Chapter 7

“Oh my God,” I gasped. “I’m so sorr—”

I’d quickly yanked my hand back, but it wasn’t due to the total mortification that was only now beginning to fill me. It was because of the sudden shock of electricity that sprang through my body.

It was so strange that I was at a loss for words.

James couldn’t have appeared more bothered by the fact that my hand had just been pressed against his crotch. He stared back at me, offering nothing more than a passive shrug. Meanwhile, I was getting ready to combust from pure embarrassment.

His soft-speaking eyes poured into me as he spoke. “It’s alright, I don’t mind,” he mused. “I’m quite confident in my body; there’s nothing I’m ashamed to show.”

His deep, honeyed voice sent chills down my spine and filled my head with a delirious haze. I struggled to get past the lump in my throat. My mind threatened to wander to a dangerous place in which I came to wonder what would have happened had I not pulled my hand away.

Would James have indulged my curiosity of him? Would he have allowed me to explore him?

This luxury car he owned was equipped with a privacy divider between the driver and the back passenger row. That alone was enough to tempt me back into his lap.

I wanted to feel him beneath me again. I wanted to experience that strange, wondrous spark that occurred just a moment ago.

Good God, Mia. Get a hold of yourself, I thought. You’re not supposed to be feeling attracted to him, you’re supposed to be furious.

The only problem was, I couldn’t remember why I was mad at him in the first place. I awkwardly shuffled back to my seat beside James as the car finally came to a sudden stop. I glanced out the window to see that we were parked just outside my apartment complex.

My stomach knotted in despair at the sight of my homely living situation, knowing it was probably nothing compared to James’. Yes, my place was small. It was cramped and cluttered mostly of my brother’s belongings from when he’d returned from his overseas travels.

The appliances barely worked and there were a number of problems that the landlord always failed to address. Needless to say, it was a less-than-ideal place to raise a child.

But with this new job, I was determined to save up enough to find a better place for us in the future. Then again, was that really something that I wanted to put my baby through?

A long moment of silence drifted between us as I reevaluated James’ proposal of marriage.

I knew that with James’ help, my baby was going to have a better and safer environment to grow up in. Under the Derek name, they were bound to have security, status, and boundless opportunities. As a newly expecting mother, there wasn’t much more I could ask for.

Perhaps, James’ arrangement wasn’t so insane after all. It wasn’t as though either of us were expected to get physical with one another. The whole situation seemed fairly cut and dry, so there was no worry about the development of any real emotions, right?

This was strictly to be a marriage of convenience—a win-win situation where we both got what we wanted in the end. Things like love and passion weren’t necessary.

Having nursed a broken heart from what Peter put me through, I was glad to not have to think about such things anymore.

“...Okay,” I muttered. James raised his brows. “I’ll agree to the arrangement.”

The corner of his mouth curled into a satisfied smile. He instructed the driver to take us to the business district where he was insistent on purchasing a new pair of customized wedding rings.

“What?” I squawked. “James, no. That’s really not necessary. I mean, I’m sure I could find something to use as a placeholder for the time being.”

After the day I had, all I wanted to do was go home and rest. Even though I would have rather preferred we kept this whole ordeal low-key, it was clear that James’ would not break from his plans.

“One thing you should know about me, Mia. I don’t do things low-key. Not to any capacity,” he said.

Upon entering what had to be the largest jewelry store I’d ever stepped foot in, James was instantly greeted by a team of staff members. They’d all immediately recognized him and flocked to his side to serve him.

Whereas I, on the other hand, was blatantly ignored.

I guess it had something to do with the way I looked. I was dressed in nothing but my plain work clothes and didn’t look like I had anything to do with James Derek.

“Pick out whatever you like. I need to speak to one of the store managers,” James told me curtly.

“Wait, James,” I gasped while shaking my head. “I don’t think I could—”

“Of course you can,” he said softly. His mouth lifted into a persuasive smile. “I don’t want other to think that I neglect my wife by tot allowing her to have the things she rightfully deserves. Now, please, take your time and look through what’s here.”

I bit the inside of my cheek while giving him a slight nod. James turned his back and I began to browse the various display cases.

I couldn’t help but overhear the numerous small conversations that many of the salespeople were having amongst themselves.

“That’s James Derek, isn’t it?” one woman whispered. “The Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack?”

I nodded my head while I continued to look.

“He’s very handsome,” she commented. I sensed a sharp shift in her tone as she went on to speak. “And how is it that you know him?”

I repressed my irritation but accidentally blurted out a response. “I’m his secretary.”

The woman nodded her head as though everything clicked into place. Obviously, someone as plain as me would have nothing to do with someone as important and attractive as James. Of course, that was it.

As time went on, I felt myself growing a bit frustrated and disinterred. None of the rings I looked at were in my taste. They were all far too gaudy and far too expensive. Hell, the price of most of them totaled out to be a full mortgage payment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a very simple-looking pearl necklace. I asked one of the saleswomen to take it out of the case so I could get a better look at it.

“My apologies, Miss. I agree with you, it is a very nice piece. However, don’t you think it’s a bit out of your price range?”

Just as I was about to say something back, James appeared as if out of nowhere with a thunderous tone and a lethal look in his eyes.

“You think she can’t afford a necklace?” he questioned sharply.