KAITLYN

I can't believe it. This is a contract marriage? This means that he will let me go after 365 days.

"Does that mean that we will get a divorce after 365 days?" I ask and he nods, narrowing his eyes.

"If you obey the rules of the contract," he mutters, and a smile creeps into my face.

He twitches up his lips and tilts his head to the side.

"You haven't asked what the rules are," he mutters and I shrug lightly.

"Well… I'm always good at obeying rules," I grin.

It's not going to be hard after all.

All I have to do is call Jesse and tell him of his brother's plan. Though 365 days is a long way, with the kind of love we have for each other, he will wait for me. I'm pretty sure about that.

He chuckles darkly and nods before picking up the file on the ground.

He flips through the pages and shoves it in my face.

"Read the terms," he mutters.

I take the document and begin to read out the rules listed in the paper.

"You must behave like my wife in public…" I look up at him and he smirks, leaning on the table behind him.

"You must not get upset if you find me with any other woman…" I scoff in disgust and continue.

"You must perform all your wifely duties, and that includes letting me touch you when I please."

My throat runs dry, and my hands begin to tremble in anger.

"I'm not doing that!" I snap at him, and his brows raise.

"You said you would obey all the rules, didn't you?" He asks and I scoff.

I look down at the paper and continue reading, this time with anger and disgust.

"You must not date or interact intimately with any man."

I pause and send him a glare, which he returns with a mischievous smile.

"You must not attempt to run away from me or try to break any of the rules, " I sigh and my eyes dart to the last rule written in uppercase letters.

"Avoid Jesse Rider like a plague to avoid a contract breach."

My jaws drop and I look at him with anger in my eyes.

"What?" I whisper.

He moves away from the table and begins to approach me, an evil smile on his face.

"No phone calls, no secret meetings, no eye contact, no communication," he mutters, and anger floods into my body.

"Are you crazy?" I yell, heaving loudly.

He grips my chin and a gasp escapes my lips.

"No excessive thinking of Jesse, too," he adds, and I scoff in disbelief.

"You are allowed to flirt around with women while I am not?" I snap, getting agitated with the partiality of the contract.

He lets go of my chin and stuffs his hands into his pocket, throwing his head back.

"I'm the one helping you here, shouldn't you be grateful that I want to build back your father's crumbled legacy?" He says, making sure that the mockery is heard by me.

I scoff and fold my fist, glaring murderously at him.

"You are mocking me, aren't you?" I grouse, and he grins.

"I'm just putting you in your place, mi amor," he replies and brushes my hair back.

I shiver and step back, attempting to run away, but he grabs me and slams my body against his.

"You called Jesse countless times, didn't you?" He asks and my heart skips a beat.

"I…" I gulp hard, unable to defend myself.

What is there to defend? I have been caught; there is nothing I can do about that.

"You have to pay for breaking one of the rules, " he whispers, and a knot forms in my throat.

I barely knew about the contract then. Why is he trying to make me pay for something I didn't know?

" I didn't know!" I snap.

"Then… why don't we start with you performing your wifely duties?" He asks and my jaws drop.

I can't let that happen. If he sleeps with me then I will never be able to face Jesse ever again.

"I… I have to take a shower."

"Let's do that together."

The lust in his eyes seems unquenchable and I'm sure he won't let me go tonight.

"No… I…I want to do it alone," I press further, and he frowns in disagreement.

His hands around my waist tighten and I wince as pain shoots through my body.

"Does it hurt?" He whispers into my ear and kisses my neck, slackening his grip around my waist.

My heartbeat accelerates as he places more kisses around my neck. His lips are so soft and moist, and it's making my body shake in excitement.

Why in the world is my core tightening whenever his lips touch my skin?

No, Kaitlyn, don't let him fool you. Don't!

I groan and poke his chest, struggling to push him away.

His lips are stuck on my neck, sucking my neck slowly and causing shivers to rush down my spine.

My panties have a pool in them already, and I can't seem to stop my body from reacting to his devilish touch.

That is why he is a devil, always perfect in manipulating people around him, including his parents. Now he is trying to manipulate me into his bed.

His hands slide down from my waist to my ass. I gasp in dismay as he rubs my ass with his hands.

"Stop!" I muffle out, trying to push him off me but that seems impossible.

He is like a wall, an unmovable wall.

My eyes widen when I hear my zipper sliding down. I shudder as one of his hands grazes my bare back, and my legs begin to wobble.

I wish someone would come to my rescue. However, I know so well that no one will dare step into his study room. If his parents are scared of him, then the servants must be too.

"Ni…Nikolai…" I groan, but the words sound more like a moan of pleasure than a groan of despair.

"See? You can't fight for so long," he chuckles and bites my neck softly.

My body freezes when his teeth sink into my flesh.

He pulls away and smiles in pride at what he has done. His hands are still wrapped around me.

He pushes his head forward, his eyes fixed on my lips.

I can guess what his next action is.

Fuck!

A shrill ringtone forces him to pull his eyes away from my trembling lips.

He lets go of my waist and walks to the table then picks up the phone.

He groans loudly in annoyance as he stares at the phone in his hand.

"Fuck, Tom, what do you want again?" He growls and bangs his hand on the table, unleashing his anger on the poor table.

I step back and slowly slide out of the study room with my heart in my hand.

I don't know what to do. I can't run away, and neither can I call Jesse for help.

I have to…

A shout outside stops my feet from moving.

I crane my neck, listening to the growling voice.

My eyes widen when the recognition hits me.

I rush down the stairs and sprint for the large exit door, pulling it open without hesitation.

It is already dark, but the whole surrounding is filled with fluorescent lights, which have blotted out the darkness.

"You have to leave, sir," a maid's voice catches my attention, and I swerve my head in the direction of the voice at the large gate.

My heart stops beating as I stare at the man by the gate, the owner of the voice I heard inside.

"Jesse?" I whisper and he swerves his head in my direction, his eyes lightening up.