The Secret Fiancée (The Windsors, #5)

by Catharina Maura

“I couldn’t make it any more official if I tried,” he says, his gaze moving to his left hand, draped over my notebook. The wedding ring he refuses to take off catches the sun just right, and he grins. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“It’s not much effort at all. Even with my helicopter, I probably won’t make it home in time, and I hate that I can’t even promise my wife that I’ll have dinner with her. You have no idea what lengths I went to today just to catch a glimpse of her.” I look up at him and smile, my heart skipping a beat. So that’s why he’s on campus today, because he doesn’t think he’ll get home before I fall asleep.

Jealousy looks good on you, Mrs. Windsor. See me after class tomorrow for extra credit. You deserve it for showing me such a pretty sight.

Mrs. Windsor seems to have figured out that the household robots can solve equations for her, and she’s utilized them to help her with her coursework.” I chuckle, equal parts surprised and amused. “Thanks, Pippy.”

I walk in to Raya standing in front of one of my robots, a long cream silk nightgown clinging to her body. “Okay, but do you feel like the emojis in your database are sufficient for you to adequately express your emotions?” she asks. “Mrs. Windsor,” it replies, its face portraying an exasperated emoji. “We have been over this. I do not have emotions. I merely emulate human behavior to improve the user experience of those I interact with.” “You say that, but you sound a little annoyed, Lola.” Lola? Who the fuck is Lola?

chuckle. I can’t help myself. Raya whirls around and flushes at the sight of me. “Oh,” she says, her tone high-pitched. “You’re home. I didn’t think I’d get to see you today.” “Darling, are you arguing with the robots?”

Lola’s face turns into a neutral one as it zips away, but Raya’s face reddens beautifully. “I was doing no such thing,” she says, her eyes wide. Fucking adorable. “I just don’t understand why she won’t call me Raya! She’s meant to be a smart robot, Lex, but she won’t listen to reason.” I bite back a smirk. “Strange. I’ll look into that,” I tell her, pretending like I didn’t program all my tech to refer to her as Mrs. Windsor, simply because I fucking love the sound of it. There’s no way I’m admitting that.

My hand wraps around her waist, and I pull her closer. “How did you even manage to piss off a robot? How long were you questioning it?” She stares up at me innocently. “I wasn’t doing anything weird, I promise! I was studying for my Cognitive Engineering final, and I realized I had a perfect example of an intelligent system right next to me. I just wanted to test a few things.”

Her eyes twinkle, and she shakes her head. “You only get one question, Lex.” “Fine,” I murmur. “I’ve thought of you countless times today, my little fairy. I’ve never been eager to go home before, Raya. I’ve never had anyone waiting for me, and I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I do.” I didn’t expect to enjoy dating my wife as much as I do.

“Tell me how you feel about going to my parents’ house this weekend.” I pause. “Nervous,” I admit. She nods like she gets it, but I know she doesn’t. Raya doesn’t understand how hard it is for me to sleep in a place that doesn’t have security systems I’ve checked and approved, where I know the location of each exit, each window. She couldn’t possibly understand. No one does.

I sigh as I get out of the car, only to find her leaning against the front door, waiting for me. “I’m sorry, Lex,” she says, reaching for my hand. “I shouldn’t have stormed off like that, especially not when we’re visiting my parents. I can tell you’re trying your best to keep the promises you made me, and the way I just reacted wasn’t fair.” My heart skips a beat, and I drop my forehead to hers for a moment, at a loss.

but if I make my dough perfectly round and then press down on it with an equal amount of force across the board, it’ll be a perfect circle. I think I’ll try putting a chopping board on top of it to flatten it first.” Raya’s mom bursts out laughing, and she shakes her head. “Honey, making parathas isn’t a science. It just takes a bit of practice.” “Mom,” Raya whines as she moves to the sink to wash her hands. “I’ve had years of practice, and they still end up being random shapes. Last time I made one that turned into a star. A star, Mom. I was trying to make it round! There’s something I’m missing — I’m sure of it.”

“Let’s see if you learned anything in that Mechatronics class,” he grumbles. I smile at him and shrug. “Doubtful,” I tell him. “I heard the professor’s a real tool.”

I frown as she rushes back into her bathroom and emerges with a spare towel. Raya pauses in front of me, the cutest look on her face as she raises it to my head and gently begins to dry my hair for me. Fuck. She’s so fucking sweet. I grab her waist and stare at her, taking in those long lashes, the high bridge of her nose, and those perfect fucking lips. She’s wearing pajamas that are clearly quite old, but despite the faded colors, she looks beautiful in those white cotton shorts and her matching button-up top, little red hearts all over it. “What are you doing, baby?” I whisper. “Me? I’m just helping my husband.”

“You terrify me, Raya,” I whisper without thinking. Confusion crosses her eyes, and she cups my face. “Why?” Because you’re the kind of woman I could lose my heart to when I didn’t think I’d ever dare do something so foolish again. Because you’ve enchanted me in a matter of days.

