Free Trapped Into Marriage by Dez Burke Page B

today. While studying at Columbia, you held down a job as well as did some modeling to meet your expenses. After college you chose not to be a career model and instead focused on your interior design career, getting interned with the best and putting yourself out there, working hard and working smart. Last year, you branched out and started your own business. You’re planning on a Master’s at Stanford and in the meantime, went into this high-risk investment scheme in the hope of finally hitting it big. You want it all, Keyonna. The money and the career. On your terms.”
    He smiled thinly at her dazed expression. “Well, like I said Keyonna, I’m not that different from you. I’ll do whatever it takes to win, on my terms. It wouldn’t take much doing but yes, I can and will hurt you. But it needn’t be that way between us,” he added in a softened tone, his hooded eyes running meaningfully over her face and body. “It’s safe to say that I go to any length to make you mine. In every sense of the word. Just picture it if you can and you’ll see this would be the best move you’ve ever made. Marriage to me can’t be all that bad, can it? Think of all that money at your disposal as my wife. Your social status; the connections you can make as well as the respect you’d gain for being the next Mrs. Vitale.”
    He had that hateful cold smile on his face, a mocking light coming into his eyes as he watched her conflicting expressions. “I’m quite sure I make a far better catch than Mark ever was – and let’s face it, I’m much more exciting.”
    Keyonna pressed fingers to her temples and tried to calm down, fighting back the feeling that the walls were closing in on her.
    Sighing raggedly, she finally looked up at Nick with pleading eyes. “You don’t have to do this,” she said in desperation. “If…if you want, I could talk to Rachel on your behalf. I’ll say whatever you want me to say. I will explain to her how it was my entire fault, and that you never meant to hurt her and were certainly not cheating on her. I can make her see reason.”
    “If you think that’s possible, then you don’t know a thing about that woman,” Nick said with a mirthless laugh. “Besides, why would I settle for Rachel…when I can have you?”
    Keyonna shivered at the look of dark desire and feral purpose on his handsome face as he cupped her throat in his large hands, his thumbs caressing her jaw line and making her eyelashes feel too heavy to lift. He pulled her closer, slanting his head to ghost his lips just a hair’s breadth from hers.
    “One year, Keyonna. That’s all I ask. One year of wedded bliss to me and my obligation to my father’s Last Will and Testament will be fulfilled. Then – and only then, will I consider setting you free from my clutches…”
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    Keyonna kept calling herself all kinds of fool for agreeing to the Nick’s ultimatum.
    But what choice did she have? The handsome brute had promised to bring her to her knees either way. What was one year married to him, compared to a future marred with debt and professional disgrace? He’d do it; she knew he would. And even then, she couldn’t take the risk of defying him and finding out if she was right.
    His final words of that day kept ringing in her head. “Don’t make me do it, Keyonna,” he’d said quietly, his lips so close she could almost taste the heady kiss hovering. “This can be a perfect arrangement for both of us. As my wife, you’ll never lack a thing. All I have would be yours. And when it’s over, we can both walk away if that’s what we want.”
    “You really think I care about your money?” she breathed, eyelids fluttering as she was unable to hold back the droplets of helpless tears spilling to her cheek. Hating herself for her weak tears, she made to turn angrily away but he gathered into his big, potent arms and kissed her, hard.
    Keyonna couldn’t break away, and felt herself almost bent