Terms and Conditions (Dreamland Billionaires, #2)

by Lauren Asher

I find it difficult to tear my eyes away from Iris as we walk down the aisle toward the exit of the church. She is the embodiment of elegance and grace, with her smile as dazzling as the new diamond band on her finger.

The kiss I shared with Iris in the church was electric.

I didn’t marry her for love, money, or affection. I married her because I’m a greedy asshole who will stop at nothing to get what I want, even if it means subjecting her to the same fucked-up happily ever after as me.

My tummy has a thousand little champagne bubbles popping along to the beat, all while my heart rate picks up speed.

Declan bends a knee and settles into a comfortable position in front of me. His left hand shakes again before he fists it, just like it did when he lifted my veil earlier. Turns out he is human after all.

He swoops me out of the seat and cradles me, full bridal style, adding to the crowd’s excitement. I tap on his shoulder. “Umm, Declan?” “What?” His eyes soften. “You’re supposed to carry me into the house, not out of here.” He sighs like I’m the biggest inconvenience in the world. “You couldn’t walk a straight line out the door in flats, let alone in those shoes.”

“The way you treated me tonight—on our wedding night no less—is unacceptable. But I guess you couldn’t care less about how or when you hurt other people’s feelings, as long as you get your way.” “What I said in the car—” I hold up my hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s my fault for setting unrealistic expectations about us in the first place.”

Anyone with eyes would be attracted to a set of abs. It’s evolution beckoning us to choose a mate who can provide for us. Provide what? Endless stamina and orgasms?

Iris is the only person with the ability to make me smile. Not that she knows it.

“Sometimes I feel like I know everything about you, and then you open your mouth and say something like that.”

Declan’s brows pull together. “You’re upset.” “No, Declan. I’m disappointed.” “You of all people should understand how important this is to me.” I throw my arms in the air. “That’s exactly my problem. I understand your needs even at the expense of my own.”

“I’ve spent three years of my life making sure you’re taken care of, even if it meant sacrificing my happiness to do so,” I blurt out.

Most of my life revolves around Declan and making sure he has everything he needs to be successful. I even married the man so he achieves everything he dreamed of—all because I care about him way more than he could ever reciprocate. He gave me a chance when no one believed in me, and for that, I owe him.

I put my needs aside because I thought it would make me happy to help others. And while it feels great to see everyone else achieve their dreams, it leaves me with a gaping hole in my chest. Nothing will change unless you do.

“You have such a foul mouth.” “Is it just me or do you seem to have an unhealthy obsession with my mouth lately?” “Who says it’s unhealthy?” Oh. My. Lord.

“What do you want me to say? I’ve been working for you for three years already and what do I have to show for it? I have no life, no friends other than Cal, and no future besides helping you accomplish yours. I married you despite all the red flags, and I’m supposed to give birth to a child knowing full well you want nothing to do with them. Of course I’m not happy. In fact, I’m terrified.”

“If you try to leave me again, I’ll make you regret it.” The slight rasp in his voice does something catastrophic to my lower half. “Is that a threat?” “It’s a promise.”

Offering you caffeine is solely for my personal benefit. It tends to make you much more compliant.”

You never cared about their opinions in the past… That was before I had someone worth protecting from the scum of the earth.

You care about her. Fuck.

“You’d publish this even if it makes you look weak?” “That’s the thing, Father. I spent plenty of years thinking I was pathetic because I couldn’t fight you back, but I eventually realized the only weak man here is the one staring right at me. In one way, I guess I’m glad Mom is dead because at least she doesn’t have to face the disgusting excuse of a human you’ve become.” I turn, feeling his burning gaze following me all the way back to my car.

“Shut up. We both know you actually like my brain.” “I like your heart more.”

The way he says it makes my body buzz. “If you had it your way, everything would be our thing so that you never had to share me with anyone else, you territorial caveman.” “I’m glad you finally understand. It took you long enough.”

Our marriage might be fake, but these feelings burning inside me are anything but. It’s only a matter of time before I make her mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.

It turns out Declan does have a funny side. He just happens to be so nerdy,

He robs me of my reply as his lips slam against mine. My eyes remain open, shock making me unable to process everything happening all at once. Declan must sense my inability to connect because his teeth drag across my bottom lip in a silent command to pay attention. One of his arms wraps around my waist, trapping me against him as he kisses me. My body shudders from a simple scrape of his teeth.

