our little rope kink would be a deal-breaker for me,” I said.

  She giggled, rolling her eyes. “Wait—and I get to keep my last name!” she insisted.

  I snickered as I pulled her in again, determined to take my time. Her perfectly plump lips parted, and I dipped my tongue in slowly, circling hers. Her greedy mouth begged for me to increase our pace.

  She sighed. “Jameson—”

  “Greedy girl,” I whispered into her neck. “You can have anything and everything you want . . .”

  “Except?” she probed.

  “Except your last name.” I grinned.

  She slapped my arm. “You are going to be a pain in my ass, aren’t you?”

  “Oh yes.” I added in a joking tone, “Miss Black.”

  She rolled her eyes, then shook her head. “I’ll take your name if you put that damn ring on my finger already.”

  I picked up the velvet box, plucking the rope ring from its center. Eden held out her hand as I slipped it onto her finger.

  “It fits perfectly,” I said. “Remind me to thank your friends for all the help.”

  “Sophia and Khloe helped you?” she asked, surprised.

  “They did,” I confirmed.

  “It’s beautiful. And I love the ropes.”

  “I knew you would,” I said as I looked at my fiancée, the woman who would soon be my wife. She’d agreed to be by my side through everything.

  It took six years, a long list of stolen clients, sex in my office, a bet-turned-date, and the merger from hell to get us here, but it was worth it. Eden was worth it.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Eden

  Ninety-two days after matrimony…

  “Tell me again how I got roped in to being the designated drop-off person?”

  Jameson stared intently at me from the other end of our new kitchen table. “Okay, I know this is more than you bargained for, but all you have to do is hand them the file and say someone dropped it on your door step anonymously.”

  I cocked my brow. “And what if they ask to see the security footage or something? What am I supposed to tell them then?”

  “Reassure them they can call your building manager and acquire the footage.”

  I steepled my fingers. “I have a better idea.”

  Holding his chin in his hand, Jameson said, “Such as?”

  “Why don’t we mail it in without a return address?”

  He shook his head at me. “But how will we know that the papers ever made it there? What if they get lost? We’d be fucked, Eden. And I can’t hand over all the files because the Feds think it’s me.”

  I perched my folded hands atop my head. “But that’s the proof to clear your name. Damn William for halting the Kaleidoscope deed transfer. And fuck him for icing you out. There has to be a better way.”

  Jameson rose from his chair, rounded the table, then sat next to me. “We’ve been banned from the building, so this is the only thing I could think of. But if you can something else out, then I’m all in. I’ll gladly stack all my chips in your corner, baby.”

  Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back. “Doesn’t William have a huge fundraiser coming up? The Windy City Architects Awards or whatever?”

  Jameson bobbed his head up and down. “Yes, but—”

  “I have an idea.” I rubbed my palms together. “We show up at the event.”

  “I’m sure I’m banned from this event somehow, but go on,” he insists, intrigue twinkling in his eyes.

  “I won’t be since no one knows we got married. And neither will Nathaniel or Charles for that matter.”

  He shoots me a satisfied grin. “Touché.”

  “We can have Nate notify the Feds of his suspicions and wear a wire to the event. Then he can get William nice and liquored up. Are you following?” I ask sarcastically.

  “And you think Nate is capable of extracting information from him?”

  I bite my lip. “Isn’t he? He is your friend, after all.”

  “No, he’s not well versed in dickhead-father speak.” Jameson props his head up on bent elbows. “But you three can sneak me in and I can wear the wire. When he’s in a drunken stupor I’ll corner him and pick a fight. He’s bound to break under those circumstances.”

  “Damn right he will,” I said, winking.

  He grabbed me by the cheeks and pulled me closer. “God, I love you,” he mouthed over my lips.

  “Who knew you could be so mushy all the time?” We both laughed.

  “Who knew I’d fall in love with the world’s biggest pain in the ass?” he said and leaned in, kissing me again. This time he devoured my lips, leaving me breathless.

  I kissed him back with added urgency. Jameson pulled away long enough to pick me up and carry me into our bedroom, where he threw me down and reached for the stash of sapphire ropes he now kept in our nightstand. A tingle sparked between my legs. I nearly let out a moan.

  “I’ll never get enough of you tied to this bed.”

  I wriggled closer to the headboard. “And I’ll never get enough of your Saturday morning bedhead.”

  “Always with that mouth.” He smirked at me. “Now ask me nicely, Mrs. Winthrop.”

  “I’ve never been really good at asking for things, Mr. Soon-to-Be Bossman.”

  Jameson licked his bottom lip. “Well, Mrs. Soon-to-Be Co-Bosslady, I certainly hope you’re a quick learner.”

  “Depends on my tutor.”

  Jameson’s eyes glimmered with excitement. “Oh, well, he’s excellent from what I hear.”

  “Is that so?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely.”

  I shook my head and covered my goofy grin with my fingers.

