course, it can be annulled.”
“Well then, let’s get over to whatever court we need to and do that. We can Britney Spears this and be unmarried in less than twelve hours.”
Asam dropped her wrists, and she tried not to mourn the loss of contact.
Come on, Kelly, focus. Don’t let him give you the puppy dog eyes!
Even if seeing Asam offended did wound her, it wasn’t a reason to stay married. Sure, he’d been able to lead her to an orgasm that had blown her mind, but that didn’t make up for his untrustworthy nature or the way he’d torn into her before. Besides, she had to save her job at Paradiso.The last thing she had time for was trying to make the best of a crazy Vegas wedding.
“We don’t have to fix this.”
“I think we do. This isn’t at all what either of us wants. After all, isn’t there a supermodel or a fire-eater or some dancer you should be dating?”
His nostrils flared again and he shook his head. “I am sorry for what happened at Dharr’s engagement party, but maybe this is another chance. We had fun last night, at least what I can remember. You can’t deny that.”
She shuddered and took in a deep breath. It was getting even harder to speak, to think. A huge part of her had obsessed and longed for Asam for almost two years. Every time she’d visited Alana in Al-Marasae, it had bitten into her, not just petty jealousy of her best friend’s happiness and stability but having to be near Asam and his whole family. Every time she’d catch him in the palace halls, every fight they’d had at the few holidays she’d been there, every single time had twisted her heart more and fanned the flames of her desire.
“There is something,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “I can’t deny that. I do feel it, but I have to be in New York and you’ve hurt me before and—” She let out a sharp breath when he stroked her cheek. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said, gesturing to the rings as if she’d been confused on that point.
“But now that is has, we have to be responsible, get this over with, and move on with our lives!”
“Why?”
She frowned and backed away from him. “Are you serious? I have a plane to catch tonight to NYC to talk with my culinary friends. If that wasn’t enough, I have less than two weeks to please my boss. I have to make sure I have something left to my name, and if learning about vegan food is what I have to do, then that’s it. I don’t have time to be married, and I’m sure you have a lot of prep with the Oasis project. I’ve heard enough from Alana to know it must be massive.”
“You don’t want to cook vegan food, and I just went over specs with Dharr two days ago. We’re running well on schedule. What you want is to cook for yourself. You said as much before, and even if I hadn’t tasted the dishes you’ve made for the family before...well, Alana rambles on about how amazing you are. You’d hate being a vegan chef and you know it.”
“But my paycheck comes from Paradiso, so whatever Monique Dawson wants, she’ll get. After all, I don’t have any guarantees. If I leave her, I could be done. She can more than work to blacklist me in the middle of a hissy fit. It’s not as if I haven’t seen her do it to other staff, even the damn lounge acts and dancers. I need this job.”
“Then start a restaurant of your own, mon amie ,” he said, grinning back at her. Some of the frustration seemed to drain from the depth of his hazel eyes.
“Yes, of course, I’ll just start a New York eatery with no capital. Why didn’t I think of that?” she huffed.
“I have money.”
She frowned back at him. “If you think you can buy me like some who…”
“No,” he said calmly, holding up his hands before her. “Just an experiment. You try being married to me for a week. I’ll take you to a great vacation, and let you know how great being a sheikha can be. If you still hate it, fine.
“Well then, let’s get over to whatever court we need to and do that. We can Britney Spears this and be unmarried in less than twelve hours.”
Asam dropped her wrists, and she tried not to mourn the loss of contact.
Come on, Kelly, focus. Don’t let him give you the puppy dog eyes!
Even if seeing Asam offended did wound her, it wasn’t a reason to stay married. Sure, he’d been able to lead her to an orgasm that had blown her mind, but that didn’t make up for his untrustworthy nature or the way he’d torn into her before. Besides, she had to save her job at Paradiso.The last thing she had time for was trying to make the best of a crazy Vegas wedding.
“We don’t have to fix this.”
“I think we do. This isn’t at all what either of us wants. After all, isn’t there a supermodel or a fire-eater or some dancer you should be dating?”
His nostrils flared again and he shook his head. “I am sorry for what happened at Dharr’s engagement party, but maybe this is another chance. We had fun last night, at least what I can remember. You can’t deny that.”
She shuddered and took in a deep breath. It was getting even harder to speak, to think. A huge part of her had obsessed and longed for Asam for almost two years. Every time she’d visited Alana in Al-Marasae, it had bitten into her, not just petty jealousy of her best friend’s happiness and stability but having to be near Asam and his whole family. Every time she’d catch him in the palace halls, every fight they’d had at the few holidays she’d been there, every single time had twisted her heart more and fanned the flames of her desire.
“There is something,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “I can’t deny that. I do feel it, but I have to be in New York and you’ve hurt me before and—” She let out a sharp breath when he stroked her cheek. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said, gesturing to the rings as if she’d been confused on that point.
“But now that is has, we have to be responsible, get this over with, and move on with our lives!”
“Why?”
She frowned and backed away from him. “Are you serious? I have a plane to catch tonight to NYC to talk with my culinary friends. If that wasn’t enough, I have less than two weeks to please my boss. I have to make sure I have something left to my name, and if learning about vegan food is what I have to do, then that’s it. I don’t have time to be married, and I’m sure you have a lot of prep with the Oasis project. I’ve heard enough from Alana to know it must be massive.”
“You don’t want to cook vegan food, and I just went over specs with Dharr two days ago. We’re running well on schedule. What you want is to cook for yourself. You said as much before, and even if I hadn’t tasted the dishes you’ve made for the family before...well, Alana rambles on about how amazing you are. You’d hate being a vegan chef and you know it.”
“But my paycheck comes from Paradiso, so whatever Monique Dawson wants, she’ll get. After all, I don’t have any guarantees. If I leave her, I could be done. She can more than work to blacklist me in the middle of a hissy fit. It’s not as if I haven’t seen her do it to other staff, even the damn lounge acts and dancers. I need this job.”
“Then start a restaurant of your own, mon amie ,” he said, grinning back at her. Some of the frustration seemed to drain from the depth of his hazel eyes.
“Yes, of course, I’ll just start a New York eatery with no capital. Why didn’t I think of that?” she huffed.
“I have money.”
She frowned back at him. “If you think you can buy me like some who…”
“No,” he said calmly, holding up his hands before her. “Just an experiment. You try being married to me for a week. I’ll take you to a great vacation, and let you know how great being a sheikha can be. If you still hate it, fine.
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