The way he destroys any semblance of normalcy with a single thrust of his stiff cock against my stomach. I think I’m dying. I think I’m soaring.

“I think my feet need to be amputated.” She flinches as she loses her footing. I don’t think as I haul her over my shoulder, bringing her ass to my eye level. “Problem solved.” “Declan!” she shouts into my back. “What are you doing?!” She rams her small fists into my spine, and I grunt. “Being a gentleman.” “More like a caveman!

“What are you doing?” “Helping my wife.” My throat bobs. “You’re growing a bit too comfortable with that nickname for my liking.” “I use it to remind you of your place.” “And what’s that?” “Mine.”

“You don’t get to judge my choices.” “I only want to understand them.” The softness of his voice tears me up inside. I stay silent. “Please.”

“I kept you because you’re fantastic at your job. You always rose to whatever challenge I threw your way, whether it was a part of your job description or not. There wasn’t a single time I felt like your differences got in the way. If anything, I think it made you ten times better at your job because you thought differently than me.

“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to keep you by my side.” “You don’t need to try too hard. I am your wife after all.” “Even if you weren’t, I won’t give you up.”

While I know every corner of this place, watching him assess the map like we are exploring uncharted territory is far too entertaining to pass up.

“You know, if I knew what they looked like, it would make this process a little easier. How else am I supposed to know when we need to pretend?” Declan shuts the map, pockets it, and grabs my hand. “We don’t.” Sparks shoot up my arm from the contact. “So, what? We just act like a couple the entire time?” “Exactly.” I fake groan. “But this place is huge. It could take hours before we find them.” “Maybe even more.”

“They must be pretty important if you’re going out of your way to subject yourself to walking around a garden for hours while holding my hand.” “You have no idea.”

“Now that we settled everything, do I have permission to fuck you?”

He steps between my legs again and lines himself up at my entrance. My breath catches as he drives forward, slamming his hips against mine. Tears prick my eyes from the burning sensation of him stretching me. He wraps my trembling legs around his waist, and I hiss at the tightness. “I hate you,” I say through gritted teeth. “I look forward to fucking the lies right out of you.”

but if we are attracted to each other, then maybe…” Her voice drops off. Is she fucking kidding me? If we are attracted to each other? The way she minimizes our connection makes me want to throw her back on the bed and show her how attracted she is to me. It’s bullshit is what it is.

Instead of kissing him, I should have been trying to get out from under him. Declan had me completely dickmatized, goddammit.

“Stop fighting and give me ten minutes.” “You don’t deserve ten seconds, let alone ten minutes of my time.” “How about ten words then?” I laugh. “I’d like to see you try.” “I am falling in love with you, Iris Elizabeth Kane.”

“Ask me why I hate when people use Times New Roman instead of Arial.” “Are you serious right now? What does that have to do with any of this?” “Because I chose it for you.” “I’m sorry, what?” “I read somewhere online that sans serif fonts are easier for people with dyslexia to read, so I changed my requirements. Forced everyone else I oversee to switch with me or else they would face my wrath. All because I wanted to help you.”

“Want to know why I kept the cactus?” I nod. “Because it was the first time someone got me a present that made me laugh.”

“Ask me why you were denied the job transfer.” No. There’s absolutely no freaking way. “Tell me you didn’t.” His lips press into a thin white line. “I couldn’t let you go.”

He makes me feel cherished. Protected. Loved in a way that makes me never want to come back down to reality.

I could spend forever being kissed like this and still feel like it isn’t enough.

I sink a finger into her only to withdraw it a second later, making her hiss. She pushes her ass out. “Please.” “Please what?” I step out of her reach, and she grinds against the air. “Make me come.” Her death stare turns into one of lust as I thrust two fingers inside of her.

I press my thumb against her clit and rub it in slow circles. My fingers brush against her G-spot, and her knees buckle as she clutches onto the desk for stability. She unravels, her legs dropping out from underneath her as she comes.

I grip onto her hips. “You’re not in charge here.” “Oh, honey. I’ve always been in charge. You just were too caught up in yourself to realize who was running things around here.” Her wide grin steals my ability to breathe. I ram into her, and her gasp of air makes me smile. “You were saying?”

“Ich liebe dich3.”

I’m a mess inside. She doesn’t even seem to be looking at me but rather through me. Her glistening eyes serve as a window to her soul, and what I find is devastating. A beautifully broken soul who happens to be a mirror of mine.