  Jameson stared at me. “How’d I get so lucky?”

  I tapped my pointer finger on my cheek. “Literally no idea.”

  He grumbled something under his breath before he lowered his playful tone. “Tell me you want me inside you, princess,” he demanded, climbing toward me from the edge of the bed, rope in hand.

  “I want you,” I managed to exhale. When he was finally hovering over me, I glanced up through my lashes into his big brown eyes.

  “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” His satisfied grin shined brighter when I blinked in agreement. He loved it when I gave in to his charms. “Now, hands above your head, dear wife.”

  I gnawed my bottom lip while Jameson wrapped the ropes around my wrists. When he finished, he moved down my body, leaving a trail of almost-kisses in his wake. I let out more than one whimper. “Please.”

  Jameson touched my breasts, circling my nipples with his tongue, and I begged for more. My husband’s hands and mo
uth traveled over every inch of my body, caressing, playing, touching. He skillfully brought me to the brink before retreating.

  “I want you to drip. Only then will I fuck you,” he whispered in my ear.

  His explicit words sent goosebumps across my skin, and my nipples puckered, hardening at his command. My breathing quickened. I tugged at the ropes binding my wrists.

  He slid his hand down to my sex. “Spread your legs.”

  I did as he said without a moment of hesitation. He slowly parted me, then pressed a finger into my wetness. I groaned. “Fuck.”

  “Mmm,” he hummed. “You are so ready for me.”

  I threw me head back, closing me eyes. “Yes. Please. I need you inside me.”

  Jameson slid a second finger inside me. “Like this?”

  I pushed my pelvis up, bucking into his tormenting fingers until the friction wasn’t enough anymore. “Fuck me.”

  “Could have just asked me earlier,” he said, grabbing my hips and spinning me until I was facedown. My bare ass was now up in the air. “On your knees.”

  Jameson adjusted me when I wiggled into position, sliding his thickness over my aching clit before thrusting inside me. My throbbing heart was now thumping louder than our groans. Each forceful drive came quicker than the last, until I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore. My body remained at the edge for a long while.

  My husband’s breaths were shaky. His voice came out hoarse when he spoke. “I want you to come for me, Eden.”

  “Oh fuck,” I bit out.

  Jameson wrapped his arm around my hips, holding me up. With his free hand, he reached around and squeezed my nipple. My body shuddered and pulsed as the orgasm tore through me. My head spun, my limbs were limp; I’d lost myself in a haze and nearly passed out. As my fingers and toes continued to tingle from ecstasy, my mind refused to glide down from the cloud it floated on.

  Jameson placed a soft kiss on my shoulder before reaching for the ropes. He began untying them. When all the knots were loose, I reached for his hardness. He groaned deep in his throat at my touch.

  “Tell me what you want, dear husband.”

  He sighed before smoothly reminding, “This isn’t part of our rules.” His attempt to derail me fell on deaf ears.

  I squeezed him harder, and his cock throbbed in my palm. “Rules are made to be broken.”

  “Eden . . .” he breathed.

  “Say it.” I waited for his reply without stroking or squeezing his erection.

  He threw his head back. “Make me come, princess.”

  I lowered my lips to his round tip and used my tongue to tease him ever so slightly. Jameson let out a loud growl. It was all I needed to hear before taking him into my mouth. A few more grunts, and I sensed his impending explosion.

  “God, you’re so incredible. I don’t deserve you,” he whispered between moans.

  I lowered my grip from the bottom of his shaft to beneath his balls.

  “No, you don’t,” I murmured back.

  With those three little words and my skillful torment, he imploded. His sweet come filled my mouth; he always tasted amazing, and I could never get enough. Licking every last drop, I crawled back up and rested my head on his chest. He lifted his hand and stroked my hair.

  In a nearly inaudible voice, he said, “I promise to spend the rest of our lives trying to fix that.”

  I shut my eyes and savored the moment. “I won’t stop you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jameson

  “We’ve been married for one hundred and twelve days,” I said as Eden floated back and forth across the room getting ready.

  “You’ve been counting?”

  I threaded my cufflink into the shirt cuff. “I guess I have.”

  “Counting how many days I’ve been a pain in your ass must be exhilarating,” she teased while putting on her makeup.

  I chuckled. “It’s been interesting.”

  “Are you ready for tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  She squinted her eyes at me as if inspecting me for apprehension or anxiety. “If we can pull this off—”

  “It’ll be a fucking miracle.”

  She carefully placed her fancy brush down before turning to me completely. “We will pull this off, Jameson.”

  “It’s not a sure thing he’ll confess.”

  She glowered at me, then stalked over like a woman with a mission. “If he doesn’t, then we keep trying. Do you hear me?”

  I nodded, raking my hands through my hair. She took my face into her grasp, lowering my forehead down to plant a kiss between my brows. Then another on my lips . . . and another. Between kisses, she mouthed, “You’ve got this.”

