The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Overwhelmed

SADIE

I couldn’t believe things between us were getting committed in a short time. I felt like this was surreal. And it scared the hell out of me.

When I entered the house, I realized that we started to have a possibility of a long and lasting relationship.

Since his birthday party, he’d been nothing but a thoughtful husband and a free-spirited man who had nothing but to please his wife. Cas was right, Cenric seemed to have two personalities, and he could switch the man on top of me right now if the darker side had taken over him.

He groaned, seemed unimpressed, “Here you go again.”

“What? Why did you stop?” I ran my thumb on his swollen lips.

“You’re not with me.”

“Really?” I lifted my hips so that I could feel his erection poking deliciously against my core, and the size could split me in half. I was so turned on, and it ached like a bitch. “So you happened to just get this hard on by humping into the bed.”

“I’m serious, Sadie. Any second thought about moving here?” He rolled to my side, and his weight off of me felt like emptiness.

I sighed in disappointment. “No. I love everything in this house, even if I haven’t gotten a proper tour. I feel it welcomed me. You know what I mean?”

“I know. I felt the same when I came to see before the interiors I hired finished furnishing this house.”

I turned to his side, snaked my leg over his, and ran my fingers against his five o’clock shadow. “If you think I’m the right person to live with you here, then I would be honored.”

He looked down at me, meeting my gaze. His eyebrows met together. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “Well, it doesn’t mean we are married that I’m also your choice to be with you in your new house.”

“You’re crazy if you think I will bring another woman other than my wife in my house.” His voice was defensive as he narrowed his eyes on me.

“We don’t know that. Maybe something will happen between us.”

“Well, in that case, if you will cheat on me or leave me, I’ll just burn this entire house down.”

I playfully hit his chest. “Don’t say something like that.”

He caught my hand, kissing each knuckle. “Either you’re with me or not, I still don’t like when I planned on something that involved you, and it didn’t happen the way I imagined it to be. For me, it doesn’t matter where you choose to live. Either in the penthouse, in this house, in other States, or even in Somalia, so long as we’re together.”

“Wow! What happened to my broody husband who cut my internet privilege days ago?”

He smiled. “I won’t apologize if you’re looking for one, Sadie. You hurt my feelings.”

“So it’s true then that you have an armor outside, but you’re a marshmallow inside.”

He shook his head gravely as he continued laughing. “That’s not true. Maybe I’m a softie for you, but don’t tell anyone. That’s our little secret.”

“Cenric, you have no idea that your friends, especially your brother, know you well more than yourself do.”

He scratched his head.

“And I know you’re a good guy. I was touched by your speech at your party, by the way. What you’ve done is amazing, and I’m proud of you.”

He framed my face with his huge hands. “Thank you. It means a lot coming from you, mi Cielo. And thank you for believing in me.”

Before dinner, he finally toured me around the house—it was breathtaking, every detail told a story, and then he showed me the pictures of his family. They said a picture tells a thousand words, and I believed in it. Their family picture, in my opinion, told me a beautiful family filled with love, compassion, life lessons, growth, and refuge.

“Your mother was beautiful.”

“She’d be happy to meet you.”

“I’m so sorry, babe.” I rubbed his back.

“Thank you, and I’m sorry about your mother.” It was still a sensitive topic to talk about when it came to my mother.

I put my fork down. The meal was delicious, and one of my favorites, Gremolata herb veal cutlets.

“It was a close casket. That was supposed to be my last chance to see my mother, but my father didn’t even allow everyone to see her one last time. It was so selfish of him for throwing my mom out of his life because she loved what she did.”

He gripped my hand, seemingly to enlighten him. “I would never forbid you to do what makes you happy. The job you asked for before, you know I would never say no to you. I’m still working on how to prevent your brother from assaulting you again. Just be patient for a while.”

“Are you gonna hurt him?”

“No.” But I wasn’t convinced. I could feel it in my guts that he was planning something that could hurt him as well.

“Whatever your plan is, my brother isn’t worthy of your time. Leave him be. He’ll get over it with.”

“Did he say something to you—”

“I told you.” My tone was a little defensive. I dabbed my lips with the napkin, but his eyes were watching me like a hawk.

“You know you can always tell me, Sadie. Everything. We should trust each other if we wanna make this marriage work. And I’m planning on earning yours. That, I guarantee you.”

“I know.” I couldn’t meet his gaze anymore. I sipped my wine.

“What’s really bothering you, babe?”

“It’s just overwhelming.”

“What is?”

“Everything.”

“I’m sorry. Is this too fast for you?”

I chuckled sadly. “Before we got married, my idea of you and me together was terrifying, considering how Jasper fed me the idea of me being tied up in the darkroom or you using me for sex. I don’t know why he thought like that. For a teenager, it kinda hit me in the head.”

“I would never do that to you.” His voice was soft to the point that its sincerity made me emotional.

“Somehow, I believe you. I wanted to sleep with you while you were kind, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt me for the first time because I wasn’t being tied up by force.”

Somehow it made him smile. “Babe.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“And then you denied me—”

“Jesus.” He pressed his lips into a thin line, groaning.

“I know. I know.” I tried to convince him, but my voice told a different thing. “And then you forbid me to find a job, or so I thought—”

“Sadie.” He forced me to face him, his hands on my arms, rubbing them. “We have all the time in the world. We’re newlyweds. It’s just proper for you to enjoy first being free from responsibility like work. I know at hand because you see, I couldn’t even silence my phone, as urgent matters might happen anytime. Your brother was hauling you up for a long time. I just wanted you to live the life that you deserve.”

“I understand.”

“The card I gave you, you didn’t even use it. You didn’t buy something that you wanted. I’m amazed, and at the same time, it pissed me off if you think I will let you pay for it and your family’s debt. Just so you know, married people don’t do that.”

“You’re blowing this into my face, aren’t you?”Jeez, he doesn’t get it.”I don’t want your money. It would be best if you won’t shower me with gifts, expensive toys, or designer bags. I only want what I need. Right now, I have them all.”

“I want you to know that I don’t want that money anymore. I have enough to spend a hundred lifetime. Using you as their collateral is disgusting enough, and I don’t see you like that woman. I never had. All I can see in you is a strong and extraordinary young woman who still dreams big to make a difference.”

“I don’t even know what I want in my life anymore,” I said truthfully. “I guess what I’d been wanting all this time is my freedom from my family.”

“That’s not true. I know you meant every word you said to Lydia. Zhuri told me something about giving a safe place to girls being abused by their families if you have the chance.”

I gulped my wine empty. “I hate her right now.”