Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)

by Lauren Asher

Declan reminds me of the deepest part of the ocean—cold, dark, and unnervingly quiet.

Are you really going to do this, Iris? the voice of reason speaks up. I don’t see much of an option here. This is marriage! It’s not something you can just back out of when you get scared.

“I was so scared of what people would think about me dating my boss, but we can’t hide it anymore. We don’t want to hide it.” My voice hitches without me trying. Declan’s only sign of distress is the way he blinks at me twice. I’ve never seen him blink twice.

I just signed myself up to help Declan—for better or for worse. Till death do us part.

My eyes narrow into slits. “Don’t test me.” “And don’t you dare look at me that way.”

“Special is the last word I would use to describe you.” It feels far too generic for someone like her.

Iris suddenly volunteer to be my wife after months of searching for a perfect candidate? Because she didn’t want to see you marry someone else, the smallest voice in my head speaks up. She couldn’t… No. There’s no way. Or could it be? That could explain her erratic behavior. I follow her gaze, finding her staring at the engagement ring. She traces the round edge of the diamond slowly. Dare I say reverently. Oh fuck.

Attraction is one thing. Infatuation is a whole other deadly game I have no interest in playing anytime soon.

“I’m doing this because we’re friends.” “I will never be your friend.” And I never want to be. Her lips pull into a frown. “Liar. Friends help friends when they’re sick.”

“Drunk you is so much nicer. You asked me to tuck you into bed and sing you a lullaby.”

“Every look.” The unsteady beat of my heart floods my ears. Her breath catches in her throat as I cup her cheek. My thumb strokes her soft skin, rubbing back and forth like I could brand my name with touch alone. “Every touch.” Her eyes shut. Every cell of my body burns to retract myself. To put some distance between us because I shouldn’t touch her like this. It blurs too many lines. But I’m useless as I breathe in her coconut scent, and my lungs protest the invasion. “Every single kiss…is nothing but a lie.” My lips brush over the corner of her mouth, and my body feels as if it has been struck with jumper cables.

“There is nothing I won’t do to earn my inheritance. Remember that when you forget this is only a game to me.”

I’m sure Seth was handsome at one point in his life, but his misuse of alcohol has aged him in a way that Botox can’t fix.

He hates the attention as much as you.

This isn’t a real relationship. No amount of forehead kisses or intimate touches will change that. Stick to the program and you won’t get hurt.

To love means to lose more than I’m willing to part with.

That’s why I agreed to this whole idea in the first place. If I was worried about risking my heart, I would have never said yes. But with Declan’s lack of interest in relationships and my fear of commitment, we are a perfect fit.

her. “I don’t know what you would do without me.” “Your inflated sense of self-worth is concerning.”

you can’t be a responsible father, then I am no longer interested in helping you.” “You can’t be serious.” “Want to test that theory?”

My eyes narrow. “Are you threatening me?” “Me? Never.” She bats her lashes. “I prefer the term motivating.” Her brand of crazy happens to draw mine out. “You’re a pain in my ass.” “Nope. That’s just the same old stick acting up again.” To think I pay her more than any assistant in this building for this kind of treatment. Because you both know her worth.

“Sign the contract and get out of here before I change my mind.” She slides the papers toward me. “Sure. Once you make the appropriate changes, including upping the initial payment to three hundred million dollars, then I’ll go ahead and sign it.” You little… “You think you’re clever.” Her smile only adds to the heat surging through my veins. “I never asked for an increased paycheck, but since you so generously offered…” Dammit. I cover my small smile with the back of my fist. “Well played.” She winks. “Thank you, sir. You taught me everything I know.” And I regret it every single day.

“I’m not a total asshole. I know you have a lot going on,” he snaps. “Stop it.” “What?” “Stop being so…understanding.

My eyes bulge as he shoves a spoon full of cake into my open mouth. “I finally found the perfect way to shut you up.” I glare at him as I taste the most delicious dessert I’ve ever had. His gaze remains glued to my lips as he drags the clean spoon past them. “All I need to do is keep your mouth permanently occupied.” I graciously proceed to choke.

“So that’s it? You snap your fingers and I’m supposed to do what you say like some obedient wife, no questions asked?” “You’ve been practicing for years already, so there shouldn’t be a steep learning curve.”

“You’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?” “Everything except for you.”

“Because you respect her.” “I do.” Her ability to work by my side as a resource rather than a hindrance already puts her leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else. She is quick on her feet and willing to go above and beyond to ensure I’m successful, even if it means marrying me and having my child. I couldn’t pay for that kind of loyalty.

“We kissed once.” Blood rushes to my ears, and I can feel the tips turning red. “You what?” The lethality in my voice draws Cal’s eyes back to mine. “It was a mistake.” “It sure as fuck better be.”