  “Is that your nice way of telling me to get my shit together?” I asked, staring into her sapphire irises.

  Eden cocked a brow. “If I wanted to tell you to get your shit together I would just say get your fucking shit together, Winthrop.”

  I let out a snort. “Touché.”

  She went back to her primping, and I watched her with fascination. I couldn’t believe she’d agreed to be my wife. If tonight went to shit and all I had left was this perfect creature, I could die a happy man. She sauntered over to where her gown hung and peeled it off its hanger.

  Before she had time to ask, I got up and followed her to where she was placing a foot into the unzipped dress. I could barely fucking breathe. She was intoxicating. I inhaled deeply while zipping her up.

  “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure, princess.”

  “You’ve been seriously cheesy for the last one hundred and whatever days,” she joked.

  I grinned like a doofus, burying my nose in her hair. “You love it.”

  She beamed. “Maybe I do.”

  I slid my hands around her, squeezing her in my arms. “Pain in my ass.”

  My phone chimed, breaking our moment. I pulled it from my breast pocket to see a message from Nathaniel.

  William’s here. Get your ASS to the hotel pronto.

  Eden looked at the text and then up at me. She cleared her throat. “Let’s get this show on the road. Get your shit together, Winthrop.”

  I shook my head. “Always with that mouth.”

  I hadn’t seen William since I’d punched him in his office. He didn’t know I’d married Eden or where I’d been for months. The less he knew, the easier it would be to get him to confess. During our silent drive over to the event, I tried to go over the plan in my head as many times as I could before my head burst.

  We pulled up to the hotel, but only Eden climbed out of the limo. I told the chauffeur to drive around for a while. Now all I had to do was wait for Charles’s text that they were ready to sneak me in. The Feds had coiled a wire around my chest beneath my button-up shirt. All that was left was to get the fuckwad to say he’d done those shady deals out loud.

  Ping. My phone went off.

  Come to the catering entrance.

  “Please drive around to the back; there’s a catering entrance,” I called out to the driver.

  “Sure thing, Mr. Winthrop,” he verified.

  Moments later we were at the back of the hotel. “Thanks,” I said before exiting the car.

  “Just call when you need me to come get you, sir,” he insisted.

  Charles was waiting for me at the back entrance, holding open the door. “Get your ass in here.”

  I quickly entered the kitchen with all its delectable aromas, Charles marching ahead. No one noticed us, continuing their chopping and ladling without missing a beat. My chaotic thoughts bounced around like fucking jumping beans.

  When we’d made it to the doors just outside the ballroom, Charles stopped so abruptly I nearly collided into him. He pivoted. “He’s had about a half bottle of scotch.”

  “I don’t know how you managed it, but good.”

  “Your wife is going lure him back there.” His pointer finger was sharply angled in the direction of a secluded hall to the left.

  My hear
t sank a bit. I knew Eden could handle anything, but I never wanted her to face that despicable disgrace of a human. She, of course, vowed she’d have a role in bringing the bastard down. I nearly snorted thinking of how she shouted at me for nearly an hour, insisting she could do this and claiming it was the only way we’d get him alone. Of course, as usual, she was one hundred percent right.

  I heard a loud thud from the other end of the corridor, and it jolted me from my thoughts. A loud voice grumbled, “You lil’ slut. I knew y-you’d come back. Have ya finished with my son yet?”

  I wanted to run up and knee my prick of a father in the balls so hard his voice would rise a few octaves.

  “Yes. I need a real man.” Eden’s voice was sweet as sin but laced with lethal poison. He’d never notice because he’d drunk himself into a stupor.

  Another thud. This time closer, louder. He’d slammed into the wall as he walked. “Why do ya need my Jameson when you coo hab me?” William slurred.

  They were in my line of sight, finally. My mouth twitched and my nostrils flared. The raging heat in my veins pounded into my ears. “Hello, William.”

  He stared at me, eyes shinier than glass. “Who da fuck leh you in?” he spat.

  “No ‘Nice to see you son?’” I mocked.

  He slapped at the air in a dismissive gesture. “Leeeeb!” he shouted.

  “No.”

  He stumbled, trying to get closer to where I stood. When he was two feet away, he banged his fist into the wall and Eden nearly jumped. “Wha do you want you ungreahful lil’ shit?”

  I adjusted the knot of my tie. “I want the company,” I said in a clear, even tone.

  William let out a full-bellied laugh that came straight from the depths of his black soul. “Dis is my company. I’d never leh you hab it.”

  Eden winked at me before turning around to leave. I lowered my voice, stepping closer to my father. “If you don’t give it willingly I’ll take it from you.”

  “It’s mine! You don’t deserve to run what is mine!”

  “What have you ever done to deserve it? Huh?” I paused before continuing, “Frame your son for all the city officials you bribed?”