A Virgin For His Scandalous Proposal

Chapter Three

BELLA

"You know your father is going to kill you if he finds out, right?” Carol said, eying me as she put on a light shade of lipstick. That was just about it, when it came to makeup for me. A light coating of lipstick, some mascara, and I was good to go.

I sighed, turning away from the mirror to look at my friend. “I know that. But it won’t hurt to try, right? It's better I try and save company, than sit here and do nothing.” I said, as made my way out of the bedroom to the front door.

“ Well, be careful.” Carol said, and I smiled at her and turned around to give her a small hug. “And good luck.” She added, pulling away and smiling.

I scrunched my nose at the state my friend was. She had really cried her eyes out, she looked totally unrecognizable. “Your eyes are so swollen dear friend. Please try and get some rest. I have my keys and I can let myself in.” I said, patting her small bag. Carol nodded and I waited till she had closed the door, before walking towards the taxi that was already waiting for me.

The drive to the restaurant wasn’t a long one, and before I could get my nerves in check, the taxi had already stopped in front of one of the most exquisite restaurants I had ever seen. “thank you.” I said to the cab driver, handing over his money, before alighting from the vehicle. The nerves I had been feeling before coming, now felt like they were weighing on me, pulling me down. “You got this, Bella.” I whispered, mostly to myself, placing my hand on my chest as I tried to calm myself down.

It didn't work.

A very fresh cologne teased my nostrils out of nowhere, making me inhale sharply.

“At least you arrived early.” A hard baritone, with an edge to it, filtered into my ears. Shocked to the core, I spun around in the direction the voice came from, and almost lost my breath.

Right there, in front of me, in all his full glory, stood Theo Zverev. The country’s most ruthless, and yet, sexiest billionaire. I hissed as I let my eyes move slowly, down the length of his suit-clad body.

How could the universe be so unfair, as to make someone as wicked as he was, so attractive?

“Are you going to speak or continue staring at me like you want to devour me, Miss Peterson?” Theo clipped, dragging my attention back to his face. It started slowly, but continued to creep up to my face and neck, and in a matter of seconds, I knew I was as red as a tomato.

“ You could have just said hello.” I hissed, trying to sound defiant, but to my own ears, I sounded like a dying cat. Which was just great! Now Theo would think that I was just a weakling.

THEO

I chuckled, looking at the woman in front of me like she had said the funniest thing I had ever heard in my entire existence. “ For someone as small as you are, you sure do have some nerve.” I said, smiling slightly as I watched my very flushed companion struggle for words. Hah! She was going to be a delight.

And damn, was she beautiful.

I was never going to admit it out loud, but it had taken everything I had in me, to take my eyes away from her. She was clad in the darkest shade of emerald I had ever seen on someone. And it matched her equally green eyes. The dress hugged her like a hungry lover, and flared just below her hips, and flowed gracefully to the floor. And that slit. Jeez!

I cursed as I peeped a very long leg that went, and went. She looked even better than in the pictures!

Bella cleared her throat, forcing my gaze back to her face. “I would pretend like you didn’t just refer to me as small. I would have exchanged banter with you but I came here for business.” She said. There was a force to her voice that spelled defiance. Not that I was surprised. Nope. “now if you don’t mind, please show me the way, so we can get down to what we came here for.”

At the end of her statement, I found myself nodding as I watched those lightly painted lips move.

It wasn’t fair that my mind conjured images of how they would look wrapped_ “sure. This way please.” I forced, gesturing to the entrance of the restaurant. She smiled and turned, walking ahead, towards the waiter who had been standing there, waiting for us.

The sight of her bare back had me stumbling on my feet. Hell! My c**k shifted, causing my pants to grow tight. This was definitely not the plan. If I was reacting to her this way, just from setting eyes on her the first time, it was going to be hell being married to her for two whole years!

BELLA

I looked at Theo Zverev like he had lost his mind. Because, apparently, he had! What he had just proposed to me, had to be the craziest thing I had ever heard in my entire life! He had refused to speak about business, forcing me to eat, up to dessert, before he had even asked about the company! And just when I had been thinking he was considering all I had explained to him about how beneficial a partnership would be for us, he had opened his beautiful mouth and caused havoc in my body, soul, and spirit!

“Tell me I didn’t hear you well, Theo Zverev,” I demanded, my voice a little bit high peached, even to my own ears. The man was crazy.

How could he ask me to marry him? Just like that. It was bad enough that he was out for my father's company, and now he wanted me too?

Who was he to think he could just wake up one morning and decide to get married to me? What the hell was running through his mind when he had thought of that?

Did he think I was one of those loose women that swore their eternal love even to his pictures on the internet?

I grabbed my purse, about to leave when, When Theo pushed forward, grabbing me by the wrist, and pleasing with his eyes.

