Mr and Mrs Sullivan: Standalone Arranged Marriage Romance

by Simone Nicholls

  "Don't you dare blame this on me being out of contact for one day! You went behind my back and straight to my agent. Cancelling a shoot I had booked! I don't have time to just fit it in next week as it is!"

  "Then cancel it all together."

  "Just because I said I was putting your career before mine, doesn't mean I'm about to walk away from it." She scoffed and waved a dead phone at me, so that's what she had been searching for in her bag. "You had no right."

  "When did you last get a solid night’s sleep?" I knew she hadn't all week. I’d waited up till after midnight every night hoping I'd catch her. But I never did and when I got up at six, she was gone. So I knew maybe she was getting a few hours, but considering she would also be having to jam in studying. I would bet all my money that she hadn't slept properly all week.

  "What does it matter? It's not like I'm going to miss your game or something!"

  "This isn't about the game. You being there or not. This is about you not looking after yourself." I moved towards her. Trying to keep her calm and make her see reason. "Just one night in. It won't kill you."

  "I don't do nights in. I work. I study. I sleep. I repeat. I don't rest." She went to push past me but I grabbed her arms, stopping her from storming off.

  "Emerald. You need this." I could see the exhaustion written on her face. She might not think she needs rest, but her body was screaming saying it did. "Just trust me. This once." My eyes dropped to her lips. "I wouldn't be forcing this if I didn't think you needed it."

  "Why do you even care?" She frowned at me. "Seriously? I'm not really your wife. Hell, I'm not your girlfriend as you made clear on our first day together. We aren't friends."

  That friend’s comment coming to slap me in the face. She extended me friendship and being stubborn and wanting more from her I had turned it down. Not because I didn't want it. But because I wanted a hell of a lot more from her than just friendship.

  "Just let me look after you? You saved my ass in that interview and I want to help you in return." And spend one full night with you.

  "I don't need anyone to look after me." She seemed more determined about this. Like I had insulted her. Like she’d never relied on anyone for help and she wasn't about to start now.

  "I'll cook you whatever you want and I'll even let you watch reruns of Bondi Vet. Whatever you want. As long as you aren't near a laptop and that phones stays dead." Come on Emerald, meet me half way.

  I never cared about a woman before. I never considered or worried if they had slept right or not. I would never take notice of their working commitments. Hell, I can't remember the last time I had offered to cook a meal period. A part from breakfast on our first day together.

  She pursed her lips and then brushed my hands off her. That wasn't a good sign. If she didn't want me touching her, didn't that mean she wasn't comfortable around me?

  "How do you know if Bondi Vet, is even showing?" She was doing her best not to smile and I knew then I had gotten her off the cliff of being determined to work tonight.

  "I recorded it so you wouldn't miss it."

  "You did not!" This time she couldn't stop the smile from coming out on her face.

  "I know you didn't think I could get any more attractive." I was flirting with her and boy did I want to do more than that with her.

  She shook her head. "You are full of surprises, Sullivan."

  The first time she’d called me by my last name. I preferred it when she called me Dane. Everyone at the club called me Sullivan.

  "The remote is on the coffee table. Do you know how to use Foxtel?"

  "I've lived in nearly every country and you are seriously asking me if I know how to use a simple thing like paid television?" She rolled her eyes and moved towards the couch.

  "Don't even think about putting that phone on the charger." I told her, knowing it would be killing her not be checking her emails and messages all day.

  "So what are you cooking?" Emerald picked up the remote.

  "What do you want is the real question?" I would cook her anything or order her anything. She just had to name it. All I wanted was for her to get a good meal.

  "I can have anything?"

  "Anything at all. Just name it."

  She turned to look at me. "Do you think Mr. Wong's restaurant would deliver? I would kill for his dim sums." She was actually thinking about it. Like that man would turn her down.

  "If you asked. I reckon he would personally deliver it."

  She grinned and put her hand out. "I need your phone then."

