Mr and Mrs Sullivan: Standalone Arranged Marriage Romance

by Simone Nicholls

  As his tongue swirled in my mouth, I got a good taste of what it was like to be kissed by a real man. His hand on my back, pushed me deeper into his chest, till I was pinned against him. It was like he wanted me wrapped around him, like he wasn't happy with just having me against him.

  I locked my arms around his neck and kissed him back with just as much aggression. The fact that I was being filmed, or that people had cameras taking photos of this very second, didn't seem to matter. All that mattered, was that he got a taste of what it would be like to be with me. And I’d just been given an overdose of what it would be like to be with him.

  We both withdrew from the kiss at the same time, my pulse racing so fast, as if I hadn't been kissed before. But when I thought of it, I’d never been kissed by a man before, like I belonged to him.

  "Now that should have been our first kiss." His words caused chills to run down my spine and he smirked at me, as if to tell me, it wasn't our last. I was so dazzled, I barely felt his hand leave my back, and his lips kiss my forehead. "I'll deal with this lot. You head in with that sculpture you love so much."

  I weakly nodded. Pull it together, Emerald. Or the reporters will figure out that was our first real kiss.

  I grabbed the sculpture and headed inside. Hearing Dane explain that there was no honeymoon and how it was more important to have me settled in the house, than it was to fly off somewhere together.

  I closed the front door, taking a much needed breath. Was it possible to have all air kissed from your lungs? I touched my lips and smiled. It was possible because it’d just happened to me.

  Chapter 5

  DANE

  "So this room is right next to mine." I opened the door, walking in and carrying her bags. "Adjoining bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and the double doors lead out to the balcony."

  I looked over my shoulder to see if she was listening when I saw her nod. She’d been awfully quiet since I came inside.

  "Are you okay?"

  My question seemed to snap her out of her thinking and she stopped staring at the ground and looked me in the eye.

  "Yeah of course."

  "After what happened with your brother, I understand if you aren't feeling yourself." I didn't know how to go about asking if she was okay, without directly asking her. So I did. I couldn't read women. I didn't know if she needed space, or what. But after what she just witnessed I assumed she needed time to handle it.

  "Like I said I'm fine. I should really be used to it by now." She placed the sculpture down on the bedside table. "Thanks for the room, but I don't have to be right next to you, if you want privacy."

  "I've got nothing to hide." I wanted her close to me. Something told me she was fragile. And the fact that I knew she was sleeping on the other side of my bedroom wall wearing very little was going to keep me up all night. So I knew I wasn't going to be sleeping much.

  My phone started buzzing in my pocket and I knew who it was before I even opened it. Scott. Confirming tonight.

  "You alright?" She asked, watching me.

  "Yeah, just coming up with a reason to cancel tonight." I said as I typed away on my phone.

  "Cancelling what?"

  "My friends wanted us to come to dinner." I answered not taking my eyes off the phone I was nearly finished with the message. I knew they would all go on about how I couldn't drag myself out of bed with her for one dinner, saying I was already whipped.

  "We can go."

  I looked up. "Not after what you have been through today."

  "Do I look that upset?" She arched her eyebrows at me. "Anyway it’ll be a good distraction. Plus your friends will think I have you under lock and key if you cancel."

  "They shouldn't be expecting me to go out on my first day of being married. They’ll understand I want to be with you."

  "Dane, seriously don't cancel." She pursed her lips. “If you want to repair your reputation, the first thing you need to do is repair the relationships around you. Starting with your friends."

  "It's just teammates and their partners." This would be the first one I went to, not single or not with Leah. She normally always came with me, just to keep the numbers right.

  "I didn't really meet them at the wedding. So I'll put more of an effort in tonight." She might be eighteen but she acted like she was in her twenties. She was that professional. "I can shower, change and all that jazz. What time do we have to be there?"

  I checked the time. "Not for another two hours."