He leaned forward and looked me dead in the eyes as he looked for words to explain. “Look. Just listen to me, and you will see that my proposal will actually be beneficial to both of us.” He tried, and I swallowed, looking around as I sat back down. If not for the situation I and my father found myself, I would have been long gone from here. Sitting close to this unapologetically handsome man was already crazy enough!

"Alright then, I'm listening." I said softly, pulling my hand away from his. It burned...like the imprint of his hands had been left on my skin. But not in a bad way...

“I have this clause in my parents’ will, that actually demands that I get married, in order to get my inheritance in full.” My eyes widened at his words, but I said nothing as he continued. “I won’t buy out your father's company, and will provide the necessary funding to get it back on its feet, in exchange for you getting married to me.” He said, and I just sat there, looking at him with surprise taking over me. What in the world?

The one and only Theo Zverev had an inheritance he couldn't touch?

I felt like I couldn't and shouldn't be believing him. But I wasn't even in the position to do that. Especially not when the time was ticking. And at a very fast pace!

I narrowed my eyes at him as suspicious made its way into my mind. “Why are you making this offer to me, Theo? I mean.. a few hours ago, you were trying to buy us out, and right now, you sound like you are trying to help me, even if it is at a ridiculous cost.” My voice was soft this time, as I spoke, as if people could hear us and suddenly jump on us.

But I needed to know. Why was he making such an offer to me? There were many women out there who would die for the opportunity to be married to Theo Zverev for even a minute.

He raised a brow and leaved back, giving me a nonchalant shrug. “You need it.” Was all he said, and heaven help me, but it was definitely the truth. He was giving me what I asked, in exchange for the devil's tail.

My eyebrows that raised at his words as I squared my shoulders, deciding to play along on his game. “How long?” I knew what those kind of clauses meant in wills. It was what had gotten my parents married.

But was I going to agree to it?

So many fucking.... questions..

“Two years.” Theo replied, looking me directly in the eye. I let out a small breath as I tried to mull over his words in my head. It was almost funny that until a little over an hour ago, u hadn't met this man. Ever. And now, I was on the verge of accepting a marriage proposal from him.

“Fine, then. I'm in.” I said, with a very stern voice that carried a lot of determination attached to it. What the hell was I even doing?

Theo’s lips curled into a smile, unsettling me. I knew I was going to regret what I had just agreed to.

It is for the business, Bella.

I scolded herself. Two years was nothing to me, especially with being single. Although it was such a delight knowing that I had something to hold against the infamous Zverev.

Who would have thought he needed to get married just so he could get his inheritance? As far as she knew, he had been married before, and it was at the tip of her tongue to ask why he didn’t get it then, but I didn’t dare. I wasn’t going to risk making him change his mind and withdraw his offer. If this what what I needed to do to get my father's company up and running, then I was down to it.

“I guess we could start the charade now, then?” Theo said, and stood up, making me frown at him. “Shall we?” He asked, extending his hand to me so I could take it.

I licked my lips nervously, staring at his hand for a confusing moment before putting my in his, and letting him help me out of my seat.

Electricity.

That was the only word I could use to describe what passed through his palm to mine, immediately they met, that rushed through me, setting my entire body on fire.

My eyes automatically shifted to his, wondering if he felt the same as I did. What I met was an intense gaze, one that held mine, just before traveling to my lips, and back to my face.

Hell!

He looked like he was about to....kiss me? A million and one thought rushed through my head as I tried to think about it. Was he really going to do it? Was I being delusional? Was I overthinking?

Heck!

Did I want him to kiss me? I mean....his lips looked like they would taste like something out of a dream. The thought of having his lips on mine...

“f**k it!” I distinctly heard him whisper, and then pulled me to him, planting his lips on mine, before I could say anything. The moment my lips met his, I was introduced to something I had never felt before.

Heaven…

Sweet heaven.

His lips were surprisingly soft and demanding as he pressed them against mine. I hesitated for a nanosecond, before giving in, kissing him back with equal abandon.

I closed my eyes and gave in to him. I was going to regret this. But right now, as his soft lips molded themselves against mine, I didn’t care.

I didn’t care that they were in a room filled with people. I didn’t care that it was ruthless Theo Zverev I was kissing. All I knew, as my arms rose to wrap themselves around his neck, were the sensations that arose within me, just from the touch of his lips. It didn't help that my n*****s were hard and achy as they rubbed against his suit-covered chest.

I inclined my head to the side, giving him more access to my lips. He nudged me with his tongue, seeking entrance, which I granted without hesitation. Once our tongues touched, my toes curled in response. I could taste the flavor of our dessert, mixed with something else..

Him.

I whimpered a little, pressing closer, but was brought back to harsh reality when Theo suddenly pulled away from me, snapping me out of my s****l high. “I think that’s enough to convince people of our relationship.” He said, lips swollen from our kisses.

My mouth dropped open in shock and confusion as I felt like I had just been slapped across the face. “What?”