  Seeing as I didn't want her charging hers, I was happy to hand it over.

  "Do you know what it’s called? I'm shocking with names." Emerald handed the phone back to me. "Pin please."

  "It's four zeros." I typed it in and handed it back to her. "And no I have no idea what the place is called but it was on Church Street."

  "That's a really easy pin." She looked up at me.

  "It's only to keep the boys out of my phone. Learned the hard way what happens if you don't lock them out."

  "I don't have a pin on mine." She shrugged and started googling.

  "Aren't you worried people will go through it when you leave it at a shoot?"

  "Nothing on it apart from work crap. If they really want to know the finer details of my newest contract. Go for it. They bore me to death."

  "You should put a pin on it." I didn't like the idea of someone going through her phone.

  She shrugged her shoulders and put the phone to her ear. It took only a few seconds before I heard her talking Chinse with Mr. Wong. By her grin, I was guessing she had convinced him to deliver.

  I went to the fridge grabbing a beer and a soft drink for her. I noticed she didn't drink. So I had stocked up on all flavours of soft drinks, hoping she liked one of them.

  She hung up and I handed her a coke.

  "Guessing you got your way?" I sat down next to her.

  "I did. When I told Mr. Wong where I lived. He didn't believe me." Her eyes flashed down to the phone and she frowned. "Did you call me today?"

  "Yeah you didn't answer. How’d you know that?"

  "Just assuming I'm the only one of your contacts called wife." She looked at me with a smile. "Unless, you have more than one."

  "You would be the only one." And the only woman I would admit to being in a relationship with. She looked at me for a few long seconds. It was when she started biting her bottom lip I knew she was really thinking.

  I sat forward and gently pulled her bottom lip from her grasp. She had no idea how much that turned me on and how much I wanted to be the one to bite that lip.

  I picked up the remote next to her and hit play. Taking the can of coke off her hands I put it on the coffee table and grabbed a cushion, putting it on my lap. I gently pulled on her arm for her lay down.

  "If I lay down. I'll fall asleep." She protested.

  "I'll wake you when the food comes."

  "You promise?"

  "I wouldn't lie to you."

  She slowly gave in and I wasn't happy till her head was on my lap. Running my hand through her hair. She sighed and her body relaxed. Good, that’s exactly what I wanted her to do. Relax.

  I saw her eyes close and kept running my hand through her hair. I held my beer in my other hand drinking it, while massaging her scalp.

  She was asleep within a few minutes.

  I sat back on the couch, enjoying having her on me. Even though she was asleep, I didn't stop massaging her head. I didn't want her to wake. I had finished my beer and was actually watching Bondi Vet when I saw on the cameras a car at the gate. Gently, I lifted her up and placed her back down. She sighed but didn't wake.

  I paid the delivery guy and when I walked back into the lounge room, seeing her fast asleep. I couldn't bring myself to wake her. Even though I promised. I placed the food on the kitchen island and went to her.

  I scooped her up, and she curled into my chest, not waking. She would be more comfortable in bed. I wasn't
letting her sleep on the couch like she had done on our wedding night.

  I opened her bedroom door. Her room didn't show any evidence of her living here. A part from her sculpture.

  I pulled the blankets down and put her down. It was when I saw how tight her dress was I knew she wouldn't sleep in it comfortably. I undid the zip on the side of her dress. And then gently tugged it off her. Christ.

  I just stood there blinking. She sighed and rolled onto her side. Giving me a perfect view. No wonder every man loved seeing her pictures. And I saw firsthand exactly why Victoria’s Secret was chasing her. She was fucking beautiful. And I couldn't stop staring. It was only when she shivered I snapped out of it and grabbed the blankets and pulled them back over her. Placing the dress on the chair. I left.

  I knew I would struggle to sleep knowing she was on the other side of my wall, wearing only that.

  Emerald

  I woke up feeling amazing. I felt rested and I swear I would have slept longer, if it wasn't for my stomach. I was showered, had on the only clean clothes I had left and no makeup. I actually didn't have to be anywhere today.