  "Good, that gives me time to finish my book." She seemed pleased. "You can tell them we are coming."

  "Okay. If you’re sure..." I was expecting her to change her mind right about now, but she just smiled a breathtaking smile.

  "I'm positive. I'll be down in two hours." She unzipped her bag and pulled out a book that looked like it had been read a million times. She prompted herself up in bed and when I hadn't left, she looked at me with that smile again. "What? A girl can't read?"

  "You just didn't strike me as the type."

  "I swear I spend more time in romance novels than I do reality. You can leave the door open." She opened her book.

  "Right." I turned and walked away, stopping and turning to look back at her. ”Thanks for this."

  "You don't need to thank me. We have a deal." She didn't look up from her book.

  How I would love to be that book and have all her attention. I nodded and left her to read.

  It was one of those summer nights that had a storm coming. The wind was insane, and the temperature had dropped below ten and the wind was so bad that it was moving the car on the road.

  Emerald hadn't said much. She was glued to her phone the moment we pulled up in front of the Chinese restaurant. I could see the guys in the large table at the front. Because I had driven the speed limit, we were actually late.

  Normally, I had a lead foot. Didn’t know how many autographs and tours of the club I’d given out over the years to get me off speeding fines. But seeing as I had Emerald in the car, I thought it was better to be safe.

  "Okay, you now have my full attention." Emerald said as I parked the car and she locked her phone. "I swear I won't touch it again tonight."

  "You're busy. I get it."

  "People think just because you get married you aren't going to show up. Like I would be on a crazy sex bender or something." She rolled her eyes and got out of the car.

  Crazy sex bender. I really didn't mind if people thought that. In fact, I encouraged it. I got out of the car, and took her hand as soon as she was in distance. She was freezing. Did I not have the heating on high enough?

  Did she think it was weird that every time she was near me I was finding an excuse to touch her? Like right now, I was using the excuse that if my teammates, didn't see me touching her they would see through us.

  I held the door open for her, and she walked in. This was one of the best Chinese restaurants in the city. So when we were greeted at the door I didn't expect anything less. I helped Emerald take her coat off and as soon as I did my eyes widened.

  I thought it was impossible for her to look any sexier than what she did in that wedding dress. But, I was wrong. She was wearing a backless, black dress that dove down at the front showing off her cleavage. But the only thing I could think about was seeing her bare back. That meant she wasn't wearing a bra. Which meant she was half naked under that dress.

  Stop it Sullivan.

  I handed the waiter our coats and took her hand, guiding her through the restaurant till we reached the long reserved table filled with my way to eager mates who wanted nothing more than to grill my wife.

  Then I spotted Leach talking to Jessie, Scott's girlfriend. We hadn't spoken at the wedding and I really didn't expect to see her here. I guess as time went on they had become her friends as well. Made sense she was invited.

  I started introductions, and Emerald met every one of my charming teammates with a smile and brushed off the fact they were hitting on her. They did it on purpose to piss me off
and even the ones who had a girlfriend and wife with them, were still doing it.

  She didn’t get a single name wrong. And somehow, kept up with the conversation. She didn't even break a sweat gushing about all the details to Scott's and Nathan's girlfriends about the wedding. The boys were mesmerized with her, and so was I. I couldn't take my eyes off her, as she wowed them. Or my hand for that matter. We still had our hands locked and on my lap under the table, even though no one could see it.

  I was so focused on Emerald that I hadn't noticed Leah move to sit next to me. Till her hand went on my lap. So close to mine and Emeralds hands. I turned to look at her, to see what she was up to, and she just smiled at me.

  My jaw ticked. I was with Emerald and she was doing this shit.

  Although, she knew the marriage was fake. But the feelings that had started to grow for Emerald in a day, weren't fake at all.

  "Oh look, the Chef has come out to give us the specials." Jessie noticed the little bald chef making his way to us. We still got VIP treatment even though we didn't deserve it.