She raises a brow, a hint of amusement on her face as Raya’s dad walks in behind her, his expression rapidly going from relaxed to murderous when he sees my bare torso and notices the pillow in my lap. “Apologies,” I murmur, my voice steady. “I just got out of the shower. My hair just takes a while to dry.” I groan internally even as I force a smile. What the fuck did I just say? I’ve breezed through hundreds of high-stake negotiations, and this is what rattles me? “Shower, huh?” Raya’s father says, taking a step toward me.

“Thanks, Mom,” she murmurs. “We can leave the tea, but we can’t leave our daughter here,” her dad says, distraught. “Forget the rules. Who’s gonna know if we split them up?” My mother-in-law rolls her eyes and pushes her husband out. “Honey,” she says, her tone firm. “Let’s go to bed. The kids are perfectly capable of drinking tea by themselves.” “Meera,” he complains, but my mother-in-law, wonderful woman that she is, pushes him out the door and closes it behind her.

I fall back on the bed the second the door shuts and throw my arm over my face, my heart racing. “I thought I was going to die,” I tell Raya, and she bursts out laughing. I throw her a fake glare and narrow my eyes. “You don’t understand, darling. I saw my life flash before my eyes.”

I turn onto my side too and gently push her hair out of her face, taking a moment to just look at her. She truly is beautiful, but it isn’t just her looks that captivate me so. Why is it that I keep finding myself smiling in her presence? Why do I enjoy being around her so much?

“Don’t even think about it,” I whisper back at her before letting her fingers slip into my mouth, biting down softly. She pulls her hand away in mock outrage, and I grin at my beautiful wife. “Today is not the day I get murdered by your father, Raya Indira Windsor.”

It isn’t until I have her head on my chest, her steady breathing easing my anxiety, that I realize she’s single-handedly taken away the fears that normally accompany me in unfamiliar places. But in doing so, she’s becoming something I’m growing to fear.

“I read and graded your progress reports on your drone designs,” he says, his tone sharp. Moments later, Windsor Motors drones begin to deliver our graded reports back to us, and Lex rocks back on his heels, his expression stern. “Some of you lack common sense and don’t know how to keep your eyes off what isn’t yours.” I stare at him in shock and subtly shake my head, urging him not to be petty. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Lex since we got married, it’s that he’s far more possessive than I could’ve imagined.

He sighs and runs a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I don’t need you to report on what others are doing, nor is your progress report an opportunity to make a case for switching designs. Especially not for those of you who are team leaders because your designs were chosen.” Adam scoffs, and I glance at him. “You didn’t,” I mutter.

“Who the fuck is he to say I don’t know how to keep my eyes off what isn’t mine, when he’s doing the exact same thing every time he looks at you? The man is married, but he still looks at you the way he did that night in King of Hearts. It’s inappropriate.” My eyes widen a fraction. “How does he look at me?” I ask, my voice weak. “Like he wants you. Like you belong to him.”

I glance at him and smile. “Of course,” I murmur, before looking back at my husband. Every time Adam leans in to speak to me, Lex’s expression instantly becomes a blend of annoyance and possessiveness, and something about it drives the butterflies in my stomach wild.

The fucker smiles at me as he pulls her along, and my blood begins to boil. I should’ve just failed him for that fucking glorified love letter he handed in.

“I have a question, Professor Windsor,” one of my students calls, obstructing my path as I try to follow Raya. She bats her eyelashes in a way I’m sure she thinks is attractive, but it just makes her look like she’s having an allergic reaction.

“Tell me, baby. Did you think you’d get away with letting him wrap his arm around what’s mine?” She chuckles against my hand, not in the least intimidated, and I fucking love that about her. She’s so sweet most of the time, but this side of her is all mine. I move my hand down until I have my fingers splayed across her stomach. “Answer me.” “No. I knew you’d be jealous, and I let him do it anyway.”

“I can’t take this,” she complains. “I’m so close, please. Won’t you make your wife come?” “Fuck. You’re playing dirty, Raya.” She knows how much I love it when she calls herself my wife. Fucking tease.

She turns around in a rush, her cheeks flushed, and her lipstick smeared. She has no idea how fucking sexy she looks right now, all freshly fucked. “I hope you have fun studying with Adam. I’ll definitely enjoy knowing my cum is dripping out of your pussy and onto your thighs, reminding you of who you belong to every time he smiles up at you.”

“Have fun rewriting that report,” I tell him as I straighten. “And don’t forget to keep your eyes off what isn’t yours, or you might find something you won’t like.”

“She knew,” she says, fresh tears falling from her eyes. “She knew her son was close by the second he set foot in that mall.” I frown and rub her arms, at a complete loss. “O-Okay,” I murmur, nodding. “In the movie, you mean?” She nods and begins to cry harder. I stare at the movie, unsure what to do. Should I get it banned if it makes her cry? She points at the television again and sniffs. “Also, you ruined my chances to marry Hrithik Roshan,” she says, glaring at me as she pulls her knees up and stares at the screen stubbornly. “He would’ve learned a tongue twister for me, you know? You just don’t understand.”