  I wasn't used to having days off and didn't know how to switch off. So even though it was six in the morning. I knew I had to do something. So I grabbed my glasses and my textbooks and headed downstairs.

  I dumped my books on the table and went to the kitchen. I needed food. I opened the fridge and saw the dim sums. Hell yes. Perfect breakfast. How many times had I had as left overs, for breakfast? I put them in the microwave and went back to the fridge.

  Had Dane gone mad on soft drink this week? I frowned and grabbed a coke. The microwave went off and my stomach growled at the smell, as I opened the microwave.

  God yes. I needed these.

  I went and sat back at the table. Opening up my math book. Seeing as I hadn't finished the questions in my last module, I might as well start with them. I put my glasses on, which I only wore when I was going to do some serious reading or school work.

  If I didn't, my eyes would ache.

  I ate the dim sums and read the over the math. It was actually making sense. Why couldn't I work out the value of X before? It was so clear. I started scribbling down my answers and kept going through the questions.

  When I had finished my dim sums, I pushed the plate and empty can of coke out of the way. I had taken over the table.

  "See you're up?"

  I didn't looked up, my focus on the last question. "Yep. Did I wake you?" I started working the equation.

  "I don't think studying could wake anyone."

  I nodded. Now if I carried the two, added the fifty-five and times it. Then dividing it by the value of Z. I should get my answer.

  "I didn't know you wore glasses."

  I frowned, my attention on the problem. "Only when I do serious reading or in this case, studying."

  "You look like a sexy librarian."

  That made me look up. Why the hell wasn't he wearing a top? I swallowed sharply. "Where is your shirt?" Didn't he know walking around showing off his perfectly, crafted body would do things to a woman's hormones?

  He grinned and it was charming and way too sexy.

  "I'm going for a run before heading in for pre-game." He stepped closer to me. "Wanna take a break from the books and join me?"

  Usually, I had a strict workout routine. But I hadn't done a session with my personal trainer all week.

  "You sure I'm not throwing your routine if I join?" I put my pen down.

  "Nope. Come."

  "Give me a minute and I'll change. I think my gym clothes are the only thing that’s clean." I got up taking my glasses off and putting them in their case.

  "If you have clothes that need to be washed, just leave it out. I can do it."

  "Sweet but I can wash my own things." I walked past him and then paused. "About last night, thank you."

  How had he known what my body needed? I didn't even realize I needed sleep that bad, till the put me to sleep with that scalp massage.

  "Don't worry about it. Now get changed."

  I nodded. I was beginning to think that there was more to Dane. He was sweet and caring.

  He came off like he didn't care what anyone thought of him but I had felt him go stiff in that interview. I knew he was nervous when it came to the press. I guessed it was because of them, he was married to me.

  I was in a crop top and shorts with my runners on when I walked down to the beach to meet Dane.

  "So how do you like it?" He smirked at me.

  "Like what?"

  "Running? Slow or fast? Short distance or long."

  I grinned the way he asked that, it was as if he was asking me how I liked it in bed. Well, he would never know the answer to that. Or would he? I stood in front of him confidently. He was flirting with me, why couldn't I flirt back at him? I was always confident around men. My walls were up and firm, but when it came to Dane, he went through my walls.

  "I like it fast and long." I purred smirking at him. He wasn't expecting that. I knew that as soon as the smirk dropped from his face. Liking the fact that I pushed him off his confident front, I playfully shoved him in the shoulder. "Race you to the pier."

  I took off.

  I think it took him a minute to catch up.

  "You got a head start." He caught up to me

  I just smiled at him.

  I liked pushing my body to limits when it came to exercise. I liked the aching muscles after a good workout. So I kept racing him. I knew this was his career and if he really wanted to, he could pass me with ease. Still, I wasn't making it easy for him.

