Cheating With The Billionaire

Chapter 9: Objections (Bella)

Amabella's POV

It can be incredibly difficult to say no to Kaden Matthews, especially when he's half-dressed.

He sits next to me on the couch and I roll my eyes, trying to ignore just how tempting he looks. There are more than a hundred reasons why we shouldn't be doing this right now. I shouldn't be down here alone with him. We shouldn't be sitting this close to each other. And I definitely shouldn't be visualizing myself in his arms, his full lips pressed against mine.

"Well?" I start the conversation, forcing myself to pretend he has a shirt on. "I'm here. Start talking."

Kaden sits up straight, suddenly looking serious and determined. "I don't want to beat around the bush, so I'm just going to come out and say it—I know you've been purposely avoiding me ever since we had s*x. Of course, I understand why. I'm fully aware of the line we crossed, but..." He pauses, then sighs heavily. "Damn it, Bella. There's been a connection between us from the very beginning, and every day since it has only gotten stronger. I know you feel it, too. Please tell me I'm not alone in this. Please tell me I'm not crazy."

Staring into Kaden's desperate green eyes, I'm unable to respond with a lie.

"You aren't crazy." My words come out in a whisper as my nerves get the better of me. I remain still as Kaden grabs my hands, holding them tightly as if he's afraid I'll vanish into thin air.

"We've been through too much to continue playing pretend with each other," Kaden continues. "Instead of faking like we don't have feelings for each other, I think what we need to do instead is ask ourselves where do we go from here? I know where I want to go, and it's wherever you are. I want you, Bella. And I know you want me too, so why not take that next step and make things official like you wanted?"

"What exactly are you asking of me, Kaden?" I question, my pulse racing. "Be clear."

"I'm asking if you want to continue seeing me behind your mother's back," he answers calmly, his eyes still on mine. "Keeping us a secret from Evangeline won't affect me as much as I know it will affect you, which is why you need to be the one who makes this decision. I've already told you what I want; it's your turn to tell me what you want."

"What if you're not what I want?" I ask, testing him. "What if we're not what I want? Then what?"

"I'll respect your decision regardless." He smiles, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Goddamn, this man. He's sitting here pouring his heart out to me, literally telling me he's ready to risk it all just to be with me. I want to kiss him for being so open and honest, but I also want to slap him for putting me in such a difficult position!

I undoubtedly feel like s**t for having messed around with my mother's husband, but at the same time, I can't lie to myself and say that I want me and Kaden's situationship to end. Yes, it's messy and bound to eventually blow up in our faces; however, I can't continue to live a lie. I want him. I need him. My feelings towards him scare me because I've never felt like this before, but they also excite me. Despite the distance that I've tried to put between us, I continue to find myself longing for him in ways that I probably shouldn't.

When he's at work, I think about him constantly. When he's here at home, I think about him constantly. And the s*x? I absolutely wish he'd rock my world again with that gloriously big c**k of his. I want this man as badly as he claims to want me, and perhaps it's time I be a little more selfish and indulge in the things that I desire.

After all, we only get one life to live.

"Before I give you an answer, I first need to hear you tell me the truth about whatever it is you have going on with my mother," I say while pulling my hands out of his, mustering up my last bit of strength. "No more lies, Kaden. Tell me everything."

He sighs again, running a hand through his hair. "You've been spot-on from the beginning. Your mother and I didn't marry for love; we married for business. I approached her with a proposition I knew she couldn't refuse."

"Which was?"

"I'm paying your mother millions to be my pretend wife for a year to help gain my parent's trust and have them elect me as CEO after my father retires," Kaden says. "I want the business to stay in the family rather than it being handed to some outsider. The only way that I'll become CEO is if I play into the hands of my parents by giving them what they've always wanted—a responsible, dependable family man. Someone with a close to flawless image that can carry on the brand."

"s**t. That's a lot to take in, but why would my mother agree to something like this? She runs two successful businesses. She doesn't need your money."

"Bella, there's something your mother has been keeping from you," Kaden informs me. "It's not my place to spill her secrets, but you wanted to know everything, so I'm going to tell you everything. Your mother's salons aren't doing too well and haven't been for a while. Had I not offered her what I did, your mother would've lost her salons by the middle of next year. Hopefully, now you see the bigger picture of how we're merely in this to help one another. The only real thing that I have in all of this fake marriage bullshit are my feelings towards you."

"Jesus, Kaden." I blush at his words, my thoughts spiraling. "I had no idea that things had gotten so bad for Mom. Then again, she rarely ever talks business with me. I'm not upset about what she's agreed to do with you. She's a hustler. Whatever she needs, she will somehow find a way to get it."

And what about what I want? Everyone else is getting their way except for me...

"I already know the answer, but I'm going to ask you anyway." I look at Kaden, our eyes meeting once more. "You and my mother, you two are only together for business, so you're one hundred percent not into her romantically?"

"Correct."

"I think you've said it before, but you two have never...? You know."

"Never, Bella." Kaden shakes his head, scooting closer to me. "The only person that I want right now, tomorrow, and the following months after is you..." He leans forward and before I know it, I'm lying underneath his warm body on the sofa. "Your mother and I haven't even been sleeping in the same bedroom. After she assumes you've gone to sleep, she sneaks into the guest room down the hall. And because she's an early bird, she's already up and gone for work while you're still knocked out in bed, just so you'll never suspect a thing."

"I can't believe you two have been playing me for a fool this entire time!" I pout, playfully smacking him on the shoulder. "But... because you've been so honest and genuine with me tonight, I guess I'll forgive you."

"That easily?" Kaden chuckles, slipping a hand between us. "I was prepared to work for it."

I moan his name after he touches me outside my pajama shorts, his fingers massaging me slowly. "Are you insane? We'll get caught!"

"Not if you're quiet," Kaden whispers, moving his hand inside my pajama shorts. "It's just you and me now, Bella. You're mine. I'm yours. Every single part of me belongs to you."

"Is this your way of asking me out?"

"I don't need to ask when I already know your answer." Kaden smiles. "We're going to f**k on this couch. I'm impatient and you're soaking wet. Any objections?"

"Several," I laugh softly, wrapping my arms and legs around him. "But I'll tell you after."