  The little Chinese man went to the head of the table and I was positive he was going to welcome us to his restaurant when he squealed with delight. Emerald’s hand was gone from mine within an instant and she was up.

  "Chef Wong!" She wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her back just as friendly. Like they were long last friends.

  They started speaking so fast and in a different language I couldn't keep up. I had no idea what they were saying. The boys kept looking between me and them. I didn't know who he was. Wasn't till they parted, that they started talking in English and I understood them.

  "Last time we talked you were heading to China! I didn't know you opened a restaurant! I would’ve been here demanding your dim sum if I knew." Emerald looked more relaxed with him then I’d ever seen her.

  "Only year. Only a year. Been missing you Em. How's father?"

  "Good. Though he’s missing your cooking." She smiled.

  "And Jeremy?"

  I saw the smile drop from Emerald's face. "Not well. But you know how he is." She forced a tight smile. "Mom and Dad are actually in the same state at the moment. So it explains the weather."

  Mr. Wong laughed nodding his head. "Wondered why we got storm! They here in city?"

  "They are actually. I kind of got married yesterday."

  "You? No!" He grabbed her hand, looking at her wedding ring. Yeah that was the ring I put there. "Who to? Who to?"

  "Dane." Emerald shot me a smile and this was my cue to wave.

  "Em, Em, Em. After everything I tell you. Over and over." Mr. Wong started.

  "It's not like that." Emerald laughed. "Trust me, I'm nothing like my parents."

  "I know. I know. You always smart. Mrs. Wong saw you in magazine other day. Made me read it."

  "What a commercial? She made you read a commercial." Emerald laughed and just hearing it made me smile. "You hate reading English."

  "Only for you."

  Emerald shook her head. "I should really let you get back to addressing the table. Don't want to be taking up all your hosting time. You are still cooking right?"

  "No. Have other man for that. But tonight I will. For you. What you want?" Mr. Wong grabbed a waiter from a nearby table. "Start taking order."

  "Your dim sums. I was in China a few months back and I swear I went to nearly every small restaurant hunting them down and I came up dry. You have ruined Chinese food for me. Oh and your special fried rice, but the one with the extra honey soy in it."

  "Yes, yes. I know how you like." He gestured for her to take a seat. "We do buffet for a table! All dishes!"

  Emerald took her seat again and I reached out for her hand. But I saw a small frown on her face as she looked at my lap. Only when I realized Leah's hand was still gripping my thigh did I realize what she was frowning at. I pushed Leah's hand off. But it was too late.

  Mr. Wong listed dish after dish to the waiter. And then disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.

  "So, how do you know him so well Emerald?" Scott asked, reaching for his beer. "Seems like the old man loves you."

  "He used to be our chef." She answered simply and I noticed how she was keeping both her hands to herself.

  "Your family owned a restaurant?" Nathan asked. And I too wanted to know the answer. But what I wanted more was to hold her hand.

  "No at our house. He was our personal chef." Emerald clarified for us. "Till I was ten and that was when I hit the road for modeling so Dad didn't keep him on after that."

  "You've been a model since you were ten?" Jessie gasped at her. "That should be illegal."

  "I did beauty competitions since I was about five and then it took off when I was nine and I got signed when I was ten. I did a lot of moving from then on." Emerald reached for her water. "It's just a job."

  "Your parents must’ve put a lot of pressure on you." Leah spoke around me. "To start working so young."

  "It's not work when you love it." Emerald shrugged. "Plus it's just a temporary gift, really."

  "How so?" Leah asked, reaching for her wine. I noticed Emerald was the only one at the table not drinking.

  "Well, I'm not planning on being a model forever. Looks come and go. Brains is what’s important. Which is why I'm actually studying on campus for my last year?"

  "Have you chosen a field?"

  "No, but my career advisor has pointed out many."

  "But you have to do something you are passionate about. That's how I got into sports and exercise science. Though I keep forgetting how young you are. You still have university ahead of you. Not behind us, like the rest of us." Leah laughed but I knew what she was getting at.