  We were passing families setting up for a day on the beach. Kids that were already in the water. And we just kept racing. The pier was coming into sight when I knew I would have to play dirty to get the win.

  So not caring that it was cheating, but only caring at the fact it would slow him down, I pushed him into the water.

  I heard the water splash up his legs at his sudden entrance to the water and laughed.

  “That’s cheating! You’ll pay for that!”

  I kept running faster because I could hear him chasing me. My pulse was racing at the sudden need to get away from him. My heart beat was beating in my ears. I squealed when his arms wrapped around my stomach, lifting me off the ground.

  I quickly tucked my legs up, not to get wet as he jogged us into the ocean. His chest was heaving in and out and his skin was hot against mine.

  "Put me down Dane." I huffed. And then my arms reached out for him. "Actually, don't do that!" The waves were crashing up his legs.

  He was smirking at me. I knew what he was thinking. He better bloody not do it!

  "Don’t you dare drop me!" My eyes went wide.

  He laughed and then his grip on me was gone and I fell down into the ocean. He dropped me in the bloody ocean! A wave crashed on my back. The cold water was welcoming on my hot skin. Washing the sweat off me from our run. But that didn't mean I was happy about being dropped in the bloody ocean!

  He was laughing. "You look so pissed off." He put a hand out to help me up.

  "You think you're funny, huh?" I was already wet, so I didn't care when I pulled on his arm, taking him by surprise he came crashing to the ocean floor next to me. A wave crashed over him. And he sat up, not the slightest bit amused. "Now, I think that's funny." I splashed him.

  I went to get up but his hands were on my hips and he pulled me back down to in between his legs. Turning, I straddled him.

  "I think I won the race." I smirked, my hands on his shoulders. If it wasn't such a hot morning, we would be freezing right now. But I was hot from the sun but also from the run.

  "You cheated." His hands ran up my back, and he pushed me closer into his chest.

  What was he playing at? I took a shallow breath in. He must know by now, that I couldn't think straight when he was this close. It wasn't helping, he was topless and the sun was highlighting his detailed tattooed across his chest and stomach. Why was his eyes
on my lips?

  Keeping one hand on my back, he pushed the wet hair from the side of my face and behind my ear.

  Why was he so gentle with me? As if he was scared he'd break me.

  My knees sunk into the sand, causing me to be pushing into his groin. And he took all my weight. I saw the desire spread through his eyes at my little movement. My hands ran across his chest and up his neck, and even though everything was happening quickly, it felt like we were frozen and I had all the time in the world to touch him.

  Before I could even think about what the hell I was doing, I lowered my head closer to his, and the sign must’ve been what he was waiting for. Because his hand on my back, pushed me firmly against his chest and brought my lips crashing to his.

  The fact the waves were crashing against us didn't matter. All that mattered was him and the kiss. At first it was sweet, gentle. Our lips just touching. But once I got a taste, I wanted more. So I kissed him. And he kissed me back just as hard and as desperate. As if I had been driving him mad all morning and I’d been the one tempting him. He was the one being topless. He was the one being sweet and caring. He was the one putting me to bed last night. He had tempted me.

  And now I was done for.

  He nipped my bottom lip and even though every single reason went against me deepening this kiss, I opened my mouth.

  God, he tasted amazing. Tasting of mints and something that was forbidden. I couldn't stop the moan from escaping my lips as his tongue swirled so bloody perfectly against mine. Making me hot all over, even though we were surrounded by water. He was giving my whole body tingles.

  Then as he held me pinned against his chest, and his other hand ran up my back, I noticed there were no cameras around. No one was watching. No one cared if we kissed or not. He was kissing me because he wanted to.

  Isn't that why I was kissing him though? Because I wanted to? This relationship was meant to be business. I couldn't let feelings get in the way. Especially, my feelings.

  I never let my feelings grow for a man. Not when I knew I couldn't really be in a relationship. The only man I’d ever thought of letting past the walls I put up, was Jordan and well, that ended as soon as I told him I was engaged.