Lex: I think my wife wants to leave me for Hrithik Roshan over a tongue twister that he knows? Do I need to be worried about this guy? Leia: LOL. No. He’s married, and you’re richer, younger, and better looking. Don’t worry about it. If you want to make your wife smile though, learn to say the tongue twister I’m about to text you.

“Yes,” she says, choking back a sob. I instantly pull her into my arms. “I see, darling,” I murmur, confused. I glance over the living room, taking in the assortment of snacks spread over the coffee table. “Did you, um, did you eat a real meal today?”

Raya is never upset like this, and it throws me entirely off. It worries me more than I imagined it would, and unease runs down my spine. I’m starting to have feelings for her that I swore off, and I can’t fight them. Seeing her crying is tearing me apart, and I don’t know how to the implication of that.

It isn’t biryani she wants, Lex. Buy her a salted caramel and chocolate milkshake from her favorite chain. It’ll cheer her up instantly.” “Really?” I ask, not sure I believe her. “She’s been crying.” My mother-in-law doesn’t seem fazed at all. “I promise you; it’ll work. Don’t worry, all right?”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “I was thinking of grabbing a milkshake.” “Oh, a milkshake?” she says, her eyes lighting up. “Maybe I’ll come.” “Yeah?” I ask, grinning. “You don’t have to. I can just go buy you one and bring it back for you?”

“No, I’ll come. I’ve been wanting to try out something I asked Raven to find for me anyway,” she says, her eyes glimmering with a hint of viciousness. “Since the tabloids love trying to capture photos of you and your supposed supermodel partner, I’m going to send them on a wild goose chase.”

Raya has access to my vast fortune, but she doesn’t want the countless things I could’ve bought her. She just wants this milkshake.

“Oh God,” she moans as she takes a sip, her whole face lighting up as she smiles from ear to ear, sighing happily as she pulls the cup away from her lips. “So good. I just wish they were dairy free, and it’d be perfect.” I nod and stare at her, fucking mesmerized. She’s so fucking beautiful, and the way she smiles. Goddamn.

I sigh as I reach for my phone and order my assistant to get a proposal prepared so I can acquire this milkshake chain for my wife. If it makes her this happy, I have to make sure she has easy access whenever she want...

“Hey, Raya?” I murmur nervously, hoping I don’t mess this up. “Chandu ke chacha ne chandu ki chachi ko chandni chowk mein chandi ke chamach se chatni chatayi.” She stares at me wide-eyed, and then she wraps her hand around the back of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss, the taste of chocolate still on her lips. I groan as I kiss her back, loving the way she’s touching me. “You’re better,” she whispers against my lips, before kissing me again. “Better than Hrithik Roshan.”

“Lex, you can’t just skip the first poker night you’re meant to go to after we got married, and you know it. They’ll think I’m some kind of tyrant that won’t let you go.”

“Run,” he tells the tall and vaguely familiar stranger — Xavier, I assume. “Sierra will be here in a minute or so.” His eyes widen, and without even questioning Lex’s words or asking for any further information, he just grabs my husband’s arm and marches off, dragging a very reluctant and exceedingly annoyed Lex with him. “Sorry about this,” he calls behind him. “I’ll be sure to introduce myself properly next time! Good night, Mrs. Windsor!”

Lex and I are making the best of the situation we were thrust into, and I know he’s trying to be a good husband, but he’s never once looked at me the way he looked at the girl in that photo. I suspect he never will.

“Besides, there isn’t much Sierra could do to him that he won’t let her get away with.” The words just remind me of the photo they tried to distract me from. That’s how Lex looked at that girl — like there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, nothing he wouldn’t let her get away with. He looked in love, and I’ve never seen him look so happy before. Certainly not with me.

“Y-yes sir,” John replies, his eyes wide with wonder, despite the way he clutches his hand. “I didn’t realize you knew my name.” Halima sighs and shakes her head, barely sparing Lex a second glance as she continues to work, seemingly entirely unaffected by the situation at hand. I, however, am as wide-eyed as Simon is.

“Sloppy coding,” he snaps. “Why are you using over thirteen thousand lines of code? How could you possibly need that much code? Where do you intend to send this drone, John? Space? I should fail you just for the sheer inefficiency you’ve forced me to witness.”

“I don’t want his name on these pretty lips,” I warn her, leaning in. “I don’t want him anywhere near what’s mine.” I take her bottom lip between my teeth and nip at her, earning myself a sexy little moan. “Watching him salivate over my wife is fucking maddening. How dare he touch your waist?”

“So, I’m here because you’re jealous.” “Damn right I am,” I growl, taking her into my arms.