“Fine. Take your time. You have six months to decide on the date of our wedding. If you fail, I shall marry you on a date of my choice.” Skylar gaped at him, considering his condition. Six months were too less and would fly by soon. No, she needed more time.
“Make it a year, please.” Christian gazed back at her for a minute and then nodded much to her relief.
“Alright. A year it is then but you will stay with me in LA.”
Skylar opened her mouth to argue but her gaze fell upon her granny sitting and watching them from her table. She didn’t miss the disappointed look on her granny’s face. Maybe she realized they were arguing on the dance floor instead of dancing like the other couples.
“Hmm, okay.” Christian released the breath he was holding unconsciously. Her agreement meant everything to him. Now, whether they married or not, at least he could be near her all the time. He could see her to his heart’s content. If they lived with one another, maybe with time they would open up more to one another. Maybe one day, she would get to know him better. Maybe she would fall in love with him too.
His heart softened towards her and he just held her close and swayed to the music. Her addictive scent drove him wild and so did the feel of her soft cascading hair on his skin. The wish to embed his face into them was so intense that he gave in to the urge.
Skylar gasped wrapping her arms around his shoulders when he embedded his face into the crook of her neck. It was an instinctive move. The soft magical lights, the soothing, soul-stirring music and the champagne made her a little delirious. Added to it was the warmth that seeped into her body from every inch of his skin that came into contact with her. His heady manly scent made her stomach burn with a strange need. Why did she feel it every time he came near her? It couldn’t be a coincidence! Neither was it accidental! Was she actually attracted to him?
He didn’t want the moment to end, but they had to leave early morning in the morning.
“We should take leave and retire for the night,” he said, abruptly releasing her. Skylar focused her dazed eyes on him, immediately suspicious of his motive. Why did he want to leave his own engagement party so early? It was just 10 o’clock in the night and all were enjoying themselves.
“Why so early? I’m not sleepy yet!”
“Come on Skylar!” he walked off towards their grandparents, and Skylar had to follow him gingerly.
“We’ll leave you to enjoy the party, grandpa.” Grandpa Ben got up to give him a hug.
“Take care of Skylar, my boy. I might drop in any time.” Skylar’s eyes widened at his announcement. She hadn’t expected him to drop in at all! She gulped with fright as she watched them interact.
“Give me a hug, Skye,” said her granny, bringing her out of her thoughts. She hugged her granny when Caleb and Lillian joined them.
“Remember what I told you!” whispered granny and Skylar nodded.
“I do, granny.” She hugged her grandpa, Caleb, and Lillian. Sebastian and their relatives too came forward to wish them luck.
“Don’t forget to invite us to your wedding a week in advance!” reminded aunt Theresa.
“Sure, aunt Theresa. Take care until we meet again,” said Christian, hugging her too. Skylar smiled and waved at all the guests before Christian led her away.
“What was the hurry to leave, Christian? It felt so embarrassing!” she demanded once they were out of earshot.
“What’s there to feel embarrassed? We have an early morning flight tomorrow! You have to be up at 3 o’clock in the morning.” Skylar gaped at him, feeling a little foolish for having jumped to her own conclusions. Was that the reason for their hurried goodbyes?
“At three? Gosh, you would have to pull me up.” Christian smiled, imagining the scene.
“I could wake you up with a kiss instead.”
“No, I’ll set up an alarm.”
Christian chuckled as they entered their room. Before he could think of a reply, she rushed to the en-suite to change out of the gown. Skylar stared at the ring on her finger in the privacy of the washroom. It looked perfect on her finger. How did he guess the exact size without consulting her? She saw her reflection in the mirror. The sparkle in her eyes, and the glow on her cheeks, told a different story altogether. She didn’t look like she was forced to get engaged to him. Her gaze went to the beautiful dress he bought for her. How did he know her size? It was a question that totally baffled her, bringing a blush to her cheeks.
After freshening up, she emerged to see him changing out of his tuxedo!
“You can use the washroom!” she pointed out. If they were to stay in the same room, he had to follow some basic rules. One of them was not to strip in front of one another!
“I’m used to here!” Skylar scowled at the man with her hands on her waist.
“I’m used to many things as well. I’m used to sleeping all by myself in privacy. If I’m adjusting, you too need to do the same. You have to follow a few basic rules like no stripping in my presence. We aren’t married yet!”
Christian grinned at her, discarding his shirt despite her warning. “And what if I don’t follow your rules?”
“Then we cannot live under the same roof for a year. Why do I have to compromise all the time?” She was now mad at him. The ripped muscles on display were already driving her crazy.
“Do I affect you so badly?” She scoffed and looked away, not wanting him to see the burning need reflected in her eyes.
“No, it’s disturbing when we feel nothing for each other.”
“It shouldn’t disturb you if you feel nothing for me. I won’t change for you. You too can do the same in my presence.” Skylar grunted with fury and lay down on the bed, covering herself completely with the duvet, from head to toe. He could do whatever he wanted! She just blocked him out!
Christian rolled his eyes at the most stubborn woman in the world. His plan for a strip show to seduce her didn’t work at all. He was sure he noted a flicker of desire in her eyes. But it was gone in a second. All he expected was to make her drool at the sight of his ripped muscles. He would have taken advantage of her momentary distraction and completed the kiss he had started. Now it all crumbled to dust.
He went to the en-suite to freshen up and change for bed. Maybe it was time to change his tactics now.
He returned to the room and glanced at her. He could make out she was feigning sleep. This time, he simply ignored her and went to sleep with his back turned towards her. Tomorrow, with a fresh mind, he would think of another way to tempt her.
However, the next morning, it was a mad rush to get ready and leave for the airport. After they boarded his jet, Skylar went to the bedroom to catch up on her sleep. Christian left her alone. He had hardly spoken to her, apart from the bare minimum, since they woke up.
A new way to get what he wanted started developing in his mind. Now he would use force on Skylar Carnell!
He would force her to share his room and work in his office. He would force her to go out on a date with him. Similarly, he would forcefully make her accompany him on his work trips. That wasn’t all, though! He would forcefully kiss her and marry her as well! He was done being nice to her.
‘Just wait! In one year, I’ll make you mine, completely. I won’t leave you any choice than to marry me,’ he muttered while gazing at her photograph on his phone. Caleb and Sebastian had forwarded him the engagement pictures taken last evening. They were so good, he couldn’t take his eyes off them. They looked like a couple in love! It seemed as if it was a proper engagement and not a fake one.
How he wished it would be a real engagement!
He sat down to check the files he had been trying to concentrate on since last night. Engrossed in his work, he didn’t notice Skylar emerging from the bedroom and sitting opposite him.
She frowned at him, wondering what was up with him. Why was he ignoring her? Did he really expect her to watch him strip?
“Are you busy?” she asked, hesitating a little. Christian nodded without looking up at her.
“I’m hungry!” she said in a low voice.
“Call the attendant and order whatever you want.” He shrugged, still not looking up at her. Skylar looked around but didn’t find the flight attendant around. She pressed the button for assistance, and the attendant appeared after a few minutes.
“What can I get you, ma’am?” she asked with a smile.
“We would like our breakfast, please.”
“I’m not hungry. You can just order for yourself,” said Christian gruffly. Skylar gave him a surprised look and turned to the flight attendant.
“Please get for both of us,” she instructed her and she left with a nod.
“What’s wrong with you? You can’t be upset because I didn’t watch your strip show.”