“Kiss her again and I’ll enjoy ripping your tongue from your throat.” He holds up his hands. “The only reason I told you about our kiss is so that you can stop thinking I want to make a move on her. I’m not interested in her like that. Trust me.” “Because the kiss was terrible,” I repeat back in a voice erased of any emotion. “Because she was never meant to be mine in the first place.” Damn right she wasn’t. Fake marriage or not, Iris is destined to be with one man and one man only. Me.

“Is that a mimosa?” The horror in my voice can’t be tamed. All I can do is gape at him. I can’t seem to find any other words to describe the scene in front of me besides otherworldly. Mimosas. Donuts. An unlit cigar next to a half-empty bottle of champagne. What the hell is going on? Declan halts his steps, and his eyes snap to mine. I bite down on my tongue to make sure I’m not dreaming. The pain is instant, making this moment incredibly real. Whoever this man is, he must be a figment of my imagination. There’s no other explanation for the backward ball cap, athletic pants, and T-shirt speckled in powdered sugar.

He drinks mimosas because they remind him of his mom.

His hand moves from my hip to the small of my back. The way my body burns from his touch makes the gesture seem inappropriate. Not once over the years has Declan made a move to touch me.

“I think part of me always knew she would be the one. It just took a while for the rest of my brain to catch up.” His eyes don’t meet mine.

I change warfare tactics by dragging my heel up his muscular calf, and I’m rewarded with his sharp inhale of breath. Heat pools in my belly, only to turn molten when Declan clutches onto my thigh. Stop, his grip says. Not until you drop the topic, my demure smile replies. He gives my thigh one last squeeze before abandoning it altogether. The memory of his palm remains pressed into my skin, and I’m hit with a slight chill in his absence.

Declan helps me into my jacket before tugging my hair out from underneath the collar. I nearly topple over in disbelief as Declan takes his time fixing each button for me. The smell of his cologne permeates my lungs, embedding itself into my memory. A strange temptation to lean in and take another sniff consumes me.

I liked him taking care of me.

“They say misery loves company.” She laughs, and the sound draws me toward her like a siren’s call. My eyes drop to her mouth as I soak in her smile.

Our eyes connect, making me feel like I was struck in the chest with a lightning bolt. It must zap all my common sense too because nothing else explains me reaching out and holding onto her hand.

She laughs again, and I’m hit with another surge of warmth that scares me enough to open the car door and face the lesser of two evils. Anything seems better than analyzing the weird sense of attraction I feel toward the one woman I can’t ever have.

Future wife or not, Iris is the last person I will ever make a move on.

To make matters worse, my father showed up to play his part of the doting parent. His fake smile is on full display as he works the crowd with the charm of a cult leader.

“If hell were a theme park, they would have lifetime passes.”

“Don’t go.” What are you doing? “Why not?” Her brow arches. A reasonable question if any. Having her by my side feels like the only natural thing about tonight, fake marriage or not. She has a way of making anything tolerable. “You make tonight somewhat more bearable.”

“You’re staying with me for the rest of the night.” I leave no room for questions. She seems to ramp up the wattage on her smile. “You’re kind of cute when you get all flustered.” “I’m not flustered.”

I check out our surroundings. “A supply closet?” She laughs. “I’m sorry. It was the first unlocked door I could find.” “Why are we hiding?” “Because you looked about two seconds away from blowing up on your father. I thought you might like the idea of getting away from everyone for a few minutes.” Iris always has a superpower of knowing what I need exactly when I need it. She truly is invaluable.

I encroach on her space, trapping her against the washing machine. Her eyes get a wild look in them as I step between her legs. The material of her long dress stretches enough to accommodate my size.

Iris’s hands sink into my hair as she shoves my head to the side. Her lips press against my neck, setting the blood in my veins on fire. She locks her legs around my waist and pulls me closer. Blood rushes from my head to my dick as Iris leaves a trail of kisses down my neck. Keys rattle against one another as the doorknob twists. Light pours into the room as a couple of servers stare at us with open mouths.

“When she told me she was getting married to you, I was excited that she finally met someone who could treat her right. Someone who could prove that love can heal the soul as much as it can destroy it. I’ve heard the way she talks about you.”

“I can assure you that I will always have Iris’s best interests at heart.” Even if they jeopardize mine.

This is it. He leans forward, and our breaths mingle together. I shut my eyes as his soft lips brush against the corner of my lips. Wait, what? Not even a whole kiss? It was nothing but a tease meant to appease the masses surrounding us.

Declan’s lips slam against mine, shutting me up. A buzz that starts from my lips spreads through my body like a brushfire, and I'm lost in the feel of our kiss.