She slowly laid back down. He pulled her up against him. That possessive gesture did something to her. Something she was afraid to name. She was worried she wouldn't be able to go to sleep. 20 minutes later she had.
Rome hadn't realized just how exhausted he was until he laid down with Bunny. She had smelled and felt delicious. He couldn't resist holding her close. So he did, and before he knew it, he was snoring like an ogre. He was awakened by a loud knocking on his bedroom door.
No one from his family, except for his father, maybe, would intrude on this day. He had planned every single detail for the last nine months. He gently got out of the bed, careful not to wake her. When he moved his arm she rolled over onto her stomach and let out a heavy sigh. He looked at his Rolex watch, that lay on the nightstand table and saw it was 3pm. He had slept for more than two hours, which he never did.
He chalked it up to him having to micromanage the woman that was now sharing his bed. She did look good there naked and asleep, he admitted to himself. He would definitely try to keep it that way. He grabbed his gray robe and tied it loosely around his thin chiseled waist. His muscular chest was exposed.
He sauntered to the door and opened it. It was his most trusted bodyguard. He looked at him annoyed, "This better be good," he growled.
"So sorry, Sir. Mr. Phillips and Mr.Langston said it was urgent."
Rome rolled his eyes then spoke, "Tell them to meet me in my office."
His guard nodded agreement.
Rome shut the door quietly behind him, careful not to wake her. He quickly got dressed, only choosing to wear his dress shoes, tuxedo pants and white dress shirt half buttoned. He looked at her sleeping. She was beautiful. Her hair spilled over the pillow.
He wanted to reach over and touch her tresses. He couldn't, not without waking her. He knew he had been horrible to her since they first met. He didn't know if he would ever muster up the courage to tell her the truth about him being that nerdy kid she had bullied in boarding school, along with her rich friends. He would think on it for now.
Ten minutes later, he arrived in his study. His two lifelong friends and now business associates were waiting for him. Baxter was drinking a liberal amount of scotch and Connor was thumbing through the books from the bookshelf closest to his desk.
"Gentleman." Rome announced himself.
They both walked over to greet him.
"Well if it isn't the man of the hour." Baxter quipped.
"Congrats are in order. You finally got your plan to work." Conner said.
Baxter licked his lips, while he greedily rubbed his grubby hands together, looking at him he asked Rome, "How was she in bed?"
The question annoyed and angered Rome. He felt like punching Baxter for being so crass but he didn't. He refused to answer him. Instead, he turned the conversation back. "What do you two dickheads want that couldn't wait a few days?"
Connor spoke, "You may have duped and married that spoiled brat but we are all in this together. Our family's legacy depends on this plan going perfectly. We are making sure everyone, especially you, Rome follow this plan."
Rome thought his friend sounded skeptical of him. Maybe he was right to feel that way, he thought to himself. Instead of being blinded by her legend he should have been coming up with an even more solid plan. He had thought the one they were using now seemed to be working with no issues...So far. For how long was the question.
Marrying Bunny had just been the start. He had to get her to convince her father to break his contract and allow new ones with the rightful owners so they would be able to use the business and complete what their fathers started. He knew she hated him. He thought it ironic when they had attended school he was pimply, red-faced, four eyed, scrawny, teenager. Since that time, he had spent a fortune on sculpting his body into masculine perfection.
He had done it on an off chance that he would run into her and she would be impressed. He had been a little hurt when he had come to Baxter's home and she didn't recognize him. He should have known better. Time had changed them both. He was now a gorgeous, full grown man. She had been princess of their school.
He had been a nobody.
"The investors are all set to sign in one week's time. Are you sure that's enough time to convince her." Connor asked, snapping Rome back to the present.
"Yes," Rome answered with certainty.
"You seem quite full of yourself with this one." Conner quipped. "I think maybe you're being overconfident?"
"Hardly."
"Then, how can you be so sure?"
"Because, she, herself admitted that she would do anything to be in the elite circle again."
They chuckled at that.
"You better hope she doesn't find out the truth."
He was worried about that too, but would be dead would be damned if his friends noticed. He brushed their comment off.
"You two, leave," he said.
"What! We can't stay for the wedding dinner." Baxter joked.
"I am hurt your school chums are not invited to your wedding festivities."
They appeared to be having fun at his words and surly demeanor.
"Bye," he said, once more over his shoulder as he exited the room.
He wondered then what he would do if she ever found out the truth about his financial instability and his true identity. He had duped smarter people than Bunny. There was no way she would figure out the truth, and if the plan went accordingly, she wouldn't care because they would be wealthy, he rationalized. Nothing could go wrong. Luck was on his side...
Bunny awoke to the quiet hum of the ceiling fan. The room was dimly lit. She was lying on her stomach. Her hair was in complete disarray and fell in a mess over her left eye. She suddenly wondered what time it was.
"How was your nap wife?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice and instinctively rolled over to look at him. He was sitting in one of the Blue Velvet arm chairs, not in its usual place, which was turned from the bed. The chair was turned in the direction of the bed, and the realization that he had been watching her sleep came to mind. She combed her fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face.
"I should join you again, but alas, I can't. We have more wedding festivities."
Bunny unconsciously groaned out loud. Rome showed no outward reaction to it. He spoke, "Sorry, Princess. This is going to be the hardest you've had to work in a while."
She was shocked by his rudeness. He stood up and walked over to her in the dimly lit room. The way he towered over her while she was in his bed frightened her. She felt herself instinctively shrinking away. She saw anger in his eyes and as quickly as she thought she saw it, it was gone.
He looked as if he wanted to tell her something, but instead spoke, "Get dressed. Photos and the reception await." He left.
She didn't realize how much space he took up in a room until he was no longer in it. Her head was throbbing. Her hands were beginning to show signs of trimmers. The need in her stomach began to grow. She got out of the bed and found the switch to open the blinds.
The midday sun brought a natural glow to the room. She walked over to the closet and noticed all of her clothing were unpacked and neatly organized. She also noticed golden tags dangling on each individual piece of clothing. She picked one up and read it. It read: wedding reception.
Bunny assessed the gown then. It was a cream, embellished gown with thin spaghetti straps. It would seem he was going to try and control her life, even down to what she wore. She had agreed to this marriage. He told her she just had to be loyal to him.
She could do that, but she needed to get back to her family and check on them, pronto. She clasped her hands in front of her to prevent the shaking. She had to get dressed. There was no time to waste. She was led to a large room setup like a portrait studio.
She saw four adorable children; two girls and two boys, dressed in wedding attire. She wondered what he was up to. It wasn't long before he told her. "Wedding photos are important."
"Why?" She asked him.
"Because they add legitimacy to our story. Or would you have them knowing about your current profession?"
She rolled her eyes at the idle threat. The photographer smiled at the sweet looking couple.