  I don't think anyone else at the table did though. She was trying to imply Emerald was too young to know what she was doing. Like she was too young to be married to me. If there was one thing about Emerald I knew, that was she was smart.

  "Actually, I've already started university by correspondence. I got offers for university rolling in last year. So mom pushed me to dive in. With my grades so high, the university pushed me to start."

  "Before your final year?" Leah's mouth hung open.

  "No point in wasting time." Emerald was looking at something outside. It had more of her attention than what Leah was saying.

  "Your parents must be proud."

  "I think my parents were disappointed the moment I married this one." Emerald’s eyes came to me. "Marriage is frowned upon in my family."

  "Then why the hell did you do it?" Leah basically snapped at her. Emerald didn't know that Leah knew the truth. But by Leah's questioning, she was indeed wanting to know the real reason.

  Something flashed in Emerald's eyes. "I don't live to please my parents." Emerald eyes flashed outside again. "I'm going to check on my dim sums. I'll be back." She got up, taking her clutch.

  She wasn't even two tables away when the boys had their phones out.

  "Emerald Asher, currently the highest paid model across the countries. Has denied numerous offers to Midnight Angels the famous underwear line. Is a known multi-millionaire." Scott read off his phone.

  "Hey check this out, her Dad is an oil miner. As in Oils Burns owner and founder." Nathan leaned across the table. "That woman is a walking gold mine."

  "Her mother is a doctor." Jessie read from her phone. "Apparently, she tours with Emerald. Explains why her and her mother are so close."

  "I don't think they're that close." Leah snapped and refilled her wine glass.

  "Check this out." Dean’s eyes lit up and he passed his phone to Nathan and Scott. All three of them looked up with wicked grins.

  "What is it?" I looked between them.

  "Is your wife ever going to do a full naked pose?" Dean who was single was asking a question I knew the answer to very well.

  "Not if I have anything to say about it,” I mumbled and reached for my beer. It was bad enough that my teammates were able to see her half naked whenever the fuck they wanted.<
br />
  "She was in reveal as the cover girl. Last month. Why didn't you stop that?" Scott asked.

  "Was she naked?"

  "No."

  "That's why I didn't stop it." I threw down my beer. . How could I know very little about her? Maybe I needed to google search her.

  That's when something out the window caught my eye. I knew those killer curves. I watched Emerald bend over talking to a homeless man. What was she doing? Why was she out there without a coat on? Did she want to get sick?

  I saw her open her clutch and hand over a stack of hundred-dollar bills.

  The man took the money from her and Emerald helped him up. He’d been sitting under a tree. She waved him off, when she gripped her shoulders, like she was freezing and started to walk back.

  She hadn't used the main door. So how did she get outside?

  Pride swelled in my stomach. She hadn't done that for attention or for the media. She’d done that because she was a good person. Maybe I didn't know a lot about her. But I knew she was a good person.

  She disappeared and I assumed she was coming back inside. It was my turn to make a stand.

  I got up.

  "Where are you going?" Leah asked me.

  "Just moving seats." I sat down in Emerald's chair, next to Jessie. Everyone else apart from Leah was focused on gossiping about Emerald and what they had found out while she was gone.

  I was moving my beer with her water when she came back.

  "Musical seats or something?" She frowned at me, taking my chair. I purposely pulled the chair closer to me. When she took it, her thigh pressed against mine. Yeah that's exactly where I wanted her. Reaching for her hand, she didn't pull away when I took it. I placed it back in my lap under the table.

  Her hand was freezing. But I wasn't about to tell her that I saw what she did.

  I didn't know how I felt about her, though I had a strong feeling she didn't trust men. That's why I assumed she was with me. Because she wouldn't trust a man with her heart willingly. This fake marriage ensured her heart wouldn't be touched. And she would get whatever it was she wanted from me without being disappointed.