The Arrangement .(3)

“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. It would be perfect—like a business deal where both parties get what they want.”

“You’ve ventured into a new business now? Buying and selling women?”

She saw the anger flash in his eyes before he could conceal it, and she gloated a little that she’d gotten under his skin.

“You should be careful what you say. Remember, you’re the one who sought me out to ask for money.” He brushed imaginary lint from his shirtsleeve. “Maybe we should forget the whole thing.”

He turned away from her in a dismissive fashion, and she panicked.

“No, wait!”

Alexa grasped onto his arm as if it were a lifeline, feeling the heat of his muscles bunch against her palm. He looked down at her fingers, and she released him. He turned slowly, and she knew in that moment the tables turned. He knew how desperate she was, and he would use it to his advantage.

“Yes?” One dark brow lifted toward his hairline.

“I can at least hear you out,” Alexa said. She couldn’t believe what she was saying, even though the words fell from her own lips. “What would you … expect?”

“I would expect you to resume all your wifely duties, including sharing my bed.” He didn’t flinch.

She swallowed. “Think about what you’re asking me to do.” Alexa faced him full-on. “I’m not a prostitute.”

“I agree. Once again, you’re my wife. All I’m asking is that you behave like you are.”

“Why are you doing this? It’s been four months.” Alexa was appalled by the near panic in her voice, but she was ill-prepared to conceal it. This was like something out of a nightmare, and she wanted no part of it, but Alexa knew if she didn’t comply with his demand, he would allow her brother to be crushed. If she could just reason with him, then maybe they could agree to an alternative. “There must be another way—another answer.”

“When you think of it, let me know,” Leonardo said, just before he folded his arms across his chest again.

Standing before him, all of a sudden Alexa felt much smaller than her five feet five inches, despite wearing heels that added another four inches to her height. He was just that tall—and broad, too. She felt like an insignificant little pea.

The ball was back in her court, and they both knew she could offer nothing to bargain with. He was in an enviable position, with nothing to lose.

She needed him, not the other way around.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” Alexa said, her voice laced with bitterness.

“I should’ve known you wouldn’t show me any mercy.”

“I’ve shown you plenty of mercy,” Leonardo said, placing his fingertips on the cool glass surface of the desk. He leaned toward Alexa. “I’ve allowed you to enter my office, when I could have refused to see you and asked my assistant to tell you to leave. Or better yet, I could have had security escort you from the building.”

He looked her up and down, a withering appraisal that silently shredded the sleeveless ruffled top and flowing skirt.

“You want mercy after what you did? After you walked out on me and I didn’t hear from you for months?” He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Now you come back here, asking me for money. What would you do if you were me, Alexa?”

“If it makes you feel any better,” he continued, “you’ll only have to suffer through our marriage for two more months, and then I’ll give you the divorce you’ve obviously been wanting but were afraid to ask for.”

“Two months?” she repeated, frowning. “Why two months?”

“I have my reasons,” he said in a clipped tone.

“What if we get tired of each other before that? What then?”

The grim set of his face betrayed no emotion. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

For several moments, Alexa mulled the idea around in her head. “Two months?” she asked. “That’s it—nothing more?”

“Unless you want more?”

“You wish.” Alexa turned her back on him to think clearly.

Two months. Sixty days. Not an eternity, but it could seem like it if she moved back in with Leonardo and was subjected to whatever his demands were. There was no telling how many ways he had conjured up to punish her for what she did. She knew he would be merciless because she’d seen how he handled business opponents who crossed him.

“Come now, Alexa,” he crooned, directly behind her now.

She could feel his warm breath fan across the nape of her neck. She shut her eyes briefly and wished she didn’t enjoy it, wished she didn’t want more than that featherlight sensation. She shouldn’t. She needed his help, but he was still the enemy, and her body refused to acknowledge that. Instead, a tingling sensation crept along her inner thighs.